This essay discusses the relationships in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.

Essay by andrea90High School, 11th grade November 2008

download word file, 3 pages 5.0

Downloaded 6506 times

The relationships in A Streetcar Named Desire are interesting. We have the relationship between Stella and Blanche, the relationship between Stella and Stanley, the relationship between Blanche and Stanley, and the aspiring relationship between Mitch and Blanche. I think that it is from these relationships, and the dialogues between these people that we get to know what kind of people they are, and how they are alike or different.

From Stella and Blanche's relationship, we can see that they are very different, yet they care a lot about each other. Stella seems a little more down to earth than Blanche, and also less judgmental. This is quite clear in the scene where Blanche comments on Stella's apartment - this is clearly not what Blanche is used to. "Stella, there's - only two rooms? […] Oh, you do have a bathroom! First door to the right at the top of the stairs?" Blanche and Stella are both uncomfortable with how different it is in New Orleans compared to Belle Reve. Blanche is much vainer than Stella, and she also seems to be richer. Stella is much more tough, and simple.

Stella and Stanley have differences and similarities. Their love for each other is extremely strong; something that Blanche might find threatening. Even though Stanley hits Stella, she goes back to him without blinking. There is something almost animalistic about Stella and Stanley's relationship. "They stare at each other. Then they come together with low, animal moans. He falls to his knees on the steps and presses his face to her belly, curving a little with maternity." Stanley uses his body language to tell Stella how sorry and ashamed he is. The fact that she forgives him so easily, shows how much she care about him, no matter what. Stella and Stanley seem to be quite a lot alike, although Stanley seems more aggressive.

Blanche doesn't like Stanley. This is probably mostly because she is being protective of Stella in a "no one is good enough for my sister"-manner. Obviously, their relationship doesn't get better after Stanley hits Stella, and Stella goes back to him. Blanche doesn't understand what Stella sees in Stanley. Stanley is also vey sceptic as to where Blanche has gotten all of her expensive clothes from. believes that Blanche has sold Belle Reve and taken all the money herself. "Then where's the money if the place was sold? [...] Open your eyes to this stuff! You think she got them out of a teacher's pay?"Mitch is a lot different from his friends, something that Blanche seems to like. Blanche and Mitch are alike in many ways. Blanche thinks that Mitch is superior to the other men, because he is sensitive and caring. He does not care about being cool or tough, like Stanley. "That one seems - superior to the others. [...] I thought he had a sort of sensitive look." It's quite obvious that there are some feelings between Mitch and Blanche - they stick out from the rest of the people in the play. They're much more polite and sensitive.

There are differences and similarities between all four main characters in Streetcar. Stella and Stanley are more tough and passionate, and are held together by the love they have for each other. Blanche and Mitch are almost exact opposites of Stella and Stanley - they are nice, polite and sensitive. What keeps them all together is probably the family relation between Stella and Blanche, and the fact that Mitch and Stanley are friends. The relationships in Streetcar are many and somewhat confusing, but they are what makes the story so great - how everyone seems so human. Even though they have differences, they always stick together, not because they have to, but because they want to.

Bibliography "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams