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Tiernan Spencer
Intro to Lit
12/4/12
The Streetcar Who Brings Home Desire
Although lust is a common desire in Tennessee Williams' narrative A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), it is not the only dominant form at work. The reaction of violence in the drama unifies all of the main characters through Williams use of antagonism. Love through relationships such as Stella and Stanley's or Eunice and Steve's, Williams displays why Mitch's character is doomed with Blanche, the clear definition of desire. The craving for sex throughout the theater piece creates a strong personal connection between characters. Williams shows dramatic real-life situations throughout A Streetcar Named Desire by tearing apart characters by bringing in the one woman who defines what they're missing. Blanche: A character full of needs and wants; a clear definition of desire. Characteristics of desire ultimately divide and unite the drama's characters.
Lust, a form of sexual desire, is the first thing Williams wants to be noticed. After Stanley opens up the drama by heaving a package toward his wife, Stella, she laughs breathlessly before he exits the room, "Stanley! Where are you going?" Stanley replies "Bowling!" Williams writes "Can I come watch?" as Stella's instant reaction which implies the existence of lust Stella has for her husband Stanley (1540). Sex has a strong role in the intimate relationship between Blanche and her young husband Allan as well. Driven by sex and lust for Allan, Blanche didn't want to believe what she'd seen one night: the separate sexual desire Allan had for another man. Blanche explains to Mitch that she was dancing with Allan at the casino when suddenly, "...unable to stop myself - I'd suddenly said - 'I saw! I know! You disgust me...'" (1579). Allan bolted away from her when moments later Blanche heard a shot. Her husband took a revolver and shot himself. Blanche's heart died that night too. Sex is responsible for Allan's death, literally and figuratively. Mitch replies to Blanche's story with a hand to hold, "You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be - you and me, Blanche?" (1579). Mitch and Blanche are turning to sex in their own time of loss and loneliness.
Intro to Lit
12/4/12
The Streetcar Who Brings Home Desire
Although lust is a common desire in Tennessee Williams' narrative A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), it is not the only dominant form at work. The reaction of violence in the drama unifies all of the main characters through Williams use of antagonism. Love through relationships such as Stella and Stanley's or Eunice and Steve's, Williams displays why Mitch's character is doomed with Blanche, the clear definition of desire. The craving for sex throughout the theater piece creates a strong personal connection between characters. Williams shows dramatic real-life situations throughout A Streetcar Named Desire by tearing apart characters by bringing in the one woman who defines what they're missing. Blanche: A character full of needs and wants; a clear definition of desire. Characteristics of desire ultimately divide and unite the drama's characters.
Lust, a form of sexual desire, is the first thing Williams wants to be noticed. After Stanley opens up the drama by heaving a package toward his wife, Stella, she laughs breathlessly before he exits the room, "Stanley! Where are you going?" Stanley replies "Bowling!" Williams writes "Can I come watch?" as Stella's instant reaction which implies the existence of lust Stella has for her husband Stanley (1540). Sex has a strong role in the intimate relationship between Blanche and her young husband Allan as well. Driven by sex and lust for Allan, Blanche didn't want to believe what she'd seen one night: the separate sexual desire Allan had for another man. Blanche explains to Mitch that she was dancing with Allan at the casino when suddenly, "...unable to stop myself - I'd suddenly said - 'I saw! I know! You disgust me...'" (1579). Allan bolted away from her when moments later Blanche heard a shot. Her husband took a revolver and shot himself. Blanche's heart died that night too. Sex is responsible for Allan's death, literally and figuratively. Mitch replies to Blanche's story with a hand to hold, "You need somebody. And I need somebody, too. Could it be - you and me, Blanche?" (1579). Mitch and Blanche are turning to sex in their own time of loss and loneliness.