Hostility between Blanche and Stanley

From very early on in the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the relationship between Stanley and Blanche has had noticeably strong hostility. Although there is no doubt that the two strongly dislike each other, the source of their disdain for each other is different. In other words, the reason for Stanley hostility towards Blanche is not the same as Blanche’s hostility towards Stanley. Stanley does not like Blanche because she is beginning to interfere with his and Stella’s relationship. Stanley knows that Blanche does not like him and is trying to turn Stella against him. He figures this out when he over hears Stella and Blanche talking in private and Blanche makes many negative remarks about Stanley. On the other hand, Blanche does not like Stanley because she thinks he is of a lower class or status than her and Stella. Blanche thinks he is beastly or animalistic, while her and Stella are proper “princesses.” Blanche does not understand why Stella remains with Stanley, because of this, and constantly tries to get her to leave him. Hostility between these two extremely flawed characters will only advance as each character starts to feel the immense pressure of the walls of their small apartment start to close in.