Blanche and Stanley

In A Streetcar Named Desire, the tension and hostility between Blanche and Stanley increases, making both of their lives difficult. I believe this animosity between the two is due to they are alike in some ways while simultaneously be completely different. For example, both like to take control of situations. In Stanley's case that is always reminding Stella that whatever belongs to her belongs to him (under the Napoleonic Code) and must be in control of the house itself. Blanche's control is implied via Stella again. When Blanche finally arrives to New Orleans, Stella asks Stanley to change the way he talks and acts when he must interact with Blanche. This insinuates that has some sort of control over Stella to make Stella dote on her and watch what comes out of her mouth. Both character use this controlling aspect of their personalities to get what they want. Stanley some how manages to get Stella back after he hit her and Blanche made out with the paperboy. Also both are misogynist in a way. Stanley has this rigid idea of what women can and can't do while blanche uphold this very old Southern idea of a Southern lady being fragile and weak.

But their differences drive them even further apart. Stanley is the type of person to get straight to the point while Blanche will talk around the question for ages.  Stanley's bluntness also contrasts greatly with Blanche's web of lies. Blanche notes that she is a liar and Stanley likes to point that out sometimes.The more I think about Blanche and Stanley the more I realize that these characters can not get along because they are too much alike

Blanche and Stanley

To start off from the get go, Blanche has defied every boundary Stanley has worked to put up. Blanche hinks she is well above Stanley, and has repeatedly attempted to "knock him down" in a sense back to his place in society. She shows up uninvited, messes with his friends, and most noticeably is a "bad influence" on his wife, Stella. Stanley from the beginning has never had any positive feelings towards Blanche, and the scene of Stanley finally losing his cool and displaying an "animalistic" character lashing out at Stella burned those negative feelings towards Blanche even deeper. To him, this is Blanche's fault all this is happening because she doesn't know or follow the established rules.

Stanley Vs. Blanche. Will Blount

Stanley and Stella have a steady, violent, yet passionate relationship in the beginning of the play.  The problems began to occur when Blanche, Stella's sister, rides in on a streetcar.  This character is a snobby, lying, lofty woman who has just lost the family's plantation known as Belle Reve.  Even the name Belle Reve means Beautiful Dream.  This shady, unreliable, materialistic woman obviously presents conflict with the kind of man Stanley is.  Stanley is a controlling, aggressive, and passionate man.  Stanley has always been in control of the house and Stella.  Blanche coming into the picture with her expensive jewelry and fur coats causes Stanley to question Blanche's reliability.  He wonders what actually happened to Belle Reve and how she managed to obtain such nice items.  He states, "well what in the hell was it then? give away? to charity?".  Stanley is angered by not knowing what Blanche did an feels cheated.  He continues to question about the Napoleonic Code and the lack of answers infuriates him.  The fight between the two eventually becomes over Stella.  Stella overcomes Blanche's lunacy and sticks with Stanley and the baby.      

Street car named Desire

From the very beginning of the play readers are given an image of Blanche which is very aristocratic. She is portrayed as someone who was raised very wealthy. We also come to find out that her money is old and nearly. Although she is no longer the affluential tycoon of her former days, she would still like to pretend that she is of another class than everyone around. I tis almost as if she thinks that she is better than everyone. 

Blanch cannot believe the way her sister lives in New Orleans. She expects Stella to be living with the upper class, not in town with the commoners. As they are sisters, they both have come accustomed to a certain way of living which neither of them can support any longer. Although neither can live among the higher class any longer, Blanche choses to believe that this is not so.

This might be a sad state of affairs, but one thing that they can both can agree on is that Stanly is not the the type of man that they were raised to marry. Stanley is a blue-collard hard working man, not trained in the ways of aristocracy as one might imagine. 

Something Stanley and Blanche have in common is their love for Stella. They both want the best for her which erupt in their emotions as well. They also strive for Stella to notice them with obscene gestures of love. Stanley and Blanch both want to be the center of attention in many ways. This makes it extremely hard to balance their personalities in a given scene. 

Blanche and Mitch

Does it strike anyone else that Blanche and Mitch's relationship are moving a little fast? They have only spoken three times so far in the book and now Mitch is wondering if they could be good for each other and get married before his mother dies (he didn't directly say this, but insinuates it). I know Blanche is in a hurry to lock down a husband, but its borderline church bells. Also the story of Blanche's first husband is shocking. I'm not quite sure if I believe her or not. Considering the fact that she compulsively lies and can never give a straight answer, the story doesn't seem real. It defiantly could be made up; something along the lines of "my husband left me for a younger women" seems more plausible. It also would explain her insecurity about her age.

Stanley Vs. Blanche in the film

The juxtaposing views of both Stanley and Blanche in the play are rather interesting. From the moment the reader is introduced to Blanche we see her very old fashioned, classic and pompous attitude.  Blanche is from a plantation called Belle Reve. I think that her being raised on a planation is wildly significant. Plantations, in my opinion, signify classism, race, slavery and many other antiquated views. For someone who has lived in this setting her whole life her reaction to both New Orleans way of life and its inhabitants is to be expected.

When Blanche first arrives in New Orleans she is shocked by the state in which she finds Stella living. Seeing how they both were raised at Belle Reve it is interesting that Stella has fallen in love with Stanley, who is more of a blue collar more lackadaisical kind of man. Stanley, who is polish, is physically opposite of Blanche. He is a working-man and by Blanche’s standards, unrefined.

In the film the visuals of Blanche vs. Stanley is very dramatically opposed. In the scene where the two meet for the first time Blanche is dressed in light, lacy, white garments. She is very clearly in expensive clothing. Stanley on the other comes in in a very tight fitting t-shirt, and what appear to be work slacks. His shirt is stained in sweat. For first impressions Stanley is off to a rocky start.

One way in which the two are similar, however is their common love for Stella, and they both have headstrong personalities. For this reason we find them constanly competing for Stella’s attention.  We also find them at odds because of their strong personalities banging heads.

Complicated Relationships

Stanley Kowalski has a complicated relationship between Stella Kowalski. They are both married but, it seems that a lustful romance is the only thing that's holding these two together. They are dependent on each to move forward and live on. Without the other they don't know how to process the  world. Tennessee Williams has shown a classic example of love gone sour. These circumstances aren't rare to see with alot of couples. Once you get dependent on someone's company, it's hard to see a life without the other person no matter how hallow the relationships has become. For Stella and Stanely, the concept of love is the only way to achieve happiness and accomplishment in life. They almost become accessories to one another rather then partners. The selfish actions have become void and abusive. Leading to a circle that will continue until the day they die. I wouldn't call Stanley a righteous husband, I personally believe his character represents the stereotypes and terrible characteristics of the male gender. The alpha role is such a tired idea that women are starting to become more independent and free thinking because of that. Stella and Blanche are dependent on the company of men. Some people just need that satisfaction in life to feel fulfilled. My personal opinion on the subject is that you have to find satisfaction in your self. It isn't healthy to look for self worth in other people. You will never get it or see it if you look for a person to complete you. Two people have to be able and willing to compromise. Unfortunately, Stella and Stanely happen to show agreement that is empty and lacks empathy. I can't honestly say if this relationship will last but, they both have to coordinate with the choices they made. Especially when you factor in a child. How knows? A adventure of childhood could be the thing that heals the characters of Stella and Stanely.