A Street Car Named Desire Paper

  Throughout A Street Car Named Desire, both Stanley and Blanche try to control Stella.  Stanley is straightforward, aggressive and bossy.  He likes to be the one in charge. Blanche is untruthful, manipulative and deceitful. She envies Stella and tries to persuade her into doing what she wants.

  Stanley tries to tell Stella what to do when things aren't going his way. He exudes this behavior on (pg. 40) when Stella and Blanche were playing music while him and the guys were playing cards. Stanley, who was drunk, got extremely upset resulting in him attacking Stella. Afterward, Stanley was so intoxicated that the guys had to put him in a cold shower. Stanley got so frustrated that he flung the guys out of the bathroom and started screaming for Stella. His actions prove that he is abusive and always wants to play the "bossy" role.

  On the other hand, Blanche lies to her self and others in order to hide from reality. For example, light is something she isn't too fond of because it reveals her true identity. On (pg. 34), Stella said "Blanche, you're standing in the light." And in response, Blanche said (with a little cry, as if she didn't know) "Oh, I am!" She also likes to take baths a lot, which can be a symbol of her trying to "wash away" her sins such as being jealous of Stella and trying to manipulate her. For example, Blanche tells Stella a couple of times that she needs to leave Stanley. This shows the reader she lives in a delusion and anyone around her gets pulled into it. Also, this proves that she wants to hide from reality.


  Stanley and Blanche both use different ways to show the reader how they control Stella. While Stanley has a more realistic and straightforward approach, Blanche has a witty and sly way of going about it. This leaves me to conclude that not only are they both controlling Stella, but the way in which they each control her is different due to the impression they make on her.