Tennessee Williams

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

THESIS

• The female characters in A Streetcar Named Desire, Fifth Business and Hamlet are portrayed as dependent on men for their survival.

GENDER ROLES IN THE EARLY 1900’S AND A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

STELLA

QUOTES

• “‘Take me to the hospital’” (Williams, 138).

• “‘Oh, well, it’s his pleasure, like mine is movies and bridge. People have got to tolerate each other’s habits, I guess’” (Williams, 74).

• “‘I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley’” (165).

BLANCHE

QUOTES• “‘Yes, I had many intimacies with strangers. After the death of Allan-

intimacies with strangers was all I seemed able to fill my empty heart with […] Hunting for some protection’” (Williams, 146).

• “‘Listen to me. I have an idea of some kind. Do you remember Shep Huntleigh? […] He could certainly do it! […] Set us up in a –shop!’” (Williams, 75-77).

CONNECTION TO HAMLET

ARGUMENT #1

• Blanche and Ophelia are similar through their wants and how men manipulated them.

QUOTATIONS

• "Honey, it wasn't the kiss I objected to. I liked the kiss very much. It was the other little - familiarity - that I - felt obliged to - discourage... I didn't resent it! Not a bit in the world! In fact, I was somewhat flattered that you - desired me! But, honey, you know as well as I do that a single girl, a girl alone in the world, has got to keep a firm hold on her emotions or she'll be lost!" (Williams, 103).

ARGUMENT #2

• Blanche and Gertrude are alike in a way that they both have a notion of desire.

QUOTATIONS

• "What such a man has to offer is animal force and he gave a wonderful exhibition of that! But the only way to live with such a man is to - go to bed with him!" (Williams, 79).

ARGUMENT #3

• Stella and Ophelia committed suicide in a contrasting manner through mental and physical pain.

QUOTATIONS

• "But it wasn't anything serious as you seem to take it. In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. It's always a powder-keg. He didn't know what he was doing... He was as good as a lamb when I cam back and he's really very, very ashamed of himself," (Williams, 72).

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE & FIFTH BUSINESS

TROPHY WIFE

• Trophy wife is a term for a wife, usually young and attractive, who is regarded as a status symbol for the husband

LEOLA

• Her simple taste and character prove a poor fit for life as a trophy wife. Though Dunstan develops a deep sympathy for Leola and her struggles.

• Overall, she continues to represent the small town mentality that Dunstan and Boy attempt to be superior.

FIFTH BUSINESS QUOTES

• *Dunstan kissing Leola in front of Boy

Shows that both Dunstan and Boy have no respect for women and they treat them as an object.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE QUOTE

• “poker shouldn’t be played in a house with women” (pg.63)

• Mitch explaining how poker and women are a bad mix. Characterizes Mitch as someone who believes women are gentle and soft. Also shows that he doesn’t blame Stanley for his tantrum but instead the poker game

MEDIA AFFECT

• Ray Rice elevator incident

• Kanye West gold digger

Chris Brown and Rihanna

ARTHUR MILLER AND THE MODERN TRAGIC HERO AND BLANCHE

• “to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity his image of his rightful status”

Blanche fully embodies this making her the modern tragic hero

EXAMPLES

Paper symbol: “I've been onto you from the start! Not once did you pull any wool over this boys eyes! You come in here sprinkle the place with spray perfume and cover the lights with a paper lantern and lo and behold the placed has turned into Egypt and you are Queen of the Nile”(,pg. 158,scene 10)

Light imagery: “ ’What it means is that I’ve never had a good look at you Blanche. Let’s turn the light on here’ ‘light? which light? What for?’”(pg 144, scene nine)

Motif of the colour white: “she is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice necklace and earrings of pearl white gloves and hat” pg 5

FRYE• Satire & Tragedy

• Modern tragic hero

NORTHROP FRYE AND THE FOUR STORY MODEL

MODERN TRAGIC HERO- BLANCHE DUBOIS

• Capable of greatness

• Falls because of:

Unforeseen circumstances

Flaws

Decisions

MODERN TRAGIC HERO- BLANCHE DUBOIS• Unable to face past

• element of pathos

• Cannot accept herself, wants purity.

MODERN TRAGIC HERO- BLANCHE DUBOIS

• Blanche is dependent on men

• Cannot adapt to society

• Insanity

4 STORY MODEL- TRAGEDY AND SATIRICAL IRONY

• World of experience

• Humiliated, suffers

• Victim of fate

• Weak morals

• World without heroes

IN CONCLUSION• Blanche’s lying, drinking, promiscuity,

• Lost:

Husband

Reputation

Home

Family

Sanity