Vulnerability in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Click Here To Order Now!

Tenessee Williams renowned Broadway play A Streetcar Named Desire manages to reflect the turbulence of family drama in New Orleans French Quarter in the 1940s. The author explores the vulnerabilities of the storys protagonists  Blanche DuBois, Stella Kowalski, and Stanley Kowalski. Williams may have projected his own insecurities and personal tragedies into the play, drawing inspiration from his family (Vernadakis). It is evident that the writer has been an exceptionally vulnerable human being due to his experiences of being homosexual while struggling with depression and addiction (Vernadakis). Williams translates his struggles with being an outcast onto his characters. Blanches inability to face reality, as well as Stanley and Stellas complex relationship, reflect their vulnerabilities as human beings and help drive the narrative forward. Williams mentioned that sensitive human nature in a world that expects full conformity is a major theme in his writing. The author manages to demonstrate the power of vulnerability and raw emotions through the plays characters, which keeps the story full of tension and interesting dynamics.

The character of Blanche DuBois represents the destructive path of a proper Southern Belle refusing to face reality. As a result, she struggles to safeguard her image while struggling with addiction to alcohol. Her tendency to over-stimulate her senses comes from the erratic fear of her past. Blanche is haunted by the rapid, feverish polka tune, the Versouviana, which brings back repressed memories (Williams 139). She then turns to alcohol, that provides her with a temporary escape. Mitch mentions that Blanche has been lapping it up all summer like a wild cat (Williams 143). The word wild reflects her animalistic nature in her strive for immediate pleasure and emotional release. Williams reflects Blanches vulnerability through her refusal to conform to conventional societal norms, painting her as a social outcast.

The theme of vulnerability continues in the portrayal of Stanley and Stella, a seemingly happy young couple. Stellas blind optimism is evident due to her inability to accept the abusive nature of her marriage. She describes Stanley based on the fact that he always smashed things (Williams 72). Stella struggles to realize the power struggle between her and her husband because she has always depended on him for money. Therefore, she has never questioned his treatment of her. While Stellas vulnerable nature is evident in her inability to face reality, Stanleys anxiety is less obvious. He is portrayed as unlikeable and harsh. However, he is vulnerable because he fears to lose Stella. This explains his attitude towards Blanche since he believes that she will take his wife away from him. This erratic fear leads to him trying to destroy Blanche and assert his dominance with Stella. Williams demonstration of the couples raw emotions and deep insecurities makes both Stella and Stanley seem real and compelling. In terms of the storys progression, this serves as a tool to fill the narrative with conflict, making it more entertaining for the readers.

In conclusion, it is apparent that Williams succeeds in incorporating the theme of vulnerability into the play. He manages to make the protagonists seem much more realistic and relatable by contrasting the characters public image with their inner emotional anxieties. Stellas vulnerability is evident in her fight for respect in a patriarchal society. Blanches fear of reality leads to addiction. Stanleys relationship with Stella affects the way he treats Blanche. Williams demonstrates the complexity of human emotions through the portrayal of insecurities and vulnerabilities, which allows readers to examine their own anxieties and fears. The dramatic presentation of vulnerability serves a specific literary purpose since it ignites readers curiosity and fills the story with much-needed conflict and tension.

Works Cited

Vernadakis, Emmanuel. Violent Fragility: The Mythical, the Iconic and Tennessee Williams Politics of Gender in One Arm Journal of the Short Story in English, vol. 67, 2016, pp. 141-154, Web.

Williams, Tenessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. New Directions, 2004.

Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Click Here To Order Now!