A Streetcar Named Desire has strong, memorable characters, which is why the play and its movie remake have gone down in history. The play develops the multiple dimensions of its characters, specifically Stanley, by subtly showing his inward motives. In both the movie and the play, Stanley Kowalski is foremost depicted as a callous brute. However, a close look at the text reveals a softer interior that possibly motivates his need to be powerful and controlling. The multiple dimensions of Stanley's character are seen mainly in his relationship with Stella.
Stanley is characteristically dominant and orders Stella around as if she is his property. At his worst, slobbering drunk, Stanley even physically abuses Stella. It seems difficult to overlook the brutality of such an event or blame it on the situation, but there is evidence in the text to suggest that Stanley exercises his power because he desperately loves Stella and fears losing her. Stanley's need to control his wife can be interpreted as a way of protection. When he is with his friends, he needs to show his strength and prove to them that his wife is his alone. There are instances in both the text and the movie that show Stanley's deep affection for his wife. The scene that follows this, made famous by the movie, is where Stanley shouts “Stella!” from the ground, hoping his baby will come back to him. This scene exposes Stanley's vulnerability. He is subject to his wife. He is at her mercy. We see how much he loves her because he is willing to break character and put his pride aside. Stella is the only person who can expose this side of Stanley. Obviously men don't usually abuse their wives out of protection, but we do see that under Stanley's tough exterior lies a deep, susceptible love for Stella. Stella is the only one who truly understands Stanley and is willing to overlook his offenses. She takes him back, and then later defends him to Blanche, saying “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...he didn't know what he was doing. He was as good as a lamb when I came back to him and he's really very, very ashamed of himself.” She understands Stanley's true dynamic and recognizes the impact of the situation on his actions.
We also see Stanley's character developed by the way he repeatedly takes Stella in his arms. A specific instance where this occurs is when Stanley is defending himself for treating Blanche coldly at her birthday celebration. In the play, “Stanley turns slowly back toward his wife and takes her clumsily in his arms.” Stanley is somewhat beastly, acting on animal instincts. This is shown and referred to throughout the play and we see a glimpse of it now because he is awkward in embracing Stella. However, the embrace ultimately represents his love for her. Other times where Stanley draws her in, Stella is more resistant and pulls away. This sort of juxtaposition shows both his controlling aspect and his softer side. He loves Stella, but at the same time he feels the need to dominate over her.
Another case where is personality is developed is in his overall treatment of Blanche. He is rude to Blanche, tries to expose her true character, and even buys her a ticket to leave and gives it to her as a present. Even though he is rude to Blanche, she really brings it on with her incessant, ignorant facade. Under it all, Stanley's just wants the house back to himself and Stella. When Stanley is defending the way he treated Blanche, he says “Stell, it's gonna be all right after she goes and after you've had the baby. It's gonna be all right again between you and me the way that it was.” Stanley realizes that the tension between himself and Blanche has brought out the worst in him, but he wants her to leave so they he and Stella can go back to their old way of life. While his treatment of Blanche is harsh, he does have justified reasons for doing so.
It seems that Stanley is mean and brutish, but that his love for Stella overpowers this. The many aspects of their relationship, from Stanley's need to exert power over Stella to his tenderness and desire for her, all point towards Stanley's underlying softness and vulnerability. He shows his love for her in the little things like calling her “Stell,” and even his forcefulness and violence can be interpreted as a selfishness to have Stella all for himself.
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Wow, amazing observations and implications of the play. You did a great job at pointing out those little details that give bad connotations, but that you were able to interpret as good or positive.
ReplyDeleteI never took into consideration that Stanley's violent behavior and rudeness to Blanche were caused by his immense love to Stella. It makes perfect sense, and by the proof you gave from the text where Stanley tells Stella that everything will be back to normal after Blanche leaves, emphasizes the notion of Stanley wanting Stella only to himself(because he loves her a great deal, and is not willing to share her with anybody else).
And, I agree that Stanley shows his love to Stella through the "little things like calling her 'Stell.'” Stanley may not be obviously loving because he is presented as a brute character, but we can point out his love or softeness in those small instances.