Stella in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (English Literature AS)

Hope of a compromise between these two different backgrounds

As Blanche and Stanley represent two diametrically opposed worlds, so Stella represents a bridge between the two poles. A meeting point of coexistence is possible between Blanche's and Stanley's separate worlds. Stella still has many qualities of Belle Reve. She has not allowed a gentle and refined nature to completely disappear simply because she has accepted Stanley and all he stands for. Nor has she allowed her upbringing to stand in the way of enjoying life with her raw and lusty husband. She has, rather, combined both worlds into one and has shown that these two apparent opposites are, if not compatible, at least co-existable.

"I don't know if I did the right thing" "I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley"

As the audience, we feel that Stella actually knows the truth about Stanley's rape of Blanche and that she believes her sister however because she is carrying Stanley's baby and thinks that this marriage is worth having or that she has no alternative but to stay with him and thus has to try and make herself believe that Blanche has became insane.

"Your face and fingers are disgustingly greasy...clear the table" [Stella begins to cry weakly]

At first it seems like Stella actually has some power over Stanley, however he straight away bounces back and says "every man is a king! And I'm a king around here" This further emphasises the stereotypically male dominated society of Elysian Fields. Williams is trying to show us the weakness of her character in comparison to Stanley - it shows us how women were left with no choice and in the end had to follow/agree with the male. In this case Stella believes Stanley about all the accusations against her sister.

Stella seems to become the tangible symbol of victory between the two warring parties

Blanche does her best in trying to grasp this symbol for herself. Blanche's influence is definitely weighty. The argument between Stanley and his wife in Scene 3 is directly caused by Blanche's insistence on playing the radio. Stella shows strong signs of her sister's influence. She even seems to repeat exactly what Blanche would say, "drunk — drunk — animal thing, you!" In another instance, she says, "Mr. Kowalski is too busy making a pig of himself to think of anything else!" These are words that most likely would come from Blanche's own mouth and Stella would never have uttered them before Blanche's arrival. Thus, Blanche has had some influence upon Stella.

Stella enjoying Stanley's raw physical power

Blanche's insistence on her own sense of power seems to have a sort of galvanizing effect on Stella, too, as Stella accepts that she has a decision to make between her sister and her husband, but at the end of the day it is entirely her decision; similarly, Stella has the control after Stanley hits her, because he becomes weak as "he falls on his knees on the steps" in front of her, and it's she who makes the decision to return. What's more, we also see women taking control over their own lives in the play, just as Stella enjoys Stanley's raw physical power as much as he enjoys using it over her- she is "serene" in Scene Four after having slept with Stanley, and "her eyes and lips have that almost narcotized tranquility that is in the faces of Eastern idols," in contrast with the way that she also admits she was "thrilled" by Stanley smashing all the light bulbs on their wedding night.

Blanche's influence over Stella

But Stella also seems to be the only answer to peace, for she is the only bridge between these two apparent opposites. She comes from Blanche's refined, educated, and sensitive world. She has, therefore, attained a mixture either consciously or unconsciously. Blanche continually tries to turn Stella away from Stanley, by belittling him every chance she has. She tries to prevent her sister from returning to her husband after Stella had been beaten by Stanley during the card game. Blanche does not try to hide her opinion of Stanley when she decides to tell Stella of her true feelings for her brother-in-law. She calls Stanley "common," "bestial," and "sub-human."

[half to herself] "I can hardly stand it when he is away for a night...when he's away for a week I nearly go wild!"

Even when they are in a fight, the only thing that brings them together is love and sex. The fact that she goes wild suggests passion and that she cannot live without him. As Stanley says later, she seems to have loved being pulled down from those columns.

Stella as a victim of domestic violence

For example, Stella's a victim of domestic violence, as evidenced in the third scene in which the stage directions note that "there is the sound of a blow. Stella cries out" and in this instance of off-stage violence, all the abuse endured by women behind closed doors becomes clear- as Stella clutches at her face and weeps for the fact that she was hurt most by the one she loves, it's possible that some of the women watching her plight from the audience might have empathized with that same grief, and confusion, and shame.

"What have I done to my sister? Oh, God, what have I done to my sister?"

Given that Stella cannot imagine life without Stanley, her willingness to sacrifice her sister becomes predictable. By doing this she will carry her guilt as a price to be paid for the preservation of her marriage. She cannot face the reality which she knows is true. This is similar to her sister - Blanche and how she detaches from reality and sees life only as she wishes to perceive. However, because she has seen reality before, she cannot act as if she hasn't and thus goes insane.

Stanley is also guilty of trying to mold his wife's mind

He is continually trying to convince Stella that they had a better life together before her sister's arrival. He wants Stella to ask her sister to leave, and he continues his efforts in doing this. He does not need Stella's consent to throw Blanche out of his house but he, nevertheless, strives to get his wife's approval. Stella is reminded of the "colored lights" of their sex life together and of the happiness they once shared. He delights in telling Stella of her sister's immorality, hoping that this too will turn his wife against Blanche. Stanley tells her that it will be all right once again between them as soon as Blanche leaves.

Stella adapting to Stanley

If Stella is to hold her husband, she must adapt to his clumsy manners and insulting gestures, accept his violence, enjoy his cycles of brutality and penitence, believe his improbable denials, accept his protection and his ascendancy; in return, she will have her home and her children, and protection from a world and a society that might even have inflicted far worse on a young woman like her of the time. "No, it isn't all right for anybody to make such a terrible row, but- people do sometimes" we hear Stella tell Blanche in Scene Four, and in her resignation to the fact of her husband's boorish behaviour we can understand the compromise made by many women in 1940s America, including Williams' own mother- the decision to stay in abusive circumstances because of the belief that without a man, the woman could not survive.

Stella- weak character

If Stella were a strong character with a definite mind of her own, a three-way conflict and not a two-way conflict would appear in the play. Stella would have a definite standard of action and would pursue this throughout the course of the play. But her definite vacillation between the two opposite poles of Blanche and Stanley is only possible because of her weakness. This quality in her character enables her to become a pawn in the death struggle between the two major characters.

"You'll get along fine together, if you'll just try not to - well - compare him with men that we went out with at home."

It clearly shows the difference between the men in Bell Reve and New Orleans. It tells us about how their society is changing from the old aristocratic order to a new industrial, working class society and how Blanche is still stuck in the past. Therefore she's not used to the attitudes of the new order in Elysian Fields.

"Don't holler at me like that. Hi, Mitch"

She wants to show that she is a strong character, however the fact that Stanley has thrown a chunk of meat at her indicates how she has no control in their relationship. She is a submissive character who always ends up following whatever Stanley wants her to do as she chases after Stanley on his way to the bowling alley

Stella as the battlefield

Stella DuBois Kowalski is, then, a vital part in the struggle between these two worlds, and she is also the bridge between these two worlds. Both Blanche and Stanley are guilty of trying to involve Stella in their quarrel. Both attempt to win Stella over as an ally. Stella is the battlefield for those two warring factions, and both try to use her to accomplish their own ends.

"Don't be such an idiot, Stanley!" and "You have no idea...Now close that trunk before she comes out of the bathroom!" contrasts with Stanley "Since when do you give me orders?"

Stella is the caring one, wishing to protect Blanche but Stanley can easily ignore her orders. From the play we get the impression that Stanley is cruel, arrogant, selfish, and an extremely dominating figure. If he's the only one that's 'likely to get anywhere' it shows that to come out on top of society you had to be all those bad things, in order to survive.

[Carefully pouring herself a drink] "Tell you what, Blanche?"

Stella is very calm in comparison to Blanche as she "carefully" pours her drink whereas Blanche talks incessantly. It shows the difference between the aristocratic society and the working class society as Williams through this stage direction indicates that the working class society, through Stella's action, has a better grip on reality. Stella's calmness is also significant as it indicates that there she has definitely chosen to live in Stanley's world, despite the occasional violence

Stella's role in the play

The glaring contrast and fierce struggle between the two worlds of Stanley Kowalski and Blanche DuBois are the main themes of Williams' play. These two worlds are so diametrically opposed that they can never meet. Thus, in order to bring these two together — to have these two encounter each other — Williams has created Stella. By simply having her married to Stanley and by having her be Blanche's sister, Williams then creates the perfect opportunity of bringing these two opposing worlds together under one roof.

Stella shows reconciliation's possible

The problem between the play's two main characters seems not to be the irreconcilable worlds which they represent, but the rigid inflexibility of Stanley and Blanche in their respective attitudes. Stella seems to indicate that such a reconciliation is possible. She is not a perfect blend; however, she does show that a mixture of the two viewpoints can be workable.

Stella must stay with Stanley

The shadows of men loom large over the women in the play, which could lead a feminist critic could interpret the play as demonstrating Tennessee Williams' view that the mechanisms of patriarchy in American society in the 1940s made it difficult for women to survive independently- in spite of the stinging of the swipe Stanley takes at her, Stella must remain steadfast and loyal because she lives in a time in which any option beside standing by your man would involve poverty and degradation, becoming no more than a "wrecked" woman rather than a "kept" one.

"You haven't given me a chance to, honey!" [She laughs but her glance at Blanche is little anxious]

The stage directions here might be showing that Stella is feeling embarrassed about the place she's living in and maybe she wants to make Blanche feel more welcome in the house.

"[To Eunice] Tell her how well she's looking" and she says to Stanley "And admire her dress and tell her she's looking wonderful. That's important with Blanche. Her little weakness!"

The two quotations show that Blanche is a character who places a great deal of importance in her outward appearance, as someone from an aristocratic society would do. Stella is being considerate towards her sister because she knows that Blanche would like to be appreciated for looking good. Also the "her little weakness" shows how Blanche is dependent on others in society to maintain her character - she has very little self-confidence - she seeks approval - this is why she really wants a man in her life because he would tell her what to do.

[Sadly and doubtfully from the kitchen] "Do you, Blanche?" and [turning quickly away] "Why, nothing has happened, Blanche"

This is when Stella is told about Blanche's past, at first she doesn't believe it but then in the end she does. The stage direction shows that Stella doesn't want to show her sister that she is weak and therefore turns away. However this may also reflect the way Stella turns her back on Blanche at the end of the play when Blanche leaves. Both of these actions are similar, as she again has to believe Stanley that the rape didn't take place and also being forced to stay with Stanley due to the baby.

Stella remains passive

This weakness alone makes her a battleground. Stella does not attain the blend of the two worlds because she wills it; they simply come together to form this blend without her assistance. She remains passive throughout the play.

Stella's two basic functions

Thus, the character of Stella fulfills two basic functions. She is deeply involved in the battle between her sister and her husband. She is torn between the two factions unmercifully. But she is also the only one who can attempt to bridge the gap between these two arch enemies and all that they represent. She certainly does have some thoughts independent of the dynamic forces in her home; however, on the whole, she maintains a passive role.