Streetcar Critics

Scene 4- Desire

“[Blanche and Stanley] are less victim and villain…than mutual victims of Desire.” (Cardullo)

Scene 10- Violence

‘The rape of Blanche by Stanley is a pivotal, integral truth in the play, without which the play loses its meaning, which is the ravishment of the tender, the sensitive, the delicate by the savage and brutal forces in modern society.’ (Williams)

Society

‘One major theme of my work is the destructive power of society on the sensitive non-conformist individual.’ (Williams)

Masculinity

‘The ‘sensual brute’ Stanley, Blanche’s young husband Allan, and the naive Mitch together epitomize the conflicting masculine identities available in Williams’ stage world.’ (Bubb)

Society- Antebellum v Working Class

He sees his place in society threatened by Blanche, whose values grate with the ideal of the ‘American Dream’, which promised that success is attainable through effort and hard work, rather than being dependent on social connections and privilege.’ (Freeman)