A LEVEL STREETCAR CRITICAL ANALYSIS, CONTEXT AND AO2 ANALYSIS
Essay- Stanley and Mitch in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Essay- Are the men admirable in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
All for this textbook (17)
Written for
A/AS Level
CCEA
English Literature
Unit AS 1 - The Study of Drama
All documents for this subject (53)
Seller
Follow
jessiebolton06
Reviews received
Content preview
Stella Kowalski
SCENE ONE
● “He heaves the package at her…cries out in protest but… laughed breathlessly”-
Stella enables and is thrilled by Stanley’s actions, but the initial “cries” hints at their
marital problems.
● “When he’s away for a week I nearly go wild!”- Stella’s hyperbolic exclamation
highlights her dependence on Stanley, and reiterates how she is settled in a new life-
Blanche doesn’t want to lose her sister to this new world.
SCENE TWO
● “There weren’t any papers, she didn’t show me any papers. I don’t care about
papers”- The repetition shows Stella’s desperation, highlighting the conflict in her
marriage.
SCENE THREE
● “Couldn’t you call it quits after one more hand? […Stanley gives a loud whack of his
hand on her thigh]”- Stanley doesn’t respect Stella enough for a response, but uses
her for immediate sexual gratification.
○ Stella responds “[sharply] That’s not fun, Stanley”. The stage direction is the
first indication that Stella isn’t happy in the marriage, and tension begins to
build between the husband and wife.
● “Stanley’s the only one of his crowd that’s likely to get anywhere.” The simple
sentence (with a singular clause) displays an assertive tone, demonstrating Stella’s
blind devotion to Stanley, even when she is angry at him. This shows how she is
entirely dependent on her husband, wooed by his charms.
● Stella is wilfully ignorant of Blanche’s flaws. She warns “You’re standing in the light,
Blanche!”, perpetuating her sister's secrecy and dishonesty.
● Stella speaks “[with girlish laughter]” the stage direction highlights her femininity,
which will play a part in the tension between Stanley and the women. The adjective
indicates her closeness with Blanche, alluding to a past where they were friends.
This closeness with Blanche foreshadows tension between Stella and Stanley, and
implies that Stanley may turn against his wife (as his hatred of Blanche is already
obvious).
○ It is Stanley that interrupts this moment between the sisters, indicating how he
shatters Stella’s connection to her past (“You hens cut out that conversation
in there!”- see notes on Stanley).
● “This is my house and I’ll talk as much as I want to!”- the repetition of the personal
pronouns creates an assertive tone, supported by the exclamation mark. This shows
a rare occasion of Stella being self-assured within the marriage, foreshadowing
conflict.
● “Drunk- drunk- animal thing, you!”- The metaphor (which portrays Stanley as a beast)
demonstrates that Stella also sees Stanley’s wicked, primitive nature, despite her
forgiveness. The repetition of “drunk” implies that Stella only has the courage to
acknowledge Stanley’s faults when there is something else to direct her blame
towards. It’s easier to accuse Stanley of being vulgar with a drinking problem, than to
confess that he is fundamentally abusive. Stella is the one to take action, not the
men. Whenever it comes to domestic violence and the constant underlying issue of
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessiebolton06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.33. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.