A Streetcar Named Desire Feminist Analysis

Feminism is a belief or ideology aimed at achieving social, ppolitical and economic equality for women. This push for equaliity amongst the sexes has enabled women to earn equal wages, to sign contracts, to own property amongst much more in the economic field. On a more personal level, women have been given the right to control their bodies and have been given more protection from abuse. It would appear as if Stella, of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, is a victim of abuse from Stanley, however she isnt so much a victim as she is an enabler because she accepts the abuse and does little in the way of prevention or avertion.
Stella is not purely a victim of abuse because she gives Stanley the ability to behave in such a way.

In the play, Williams expresses the concept of conformity when Stella comes down form Eunice’s appartment to re-join Stanley. Stella is physicallly harmed by stanley causing her to flee from their home yet she is drawn back by nothing far from the behavior of a loud alley cat. Stella acts as though nothing had happened all because Stanley, who couldnt live without his “babydoll”, claimed to be utterly and entirely remoresful for his actions. Tennessee Williams additionally instils the concept of helplessness when Mitch tells Blanche not to take the nights events seriously because Stanley and Stella are “crazy about each other”. The notion that these events are unimportant creates the idea that they are mostlikely of common occurance between the two. The fact that Stella returns to stanley is proof to him that she cant walk away; without him she is helpless.
Nonetheless, numerous critics argue that Stella is a victim of abuse because even though she is vocal in her mistreatment, she is unheard making it impossible for her to free herself from Stanley. Stella has made a number of attempts to control or influence Stanley thus far in the play, however, when her attempts are thwarted she accepts the failure. Williams develops the concept of accepting failure when Stella attempts to convince Stanley to step out while Blanche is dressing but leaves the house alone when Stanley disreguards her requests. Had Stella truely wanted to assert some level of dominance she wouldnt have left the house so quickly, by doing such she shows stanley that she doesnt give him orders, revealing a fatal weakness. Stellas return to Stanley later that night is proof that she will return to him no matter the situation because she “needs” him.
In summary, Stellas behavior characterizes her as more of an enableer than a victim. The actions she takes reguarding current situations are proof that she provides Stanley with the power to victimize her.