Contrasting Characters: Blanche and Stanley in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

First Name: Amanda Johnson

TOR: Deprey 13/14

English 11

30 March 2017

Love vs. Reality

Have you ever wondered if a romanticist could ever have similarities with a realist? In the Southern Gothic play, A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams, the two main characters, Blanche Dubois and Stanley Kowalski, are contrasted as polar opposites of one another. In the beginning of the play, Blanche decides to visit her sister Stella in New Orleans for a couple days but then, throughout the story, Blanche prolongs her stay until one day her sister has had enough and makes her leave. In the play there are many similarities and differences between the two main characters, Blanche and Stanley, that teaches us what happens when a

It is very straightforward that Blanche and Stanley have different appearances from one another. As we met Blanche in the beginning of the play she was introduced as an innocent, delicate, and pure person. She arrives at Stella’s house daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice, necklace, earrings, gloves, and a hat. While Stanley was dressed the exact opposite, roughly dressed wearing blue denim work clothes. Another major difference between the two main characters was their interests. Blanche was known for doing anything that dealt with using money, clothes, or jewelry. In every scene of A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche was getting dressed in a new beautiful garment. It was also known that she loved to be admired and complimented all of the time. While on the other hand, Stanley’s interests were more laid back and enjoyable such as: drinking, bowling, and playing poker with his friends. As you can see, these two main characters are portrayed as total opposites even though they do have some

One similarity between Blanche and Stanley is that they both are controlling over other people. In the play, Blanche is very desperate for wanting a man to take care of her which makes her very controlling when there is a man in her life. Stanley becomes very abusive and controlling when he gets upset or doesn’t get what he wants. Another similarity these two characters have in common is the way they take advantage of other people. Blanche takes advantage of the young boy who comes to collect the newspaper and gives him a kiss. Stanley takes advantage of Stella when he makes her feel bad and makes her do things. Williams has made it clear that even though Blanche and Stanley have differences they also have similarities with each