A Streetcar Named Desire: The Repression of Women in the 20th Century

A Streetcar Named Desire: The Repression of Women in the 20th Century.

Feminist critics, are people who agree to the idea that gender differences are culturally determined, and not born with it, interpret literature as a record of male dominance; particularly the repression by men. The play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams shows the attitudes of men who impose their will on women and try to convince them of their inferiority. the way they interact with women, discuss them, look at them, talk to them, use and abuse them. Williams highlights this gender struggle to represent the continual fight for supremacy on the one hand - and equality on the other - in the home between men and women and in the country between the Old south and the New America. Williams uses symbolism and characterization to show how women in 20th century were still being repressed by mean and did not had their own place in society, which leads to women not having freedom of doing and saying what they wish.

Tennessee Williams different characters in the play to bring out the theme of gender stereotyping against women. The main women portrayed in this light in the play are Stella and Blanche DuBois. The main protagonist of the play Blanche DuBois is portrayed in a pitiful light and the audience is able to see gender stereotyping through her and Stella through her actions and speech. The themes connected to these characters and gender stereotyping are the inability to separate reality from fantasy, fear of death, sensual desire and dependence on men. “Please don’t get up. ‘Nobody’s going to get up, so don’t be worried” (Scene 3, page 50). This characterizes Blanche as someone who desires is to be admired, loved and respected. She is proud yet...

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...tury faced at the hands of men. Williams play magnifies how women are incapable of doing the necessary work to survive; the play also says that women are incompetent and dependent on man. Stella’s inability to leave her abusive, rapist husband shows her weakness as an individual in a moral way; it also identifies herself as the wife that stands by her husband and no one else. She stays with him because she feels that a family cannot be complete without the presence of a man. By defining these qualities of a woman the author is trying to show what feminism is against. From a feminist perspective a woman is as capable as a man at making a living for themselves and their family; they also view abuse as something that shouldn't be tolerated from any gender. It also supports women as family heads and capable of giving a child the environment they need to grow and learn.