Streetcar Named Desire Stanley Violence Essay

How does Williams present Stanley’s ever-growing violence?

Stanley seems to be introduced as a provocative character, but throughout the play Stanley’s violent behaviour crescendos from being argumentative, to violating.

When we are first introduced to Stanley, the audience could perceive him to be slightly argumentative but ultimately harmless. When Stanley first meets Blanche he says “H’llo” which seems to be slightly too informal for a first meeting. Even though it could be seen as a little bit rude it is not an act of aggression. Furthermore, when talking to Blanche he asks lots of questions like “You’re a teacher aren’t you?” and “What do you teach?”

Stanley also does not let Blanche give too long an answer and even goes as far as interrupting

her. At one point in scene one Blanche is thinking of an answer to Stanley’s statement (“I-uh”) only to be cut off by Stanley who asks “Where you from Blanche?”
Finally, the types of questions Stanley asks Blanche could be perceived to be too personal for a first meeting, which again could be seen as rude.

Stanley asks about Blanche’s marriage to which Blanche confesses that “the boy died.” This interaction upsets Blanche as she lets “her head fall into her arms.”

Ultimately Stanley, at worst is presented as an aggravating uncaring character but not what most would describe as violent. However, Stanley’s mannerisms clash with Blanche’s which could be indicative of a future confrontation.

In the second scene of the play Stanley’s behaviour increases from provocative to argumentative, with Stanley overstepping more and more barriers throughout the scene.

The scene begins with Stanley arguing or at the very least speaking with little respect for Stella. He consistently uses a sarcastic tone (“So that’s the deal-huh? Sister Blanche cannot be annoyed” and “Well isn’t that just dandy!”) and refuses to let the subject of the Belle-Rue go, even though Stella makes it clear that it is not a subject that is ready to be talked about.

Later on in the scene Stanley goes through Blanche’s belongings in a very careless manner as seen when he “pulls open the wardrobe trunk” and “jerks out an armful of dresses.” He becomes increasingly violent with his actions as he “hurls” and “kicks” Blanche’s

possessions.
Further on in the scene there is an interaction with Blanche that despite Blanche’s best efforts to maintain light-hearted turns out to be aggressive and upsetting.

Blanche “playfully sprays him” with her atomiser to which he reacts by seizing it and slamming it on the dresser. In addition to this Blanche makes a joke about paper being the “first anniversary gift” in response to Stanley’s belittling statement of “Papers! That stuff people write on!” The interaction hits an aggressive peak when Stanley “snatches” Blanche’s love letters to which she responds by speaking “fiercely” which is uncharacteristic of Blanche.

At this point in the play the audience might feel more wary of Stanley and could see that his behaviour is more than aggravating but argumentative and to an extent

violent.

For me, Stanley’s aggression peaks at scene three and scene ten where his behaviour crescendos dramatically from being argumentative to assault and violation.
Scene three starts with Stanley being in a characteristic bad mood and seemingly trying to start an argument. We see him speak rudely and inconsiderately to Mitch who after saying he has a “sick mother” Stanley retorts with “why don’t you stay at home with her?” Stanley interrupts Steve’s story which we see in the stage directions when Stanley becomes “impatient with the story.”
We see Stanley’s violence intensifies through stage directions which shows Stanley “bellowing” and “yelling” and shows how he “jerks roughly at curtains” and “tosses the instrument out of the window.” This section of the scene ends with physical aggression the audience hearing “the sound of a blow” and Stella cry out.
In scene ten we see a familiar exchange between Stanley and Blanche; slowly increasing in tension and aggression.
The scene ends with Stanley “overturning the table” and carrying Blanche to bed. Stanley’s aggression hits its pinnacle when he rapes Blanche, completely violating and humiliating her.