To what extent is this view of life reflected in the actions of Stanley, Blanche and Stella?

'A Streetcar Named Desire' is a very socially challenging play in the way in which Tennessee Williams depicts how brutal and deceiving human nature can be. He takes the point of view that no matter how structured or 'civilized' society is, all people will rely on their natural animal instincts, such as dominance and deception, to get themselves out of trouble at some stage in life, even if they don't realize it.

William's has created three main characters of society, they are, Blanche Dubiou, Stella and Stanley Kowalski. Each of these characters are equally as civilized as one another, yet their acts of savagery are all on different levels. Throughout the play Williams symbolically relates these three characters to animals, 'savages,' by the use of their attitudes, beliefs, appearances and desires.

1"For such characters, no hope can be offered, for they can only react, not act."

The most obvious 'savage' character of A Streetcar Named Desire is Stanley Kowalski. He is a large we

In the powerful scene where Stanley looses total control of his actions and strikes the person who he has sworn to protect, love and to hold. William's shows Stanley's lack of control and hatred to a new threat in his life, Blanche. What makes this scene so important to the topic is the way that the three characters react once the party has broken up. Blanche is in her usual state of panic, Stella has retreated to up-stairs while Stanley stumbles around calling out 'Steeelllaaa' in a drunken sweaty animal like manner. Surprisingly Stella answers to her 'mate's' calls and embraces him, they then exchange words of compassion and kiss, Stanley then picks her up and carries her off to his den to make-love, which is Stanley's way of saying sorry.

William's character Stella seems to set the standard for the civilized person, but at a closer look Stella may be just as guilty of savagery as Stanley and Blanche. The humble Stella has 'desires' just like Blanche and Stanley; she needs Stanley for his security and companionship, she likes to feel overpowered by a rugged man. Stella's weakness is present throughout the play, when she takes Stanley's word over Stella's, but more so when she goes back to Stanley after being struck by him. Stella wakes up in the morning and everything is back to normal after turning on the 'colored lights' with Stanley.

In this scene William's reveals to the readers the fine line between civilized and savage behavior by p

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Approximate Word count = 980
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)