Lured by Lights: Stella S Dependence on Stanley in a Streetcar Named Desire

Ferrell 1

Ginny Ferrell

Professor Richards

ENGL 357

November 30, 2010

Lured by Lights: Stella’s Dependence on Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire

In “Tennessee Williams and the Predicament of Women,” Louise Blackwell explains how “frustration is the surface evidence of the predicament of [Tennessee Williams’s] female characters” (9). This is largely due to his drama deriving “from the characters’ recognition of certain needs within themselves and their consequent demands to find the ‘right’ mate” (9).

Through this frustration, Williams’s female characters, particularly Stella Kowalski, tend to be dependent on male characters and subsequently find themselves victimized by them. Throughout

Blackwell’s article, she categorizes places Williams’ female characters according to their situation at the time of their action. Blackwell explains Stella as being one of the “women who have subordinated themselves to a domineering and often inferior person in an effort to attain reality and meaning through communication with another person” (11). Stella’s category presents being dependent on someone else. In A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella succumbs to dependence and victimization of her husband Stanley Kowalski. This comes as no surprise because this play was written post World War Two when the balance of power between genders in America had completely shifted. In A Streetcar Named Desire Williams exposes the reality of the gender struggle. Williams creates Stella’s character as one who views male companionship as her way of having economic, sexual, and emotional stability; however, this is problematic because she sacrifices her happiness for their relationship. Ferrell 2

One reason Stella stays with Stanley is to ensure the economic well being of her child.

This is further supported by Eunice’s insistence to stay with Stanley while waiting for Blanche to be taken to the psychiatric ward. As presented in scene one, Stella is superior in socio-economic background compared to Stanley. She comes from a well-off plantation in Mississippi, Belle

Reve, and reared by a very educated and wealthy family. Yet despite her economic privilege,

Stella “went out to find her place in the world,” (Blackwell 10) in New Orleans, Louisiana, and marries the lower-class Stanley, who works as “a Master Sergeant in the Engineers’ Corps”

(Williams 24). However, due to Belle Reve’s deterioration, Stella no longer has the economic stability and must rely on Stanley for economic support. Without financial support Stella would have difficulty providing the necessary funds to raise a child. The last scene while waiting for

Blanche to be taken to a psychiatric ward, Stella’s neighbor, Eunice, adamantly states to Stella that male companionship is a woman’s means of survival in the face of social convention. Eunice asks Stella, “what else could you do?" (Williams 133). If Stella were to leave Stanley because of the abuse or because she chose to believe Blanche about Stanley raping her, she could not sufficiently care for the baby. Eunice is trying to enforce that without her marriage to Stanley there will be no financial stability for Stella and her child. Consequently, Stella decides that the best option to raise her child would be to depend on Stanley and their relationship.

Even though Stella and Stanley’s relationship is a violent one, it is also one that entices her sexually. Stella even states in scene four how on their honeymoon, Stanley ran around their apartment and “smashed all the light bulbs with the heel of her slipper” and how she was simply

“thrilled” (64) by Stanley’s animalistic outburst. Stella thinks that Stanley can provide her with a steady life, fulfill her sexual desires, and give her sensual pleasure. She is parallel to Edna

Pontellier in Lee R. Edwards “Sexuality, Maternity, and Selfhood.” Edwards states that Edna Ferrell 3 feels “stranded” and “tortured” (283) and that “meaning has leached from the world” (Edwards

284) when Robert leaves, much as Stella feels when Stanley leaves. Stella cannot bear the feeling of separation from her sexual partner. Stella mentions that “when Stanley's away for a week I nearly go wild” and when “Stanley comes back I cry on his lap like a baby” (Williams

25). Unfortunately, their sexual life is so wonderful that Stella gives into Stanley's physical abuse. Stella’s reliance on Stanley is quite clear when they still make love that night after he abuses her and she lies blissfully in her bedroom the next morning and her “face is serene” (62).

In addition, scene four presents the idea that Stella is completely dependent on Stanley after

Blanche tries to suggest observations she has made about him and how he treats Stella:

He acts like an animal, has an animal's habits! Eats like one, moves like one, talks like

one! […] there he is—Stanley Kowalski— survivor of the stone age! […]And you—you

here—waiting for him! Maybe he'll strike you or maybe grunt and kiss you! […] Maybe

we are a long way from being made in God's image, but Stella - my sister - there has been

some progress since then […] don't—don't hang back with the brutes! (72)

However, Stella ignores Blanches words and only believes in her own because she is reliant on her sexual relationship with Stanley. Stella makes this abundantly clear by stating that “there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark—that sort of make everything else seem—unimportant” (70).

Although emotional support is not seen consistently throughout A Streetcar Named

Desire, Stella and Stanley’s relationship cannot last unless there is some emotional stability.

When Stella is willing to send her sister to a mental institution rather than believe that Stanley has raped Blanche we see just how far a seemingly gentle and attractive woman will go to defend her husband. Since Stella is removing her sister—her last surviving close family member—from Ferrell 4 her life, she is must emotionally rely on Stanley. Stella has always enjoyed the idea of a normal, traditional family with Stanley and now that she is pregnant with his child, Stella latches on to the idea of family and the emotional support of one. Even with the audience knowing that Stella has suffered plenty from the hands of Stanley, it is unlikely that she believes nothing of

Blanche’s story, especially when Stella states how she “couldn’t believe her and go on living with Stanley,” (Williams 132) suggesting that Stella is not letting anyone, including her sister, interfere with her chance of an emotionally sound family. Even though Stella does not know whether or not she “did the right thing,” (Williams 133) Eunice insists that what Stella did was the right thing by stating, “don’t ever believe it. Life has got to go on. No matter what happens, you’ve got to keep going,” (Williams 133). Life continuing depends on having the social protection and emotional support of marriage and a family, regardless of the cost. Stella accepts the overdone comfort Stanley offers at the end of play, which is sprinkled with endearments like

“now, love,”(Williams 142). This conforms to the emotional script Stella needs for life to go on.

However, staying with Stanley is problematic for Stella because she subjects both herself and her family to his violence. Towards the end of scene three the audience witnesses Stanley physically abusing Stella. Furthermore, even though the audience never sees him assault Stella again, the audience unfortunately has the knowledge of him raping Blanche in scene ten when

Stanley states, “we’ve had this date for a long time” (130) and carries her body to the bed. In addition, Stella’s perceived dependence on Stanley allows her to deny the violent nature of the relationship. In scene four, Blanche is trying to convince Stella that she is in complete denial:

Stella: What do you want me to do?

Blanche: Pull yourself together and face the facts.

Stella: What are they, in your opinion? Ferrell 5

Blanche: In my opinion? You’re married to a madman!

Stella: No! (64-65)

Ultimately, by living in denial she prolongs her inability to get out of the relationship. Lastly,

Stella’s relationship with Stanley is problematic due to his jealousy. Stanley finds it very difficult to allow others into Stella’s life because he feels he is the only one that deserves to be part of it.

When Blanche enters their home, Stella’s sympathetic towards her tragic marriage and loss of

Belle Reve. In Stanley’s eyes, this was threat to his relationship with Stella because it took attention away from him. Stanley's jealousy dominates his relationship with Stella, therefore suffocating his wife.

The total dependency of a wife on her husband is one of the female roles prescribed by society. Williams presents that social conditions taught Stella to maintain the patriarchal ideal of womanhood, that is, to become a woman whose only desire is to love a man and to be loved by him, to serve him and become dependent on him. Such an idea becomes a source for Stella' s dependency; however, it also conflicts with her happiness. She tends to be self-sacrificing and submissive because her relationship with Stanley is the most valuable part of her life. Williams illustrates the consequences of trying to adhere to a patriarchal society that emphasizes male dependency. Stella believes that if she wasn’t with Stanley, she could not function well economically, sexually, or emotionally. Despite Stella’s belief that she is in a stable relationship with Stanley, in reality she is in a violent and tumultuous one. Williams illustrates the consequences of trying to adhere to a patriarchal society, which emphasizes male dependency. Ferrell 6

Works Cited

Blackwell, Louise. "Tennessee Williams and the Predicament of Women." South Atlantic

Bulletin 35.2 (1970): 9-14. Print.

Edwards, Lee R. “Sexuality, Maternity, and Selfhood.” The Awakening: A Norton Critical

2nd Edition. Ed. Margo Colby: W.W. Norton, 2010. 282-85.

Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar Named Desire. New York: Penguin, 1951. Print.