Streetcar Named

Desire Scene 4
Priya Samra
Summary and what came before
this scene
The morning after Stanley hit Stella, Blanche comes hesitantly and frightened to the Kowalski apartment, “she has spent a sleepless
night” “she presses her knuckles nervously”. Pg 40

At the end of the previous scene Stella goes back to Stanley, much to the confusion of Blanche. “I’ve been half crazy, Stella! When I
found you’d been insane enough to come back in here after what happened”. Pg 41. Scene 3 conveys the theme of domestic abuse,
a norm in many households but very rarely talked about. Williams is holding a mirror up to his own life, his father was an abusive
alcoholic who would take his aggression out on Williams’ mother and Williams. In this case, Stella seems to be under the spell of some
of the violence- as she say that she finds some of it “thrilling”. Pg 42. Stella tries to convince Blanche that she is perfectly happy in her
relationship but a frustrated Blanche, ignores her and tries to avert the conversation by mentioning her previous lover Shep Huntleigh,
Blanche talks of contacting him because she no longer feels that she has Stella anymore to help her. Blanche tells Stella that she only has
“sixty-five cents to her name” and that she needs to leave because she believes that Stanley poses a threat to Blanche, Stella tries to
explain that Stanley’s behaviour the night before was as worst as it would get but Blanche refuses to believe so. Stella remains calm and
simply asserts that she loves Stanley. Then Blanche asks if she may speak plainly. At this moment, Stanley enters the room unheard by
Blanche and Stella, and he overhears Blanche's comments. Blanche says that Stanley is common and bestial. He has animal habits and is
a "survivor of the Stone Age." pg 47. She pleads with Stella to remember some of the advances of civilization and not to "hang back
with the brutes." pg 47. At this point, Stanley leaves quietly and calls from outside. When he comes in, Stella throws herself into his
arms.
Analysis
“I was-sort of-thrilled by it” pg 42 (sexual desire, dependence, masculinity and dominance)- although Stella seems to reject
Stanley’s violence, Stella is clearly aroused by Stanley’s aggression much to the “confusion” of Blanche. Stella’s “face is serene”
displaying how quick Stella is to dismiss Stanley’s violence showing really how dependent Stella is on Stanley.

“Pull yourself together and face the facts”- Blanche refutes Stella and wants her to understand that Stella is not living in reality,
Blanche claims that Stella is almost addicted to Stanley, “your fix is worse than mine is”.

“What you are talking about is brutal desire–just–Desire!–the name of that rattle-trap street-car that bangs through the
Quarter.” Stella defends her relationship with Stanley through their sexual chemistry. Blanche uses the streetcar named Desire
symbolically, saying that carnal desire is not a way to run a life. But Blanche herself has ridden Desire to arrive in New Orleans; in other
words, her own lust has taken her to the end of the line.

This scene portrays the deep contrasts the two sisters’ attitudes to passion, shining a light on the basic differences between them ,
regardless of their upbringing and social values they grew up on. This difference affects Stella’s decision in Blanche’s fate at the end of
the play.

CONTEXT: Tennessee Williams had actually seen in New Orleans and streetcar with the destination of Desire.