It took me a little while to get the motivation to read this play. I personally didn't think it was the most entertaining play I’ve dealt with. I did think it was interesting how they portrayed different characters and how they changed throughout the story. Blanche seemed like the dying breed of the old fashioned women while her sister, Stella, love Blanche but did not agree with a lot of what she said.
Stella falls in love with a man who is the complete opposite of Blanche. Stanley and Stella have a baby in the end of the story but throughout the play
Sunday, March 25, 2007
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6 comments:
I agree that Blanche symbolized the "old south," making her, like you said, the last of a dying breed. So much of the conflict between Stanley and Blanche is that Stanley represents the "new south." Stanley allows Stella to also be a part of this world. Although they grew up together and come from the same background, Stella and Blanche are now in completely different places and Blanche was unable to cope. I also don't think that it wasn't that Stella didn't believe Blanche, it was more that she had to choose which reality she wanted to live in.
Also Blanche was considered a "Southern Belle", her life may have given us another thought. She was very sexually active, told such great lies, and created a fantasy world for herself. The only part of Blanche's life that was a typical Southern Belle was her insisting on being waited on.
Although Stella and Blanche came from the same background, Stella broke out of the "Old South" ways and adapted to her new life in New Orleans. I think Blanche was completely shocked by Stella's adjustment and wanted to bring her back into the old ways Blanche was used to.
I agree that Stella and Blanche didn't agree on much, but that was probably because Blanche had such extravagant stories. Blanche just wanted attention and desperately seeked it from Stella. In the end, she ended up getting attention from Stanley. However, it wasn't the attention she was looking for.
it was so dissapointing to read that stella would rather ship her sister off to a mental hospital and ignore what her husband had done to her, than to stick with family expecialy after such awful circumstances. It said a lot about Stella, that she would rather have security with a man who beats her and humiliates her infront of his friends, than to do what is right, and go with your sister, and save your baby from having to live with the man that raped your sister and beats you. I would believe that this was actually how it was in the south, things were different and i would believe that many people would do anything to just get by. even if it means, becoming a prostitute and getting kicked out of a town, or staying with an abusive husband who betrayed you and raped your sister. you have to do what you can to survive.
I do not really think that Stanley was concerned with getting caught. I agree with your shock that Stella did not believe Blanche. That is her sister, and Stella also knew how abusive, controlling, and humiliating Stanley can be. A man like Stanley fits the mold of a typical mold of a person who would rape someone. He wanted to degrade and humiliate Blanche, and he appeared to be very successful in doing so.
To tell your sister that her husband raped you would be hard enough in itself, but for her to "not believe" you would be so much worse. Then top it off, Blanche was sent to a mental institution!- talk about humiliating!
I agree that the reaction from Stella to the rape by Stanley wasn’t outrage and disgust. It seemed obvious that she knew what had occurred, and still didn’t stand up and say something. Instead she allowed her sister to be taken to a psychiatric hospital. I don’t believe that Stanley was concerned with being caught, and even if he was he felt as though he had enough control over Stella that it wouldn’t be much of an issue. We later learn that it didn’t seem to be an issue at all. Stella never brought the situation up, and ignored the fact that it ever happened. Its disturbing that Stella didn’t stand up against her husband, but during this time period most women would not speak out against their husband. If she did turn in Stanley, where would that leave her? Stanley supported and loved her, and if she did not have that she would be in the same situation as Blanche. Blanche was broke, desperate and really had nowhere to turn. Stella didn’t want to be put in the same situation.
I was also shocked that Stella took Stanley's side over Blanche's. I believe that Stella knew that her sister was telling the truth, that she was actually raped by Stanley, but chose to ignore it because she didn't want to give up Stanley. I would never have been able to forgive my husband for something as violent as raping my own sister, or anyone else. I think Stella thought she had no where else to go, and didn't want to end up alone like her sister, so she chose to stay with Stanley.
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