FREE ESSAY ON A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE

A STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE

ANIMAL INSTINCTS
'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 is 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.
The most obvious example of a savage in the play is Stanley Kowalski. He is a large
well-toned, territorial male with simple beliefs and a short temper. He does not have
many manners and does not care what people think of him. He seems very simple but there I
much more to him. He feels threatened by Blanche because she moves in on his territory
and wants Stella to leave him. At first, Stanley acts physically dominant over both
Blanche and Stella; by rifling through Blanches possessions (act 1 scene 3 pg.124 ),
quoting to Stella and Blanche that "every man is a king" (act scene 8 pg.197-198 ),
throwing the radio out the window in a drunken frenzy and actually striking his pregnant
wife (Stella) (act 1 scene 3 pg. 152-155). However, towards the end of the play, Stanley
realizes his power over Blanche and he acts a lot wiser, but still with the same
intentions. He dresses smarter, talks to her nicely, but mockingly, and finally rapes her
just to prove his status and to fulfill his "desire" (act 1, scene 10, pg.215). 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. Stanley has to be the domineering
figure in his relationships we see it not only with Stella and Blanche, but with his
friends as well. He is a leader and does not like it when someone tries to complicate his
role.
William's uses a different type of savagery in Blanche's character. Blanche is more
deceptive and exaggerated than Stanley is, he tries to hide her age, from others, by
constant bathing and dim lighting, and from herself, by drinking and lying. Through out
the whole play she is trying to hide here real identity, the actual animal instincts that
are inside her. She hides these with perfume, wearing fancy clothes, even by putting a
lampshade to hide the actual light. She also attempts to steal Stella away from Stanley
by relating him to an animal. This is best represented when Blanche says; 
He acts like an animal, has animals habits! 
Eats like one, moves like one, talks like one!
There's even something - sub-human - something 
Not quite to the stage of humanity yet! Yes, 
something - ape-like about him, like one of those
pictures I've seen in - anthropological studies! 
Thousands and thousands of years have passed 
him right by, and there he is - Stanley Kowalski -
survivor of the Stone Age! Bearing the raw meat 
home from the kill in the jungle!studies! Thousands
and thousands of years have passed him right by, and 
there he is - Stanley Kowalski - survivor of the Stone 
Age! Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle!"
(act 1 scene 9 pg. 119).
Despite the fact that there is a lot of truth in Blanche's words she deceives herself by
her drinking and her need to feel 'wanted by men'. She blames society for these
'cravings' and states that she only does it to 'survive'. Blanche is not happy with her
actual self, so she is always trying to hide it. Although she appears the opposite of
Stanley they both share the same characteristics. They both are very lustful, they both
drink a lot, and they are both very competitive toward each other. They are both savages
raised in different worlds. 
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. Once
again with Stella we see that she enjoys sex. At the end of the play she knows that her
husband, Stanley, raped her sister but still decides to be with him. She wants sex and
she needs it. "There are some things that happen between a man and a woman in the
dark"(Act 1, scene 8, pg 109)
Stella is basically admitting that her and Stanley's relationship is based around sex.
Which is a very animal instinct. Stella, although does not say it, enjoys being
domineered. She needs it. 
There is no doubt that Tennessee Williams believes 'we are all savages at heart.' He
seems to indirectly-attack the way in which society makes people think and act towards
the more untamed desire, guilt, spiritual torment, and repressed sexuality. In the play
every one has certain basic animal instincts and all of our characteristics can be drawn
back to that. He seems to base most relationships on sex, which is the most natural, act
that humans and all other animals can do. All three of these characters have the same
personalities in many ways. Blanche hides her real emotions and her 'savageness', While
Stanley does the opposite and does not hide it enough. He lets all of the cards out on
the table. And Stella I believe is the most intriguing character of them all. She grew up
with Blanche and knows that life style but Stanley has shown her his world and she is
mixed up in between the two. She is like a ping pong ball. And ultimately Stanley wins
the game, by her love for lust. All of these characters can be compared to their primate
species, and Williams reveals it in this play.