A Streetcar Named Desire Scene 4 Analysis

A Streetcar Named Desire

Comprehension Scene 4

1) Stella tries to explain to Blanche her relationship with Stanley at the beginning of scene 4 and mentions that she was 'sort of thrilled' by his violence. I think by this she means that she is quite taken in by Stanley's display of animalistic behavior because it is so different from the type of environment in which she was brought up in. I believe that she tolerates all of Stanley's behavior because for her it seems unique as she would never have been permitted to behave in the way that Stanley does when she was a child. In this situation, opposites really do seem to attract one another which is precisely why Stella is attracted to Stanley.

2) The scene directions at the beginning of scene 4 clearly show the basis for Stella and Stanley's relationship: SEX. Sex with Stanley has an almost mystical effect on Stella. It seems that Stella is quite happy in her own reality once satisfying her desire. Her face is described as "serene," and "her eyes and lips have that almost narcotized tranquility that is in the faces of Eastern idols." Stella's comment that "there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark--that sort of make everything else seem--unimportant," also emphasizes her purely physical relationship with Stanley.

3) Blanche mentions her and Stella's life in Belle Reve and tells Stella that she "can't have forgotten that much of our bringing up". Obviously Blanche believes that Stanley and Stella's current life is quite a contrast to what she and Stella should be used to. She contrasts Stanley with the refined men whom they both used to date and asks Stella rhetorically if she thinks there is any "part of a gentleman in his nature". Obviously Stella can't reply in the positive because of Stanley's recent show of animalistic behavior. Blanche also mentions the place in where Stella lives; she calls the street car that brought her there a "rattle-trap street car that bangs through the Quarter, up one old narrow street". It is very apparent that the world of Belle Reve and the world in which Stella lives now is extremely different because of the difference in men, their behavior and even the place which seems very inferior when compared with