A Streetcar Named Desire Theme – Social Class + Masculinity
● Tensions of social class leads to conflict between Stanley and Stella, as well
psychological conflict between Blanche and Stella.
● Cultural clashes betwenn Blanche’s upper class old south ways and the industrial
new south leads to her ostracization from society.
● The American Dream is represented in Stanley Kowalski as a second generation
American determined to manufacture his own path.
● Tennessee’s mother was a Southern Belle - Linking to Blanche
● Tennessee's father was a gambler and a heavy drinker - Linking to Stanley’s
characterisation
● Tennessee explores the social tensions and psychological subdivisions of class
structures through the clashing characterisations of Blanche and Stanley.
● Many viewed the play as exposing the moral decay of the Old South values of rigid
social hierarchy, aristocracy, culture, and etiquette as well as showcasing New South
values embodied by Stanley a working class character that believes in the American
Dream the darwinian survival of the fittest struggle and no value in old class
hierarchies.
● In the New South domineering masculinity and immigration became key components
of the social landscape with upwardly mobile immigrants championed and alpha
males.
● The Southern aristocracy from which Blanche comes from is no longer of relevance
in the plays new social climate. Blanche fails to accept this, leading to her economic,
physical and psychological ostricization.
● William’s crafts Elysian fields as a diverse cultural landscape where class doesn’t
matter instantly makes Blanche feel like an outsider.
● Blanche is unable to understand the decay of her Southern Belle grandeur in the new
society, and is incapable of viewing Stanley as anything but an outsider in his own
marriage, due to social class.
● Through Elysian Fields William’s is able to illustrate the stark power imbalance
between both male and female sexual expression, but also the new social order.
● For Stanley his home becomes his sanctuary for his sexual desires whereas for
Blanche Elysian Fields becomes a place of entrapment.
● Tensions of social class leads to conflict between Stanley and Stella, as well
psychological conflict between Blanche and Stella.
● Cultural clashes betwenn Blanche’s upper class old south ways and the industrial
new south leads to her ostracization from society.
● The American Dream is represented in Stanley Kowalski as a second generation
American determined to manufacture his own path.
● Tennessee’s mother was a Southern Belle - Linking to Blanche
● Tennessee's father was a gambler and a heavy drinker - Linking to Stanley’s
characterisation
● Tennessee explores the social tensions and psychological subdivisions of class
structures through the clashing characterisations of Blanche and Stanley.
● Many viewed the play as exposing the moral decay of the Old South values of rigid
social hierarchy, aristocracy, culture, and etiquette as well as showcasing New South
values embodied by Stanley a working class character that believes in the American
Dream the darwinian survival of the fittest struggle and no value in old class
hierarchies.
● In the New South domineering masculinity and immigration became key components
of the social landscape with upwardly mobile immigrants championed and alpha
males.
● The Southern aristocracy from which Blanche comes from is no longer of relevance
in the plays new social climate. Blanche fails to accept this, leading to her economic,
physical and psychological ostricization.
● William’s crafts Elysian fields as a diverse cultural landscape where class doesn’t
matter instantly makes Blanche feel like an outsider.
● Blanche is unable to understand the decay of her Southern Belle grandeur in the new
society, and is incapable of viewing Stanley as anything but an outsider in his own
marriage, due to social class.
● Through Elysian Fields William’s is able to illustrate the stark power imbalance
between both male and female sexual expression, but also the new social order.
● For Stanley his home becomes his sanctuary for his sexual desires whereas for
Blanche Elysian Fields becomes a place of entrapment.
