Essay
Stella's internal conflict between loyalty to her husband and sister
This essay reflects the statement of 'Throughout the play, Stella faces an internal conflict between loyalty to her husband and sister' and received an A*.
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"Throughout the play, Stella faces an internal conflict between loyalty to her husband andher sister."
In light of this comment, explore Williams' dramatic presentation of Stella in A Streetcar Named
Desire. In your answer you must consider relevant contextual factors.
Stella does face an internal conflict throughout the play, as the ongoing conflict between Blanche
and Stanley forces her to take sides. Stella's role in many of the scenes is that of the peacemaker,
however, her internal conflict is evident as Williams presents her as being extremely disturbed by
the events the play depicts. Stella is presented as torn between the two different ways of life
represented by Blanche and Stanley. Williams uses Stella and Blanche's family background as
wealthy Southern plantation owners to represent an outdated set of values and morals which are at
odds with the modern world, represented by Stanley and the 'blue piano' of New Orleans. In the
stage directions Williams describes Stella's background as 'obviously quite different from her
husband's' suggesting she belongs more in Blanche's refined and elegant world than Stanley's
rough working one. However, the conflicting values can be seen in Stella's reactions to Blanche's
arrival; 'her glance at Blanche is a little anxious' and she warns Blanche 'not to... compare [Stanley]
with the men we went out with at home'. She seems to anticipate conflict as while she has adapted
to life in New Orleans (symbolized by her pregnancy which represents a new start and new life)
Blanche cannot.
Throughout the play, Stella tries to protect Blanche. She allows Blanche to order her around,
causing Stanley to comment that 'you run out an' get her cokes. and serve them to Her Majesty in
the tub.' Williams presents Stella here as weak and servile, and as colluding in Blanche's creation of
a fantasy world, for example only putting 'twenty-five' candles on her birthday cake to help her
conceal her true age. When Stanley reveals the truth about Blanche's past in Scene 7, Stella defends
her, dismissing his accusations as 'contemptible lies' and 'pure invention'. This shows Stella's
loyalty to her sister, which places her in conflict with her husband. Her short exclamative lines
show her distress at the situation. However, Stella also shows her loyalty to Stanley by defending
him against Blanche's criticism, and when she takes him back following his violence in Scene 3. In
Scene 4, she calmly and firmly asserts that 'I am not in anything that I have a desire to get out of in
response to Blanche's frenzied suggestions about leaving Stanley, and when Blanche insults Stanley,
she responds 'coldly' and "gravely'. Although she doesn't argue with Blanche but lets her have her
say, her demeanor shows she does not share her point of view. Although agreeing that Stanley is
'common,' she does not take this as the insult Blanche intends. By saying 'why, yes, I suppose he is'
she manages to deflect the criticism and show that her values are very different to her sister's. She
invites Blanche to 'Go on and say it all' which has a very confrontational tone. Williams uses plastic
theatre to show the growing tension between the sisters, with the noise as 'outside a train
approaches' symbolizing their conflicting views. When Stella embraces Stanley at the end of the
scene, it shows she has chosen to side with him over her sister, and Stanley's victory is enhanced by
the 'music of the blue piano and trumpet and drums.' The jazz music symbolizes the modern age of
America, and Stanley's way of life triumphing.
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