Character Analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire

Research papers that include a character analysis of A Streetcar Named Desire examine Tennessee Williams' famous dramatic work. When you write about characters, there are certain aspects of their personalities that play into the literary Motif. Paper Masters can produce a paper on this play that looks at the following characters within the play:

• Stella
• Blanche Du Bois
• Stanley

In Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire, Williams explores the results of the interaction among flawed characters. Specifically, the characters of Stella and Stanley demonstrate the humanity that can be found in people society might label as "good" or "bad". Through the exploration of these characters, Williams demonstrates the depth of human behavior that defies simplistic labels.

Stella - A Streetcar Named Desire

In A Streetcar Named Desire, Stella might be considered the protagonist. When her sister comes to her in need, she shares her tiny two-room flat and waits on her sister as if she were her sister's servant. She states, "I like to wait on you, Blanche. It makes it seem more like home". Stella pleads with Stanley to be kind and complement her sister, even though Blanche has insulted him and their way of life. She asks Stanley, "When she comes in be sure to say something nice about her appearance" in order to make her sister feel good about herself even in difficult circumstances.

A Streetcar Named Desire - Blanche Du Bois

However, after being told by Blanche Du Bois that Stanley had raped her, Stella chooses to have her sister committed to a mental institution. She knows that her sister has lied about her circumstances in the past, so Stella tries to convince herself that she is justified in having her sister sent away. She tells her neighbor, "I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley". Thus, Stella makes the decision to believe her husband over her sister, and based upon this decision to deprive her sister of her freedom. In this decision, Stella has punished the innocent and rewarded the guilty.