Tennessee Williams' play, "A Streetcar Named Desire," first opened in the late 1940's, cut line which had defined traditional gender roles began to blur. It was also the war itself which helped to pull the U.S. from the Great Depression due to the emergency war-time measures boosting the economy. The Great Depression was a time where the working class began to feel a great hostility towards the privileged aristocracy of the upper class. "A Streetcar Named Desire" debuted in the December of 1947 but was written in the year prior to its release. The play revolves around the circumstances and actions behind four characters: Blanch Dubois, Harold Mitchell, as well as Stella and Stanley Kowalski.
Stanley Kowalski is initially portrayed as an essentially decent human being. In this post-World War II era, he is the quintessential "macho man"." For the viewers themselves, Stanley is a character who is easily empathized with at this time when memories of the Great Depression are still fresh. He is a "blue-collared"" man who worked his way into a lifestyle as opposed to one of the hated spoon fed aristocrats. But as the play progresses further and further, Stanley's character becomes more volatile and suspicious. His outbursts escalate from domestic abuse into rape offenses. While at this time, the upper-class was being criticized for being selfish, money hoarding aristocrats Stanley seems to serve as a reminder. Reiterating the fact that bad people can come from any class no matter what their first impressions may be.
It is prudent to cover both Blanche and Stella at once because the two can be viewed as measuring sticks on which to gauge the other. .
The sisters grew up in a frivolous household and yet they matured into completely polar lifestyles. Blanche is a "fallen"" woman in society's eyes and is in a constant state of worry over her fading beauty. She fears that she will never find a suitor who matches her expectations and she feels her lack of innocence is a major part of that.
