Scenes 2 - 4

Conflicts

The Sources of Conflict

 Stanley and Blanche:

• Stanley thinks that Blanche is in the way. 
• He is tired of having to do everything in the way that suits Blanche.
• The loss of Belle Reve
• The Napoleonic Code - Belle Reve belongs to him as well!
• Stanley thinks that Blanche swindled him and Stella.
• Stanley doesn't like the fact that he works hard, yet he still doesn't lead a life of luxury like the one Blanche was born into.
• He sees Blanche as a problem - distrusts her.
• Blanche's and Stanley's attitudes and behaviours clash!

Stanley and Stella:

• Stella constantly defends her sister to her husband who gets frustrated over  this.
• Stella knows that all Stanley does is insult Blanche.
• This makes it clear to her that her husband strongly dislikes his sister.
• Puts her in an impossible situation as she has to constantly chose between her husband and her sister - she has to take sides.
• violence
• Stanley hits Stella - domestic abuse.
• Stanley is very controlling - tries to take over Stella but she stands up for herself.

Stella and Blanche:

• Stanley (she defends Stanley to her sister).
• Blanche wants to rescue Stella from her marriage but Stella doesn't want to leave.
• Stella thinks that Blanche's superior attitude is out of place - she has no right to criticise her!
• The two sisters blame each other (to some extent) for the loss of Belle Reve

Mitch and Stanley:

Stanley very clearly dislikes (if not hates) Blanche while Mitch takes an obvious liking to her. This causes conflict between the two friends at the Poker Night.

Why is conflict attractive in a narrative?

In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', conflict drives the narrative. It is all about conflicts working themselves out. So why is conflict so attractive in a narrative?

• We often watch or read about people who are in worse positions than ourselves.
• The extreme highs and lows which are emphasised and exaggerated are more entertaining than real life.
• These conflicts are the key exciting moments of people's real lives compressed into one plot (one narrative).
• We don't come across such conflicts in our every day lives.
• Sometimes the conflicts portrayed in a narrative show us things which we are experiencing ourselves which allow us to form emotional connections to particular characters.
• These conflicts reflect our lives in some way, while in other ways they are an exaggeration of our lives

Emotional connections: How are emotional connections to the different characters developed?

Stanley:

• He wants what is best for Stella and their baby.
• He is devoted to her.
• He loves her.
• He is excited to be a father and wants to be a good one.
• He is deeply sorry for hitting Stella.
• He becomes vulnerable and shows raw emotion.
• This almost makes the audience forget what he did prior to his apology (like Stella does).
• Strength and dominance are attractive personality features in a character
• Stanley is shown to be emotionally vulnerable.
• This conflicts our prior assumptions about his character (strong, rough exterior).
• Moral? - On judgements about Blanche.
• Fun loving.
• witty comments
• lovable character (with some bad qualities)
• Light-hearted - not too serious
• The audience often feels sympathy for him as he has to put up with Blanche.

Blanche:

• She always "fishes" for compliments. 
• She is in constant need of reassurance.
• She is dependent on others.
• PITY
• Her paranoia about her appearance is used to cover up her insecurity.
• She is EMOTIONALLY VULNERABLE - fragile, weak and easily destroyed.
• Blanche is at risk - especially in a house with someone like Stanley.
• These things collectively make the audience worry about her.
• Tragic past (sad, emotional backstory).
• She shows real (and profound) emotions which allows the audience to form an emotional connection with her.
• SYMPATHY
• She is nervous, hysterical, delusional.
• This shows her character as being FRAGILE and VULNERABLE.
• PITY
• She wants what is best for her little sister (the only family that she has left).
• caring, protective, motherly.
• At heart, Blanche cares about Stella - her sister is the only thing blanche really cares about in the world.
• perhaps over-protective.
• Fun - a bit mad, but funny.
• witty, intelligent, cultural and educated.
• a true conversationalist.
• In different circumstances, Blanche would be a lot more fun (a more light-hearted character)
• This reminds the audience of her tragic backstory.

Mitch:

• Mitch cares for his sick mother.
• sensitive, caring, sweet
• Tragic backstory demonstrates his sensitivity and makes the audience feel sympathetic towards him.
• He is a gentleman - behaves very respectfully towards Blanche.
• He isn't violent.
• Mitch is able to calm Blanche down.
• He is a good person with a heart of gold.
• Mitch is out of place and socially awkward.
• He is a bit off in his social interactions which makes the audience want to help him out.
• Feel sorry for him.

Stella:

• She is constantly put in situations where she has to make a decision between her husband and her sister.
• She is put in an IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION as she is trying to please Stanley and Blanche at the same time.
• sympathy
• Stella has to look after everyone around her.
• motherly
• She is very forgiving.
• Especially towards her violent and abusive husband.
• This suggests that she is completely in love with him - blinded by love.
• This can also be frustrating for the audience:
• Is she too forgiving???
• Should Stella really forgive and tolerate Stanley?
• She is also tolerant of Blanche - an individual who is very high maintenance and hard to deal with.
• Stella always tries to see the best in people.
• She stands up for people - defends them.
• protective
• an endearing quality
• She is emotionally intelligent.
• She is an observer; aware of and understands what's going on around her, but doesn't always contribute.
• WISE.