The marginalization and forced silence of particular social groups has been omnipotent since the beginning of America’s initial civilization. Since the discovery of the New World, this concept has not faded--rather, it has grown with an overwhelming sense of power supporting it. Throughout Tennessee Williams’ hit play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the marginalization of women, homosexuals, and the mentally unstable is a strong motif within the text. Individually, the characters of Stella Kowalski, Allan Grey, and Blanche DuBois represent these three marginalized social groups, respectively. Growing up as a symbol in itself of marginalization, Williams utilizes these three characters to emphasize the struggles of silenced social groups in the mid-1940s.
Whilst scrutinizing the female …show more content…
Essentially, men are the driving force for our society, and women are the trusty sidekicks, there to clean any mess and fold any dirty laundry the world throws at them. The acceptance of marginalization is depicted in Mitch’s declaration that “poker should not be played in a house with women” (Williams 63). Subsequent to one of Stanley’s many tantrums, Mitch shifts the blame on to the women present during the men’s poker game. In his perspective, the testosterone levels built up as they should in a poker game, which led to Stanley’s explosion. From a male point of view, it was the fault of the women for making the decision of being present during their testosterone building game. Secondly, the power that men hold over women is ever present throughout this play, as Stella claims “[she’s] not in anything [she] wants to get out of” (74). Despite the evidence of blatant emotional and physical abuse that Stanley presumably “proves” his love for his wife with, Stella is oblivious to the errors in his ways. In this time period, abuse towards one’s wife was acceptable, as wives were expected to be their husband’s puppets,
Whilst scrutinizing the female …show more content…
Essentially, men are the driving force for our society, and women are the trusty sidekicks, there to clean any mess and fold any dirty laundry the world throws at them. The acceptance of marginalization is depicted in Mitch’s declaration that “poker should not be played in a house with women” (Williams 63). Subsequent to one of Stanley’s many tantrums, Mitch shifts the blame on to the women present during the men’s poker game. In his perspective, the testosterone levels built up as they should in a poker game, which led to Stanley’s explosion. From a male point of view, it was the fault of the women for making the decision of being present during their testosterone building game. Secondly, the power that men hold over women is ever present throughout this play, as Stella claims “[she’s] not in anything [she] wants to get out of” (74). Despite the evidence of blatant emotional and physical abuse that Stanley presumably “proves” his love for his wife with, Stella is oblivious to the errors in his ways. In this time period, abuse towards one’s wife was acceptable, as wives were expected to be their husband’s puppets,