Sibling Victims.

In the drama "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams, the sisters Blanche and Stella are both victims. The reader can see that Stella is a victim much more easily than they can see Blanche because of the abuse she goes through from Stanley. Once Blanche moved in with her and Stanley, Stella became even more of a victim. Blanche continuously criticized Stella's appearance, marriage, and social status. Even when Stella tried to stick up for her sister, Stanley put her down for being so gullible, or avoiding the fact that Blanche had lied all along. Stella is a victim of not only her sister and husband, but she is also a victim of herself. She could have stayed at Belle Reve to marry a rich man, or she could have believed Stanley from the start and kicked Blanche out of the house the first time she could. Stella is a victim of being too caring. She cared for Stanley, because she was having a baby and for his sexual appeal; she cared for Blanche because they're sisters and she loved taking care of her.

Blanche's life has been much more complicated than Stella's in the fact that she had to stay home and go through so much grief in losing her family, her home, and her dignity. Blanche is a victim of her past, which made her a victim of her present and future. She was so traumatized by her first husband's betrayal with another man that she had to prove to herself that she attracted men by sleeping with as many as she could. When she finally found someone she wanted to be with, her past kept her relationship with Mitch to continue. When she told Stella that she had been raped by Stanley, her lies again caught up with her which lead to her being put into an insane asylum.

Both Stella and Blanche are victims in "A Streetcar Named Desire." Stella, for being to caring and gullible, and Blanche for being too careless with herself and her words.

Blanche = Pure?

In "A Streetcar Named Desire," Tennessee Williams first portrays Blanche as a delicate 'southern belle' from a high classed society that has taken a leave of absence because of her "nerves." However, as you read further into the play, you begin to see a different dimension to Blanche. She's not just a person who is freeloading off of her sister and acting like she's better than everyone. She has had a difficult past as well.

Blanche lost her first love while a teenager. He shot himself in the head because she said that he disgusted her while polka music was playing. When she was with Mitch after her birthday 'party,' he told her he didn't want to marry her and the same polka music played.

Blanche went through everyone in her family dying and having to go through with all the funerals and not being able to pay for them, resulting in the loss of their home "Belle Reve." Blanche has just been trying to find a place in her life where she doesn't have to worry about money, or losing anyone she loves. When she witnesses Stanley abusing her sister, she is worried that he will take her away, just as everyone else she's loved has been taken away. Right now, Blanche is confused about who she is, so she puts on an act to hide her emotions and troubles.