Tennessee Williams, "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Scene 4 Analytical Response

Closely examine the exchange between Stella and Blanche on the subject of desire. How could this be viewed as central to the play? Quote to support your ideas.

In Scene 4 of "A Streetcar Named of Desire" we see a conflict between Stella and Blanche, where Blanche discusses her great desire to change the lives of both her and her sister. This is evident on page 42 where she states "I'm going to do something. Get a hold of myself and make a new life!" and additionally says "But you've given in. And that isn't right, you're not old. You can get out." It is obvious that Blanche's desire is to rebuilt her life in New Orleans and she claims Stella has been trapped in a sexual relationship with Stanley, but she has the chance to escape. Stella defends her relationship with Stanley through their sexual chemistry by saying "I said I am not in anything that I have a desire to get out of". Furthermore, even though Stella claims to repudiate Stanley's violence, she is clearly aroused by his aggression she is "sort of-thrilled" by him. In response to that, Blanche professes that carnal desire is not a way to run a life and it is what is holding Stella back from admitting her real desires. Blanche's desire to escape reality is furthermore developed in page 45 of the play once she declares she has "a plan for both of us, to get us both - out!". Even though she is horrified at the way Stanley treats Stella, her solution for building a new life relies on a man, Shep Huntleigh, her collage boyfriend which contradicts with her claims about Stella's desire and hence make her look hypocritical. Additionally, this is central to the play as it reveals that controlling and manipulative side of Blanche's character due to the fact that she wants to impose the idea to her sister that she must change her life and should escape with her. Stella insists that she has everything she desires in life and expresses it once more in a more frustrated tone, "you take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of". This re-enforces the content that Blanche is baffled as to how a woman born and raised in place such as Belle Reve could choose to spend her life with such a brutish, ungentlemanly man. Nevertheless, it it being displayed that Stella is adaptable to change, unlike her sister, which is one of the factors that keep her with Stanley in the French Quarter of New Orleans.