How does Williams portray the relationship between Stanley and

Stella in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?.

The relationship between Stanley and Stella merges the dual primitive
elements of desire and spirituality. They are bonded through desire and love as
opposed to intellectual understanding of each other. However, it is not until
during Scene III when “Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her Stella’s
thigh” that the audience witnesses the physical violence of Stanley and Stella’s
relationship. Whilst it is debatable whether Stanley’s action is aggressive or a
sign of affection, Stella sees Stanley’s public slapping of her as inappropriate and
she comments that it is “not fun.” Again, it is clear to the audience that their
relationship is expressed primarily through physicality. Although the violent part
of their relationship is more pertinent we see the love they have for each other
which could also be interpreted as lust when “Stella jumps up and kisses him
which he accepts with lordly composure” Showing the audience that Stanley
portrays himself as a “king and he sees Stella as not his wife but his priced
possession and this is also demonstrated when he “Heaves the red-stained
package from the butchers at her” meanwhile Stella who clearly does not
appreciate meat hauled at her condones this form of alpha male behaviour that
Stanley has and she “cries out in protest but manages to catch it: then she
laughs breathlessly”. Also Williams uses different language choices when
portraying their relationship, he uses Discourse when Stanley speaks to Stella
“you’re damn tootin’” to show his control in the situation.
When Stella breaks the news of the loss of Belle Reve! Stanley’s reaction is
shocking to the audience because rather than Stella he says “ Now let’s have a
gander at the bill of sale” and when Stella says she hasn’t “Seen any” Stanley
gets interrogative “Well, what in hell was it then, given away? To charity?, but
Stella being the caring sister she is deflects the question and redirects it to
Blanche’s feelings and this makes Stanley bring up the “Napoleonic code”, but
we as the audience notice this and we ask ourselves is he only with her for the
money she was bound to inherit?.
Williams also uses some dramatic techniques while he displayed their
relationship when he uses the symbolism of the Blue piano in the background
and he makes it louder when Stanley goes behind Stella’s wish and tells Blanche
that her sister was pregnant all to prove the point that he still knows more about
Stella than she does. He also uses Adjectives like colour to reflect states of
mind and to make further clarification on particular characters, and what sorts of
things specific colors represent for example he describes the kitchen as a sort of
“Lurid nocturnal brilliance, the raw colours of childhood’s spectrum”.
It’s not until scene 3 do we witness the extent of Stanley’s and Stella’s
relationship until he hits her “There is the sound of a blow. Stella cries out” and
we think the relationship is over but we are shocked to discover that she takes
him back when he asks for forgiveness so therefore their relationship could be
compared to that of Steve and Eunice as there are always fights between these two
couples. However, they always maintain good relations in a very short time. For example,
Stanley beats Stella. Nevertheless, they still make love at that night. Steve and Eunice
have similar situation.