Daran Rungwatthanasophon

English 12
Mr. Bishop
4rd April, 2019
The Identity of Stanley

In the renowned book named A Streetcar Named Desire written by ​Thomas Lanier

Williams III whose pen name also known as Tennessee Williams, the writer obviously

displays the identity of every character. Stanley who is Stella’s aggressive husband, is one the

main character whom I consider that has the most impact of place or culture, relationship, and

power dynamics, shaping his identity. He is aggressive and the most selfish person that his

identity is truly shaped by his surrounding people. The content of the book dates back to the

late 1940s where there were the separated regions being called Old South and New South. In

the New South, it was considered as a modernization of society that rejected all the traditions

of Old South, where Stanley lives and thrives, contradicting to Blanche who comes from Old

South, a society that owners of plantation dominated. Certainly, Stanley is one the most

aggressive characters among others that readers could well recognize his real triat or identity.

In this essay, it will interpret why how the identity of Stanley is shaped.

Stanley’s unhealthy relationship with Stella does have an immense impact on his

identity. Stanley enables to disempower Stella since her obedience and submissiveness make

her husband to mighty think that Stella would not ever going to abandon him but rather

follow or do whatever he asks. There is a short event in the first scene that she follows

wherever Stanley goes although she does not have to follow him. This could be demonstrated

by “Stanley! Where are you going?”(page.2) said Stella and “Bowling!” (page.2) said Stanley

subsequently. Once he implies that he will go bowling with Mitch, he does not even ask

Stella to join him but nevertheless, Stella goes after him. With this spoiled behaviour from

Stella, Stanley could probably realize that there will be always be someone standing besides

him.
 Secondly, the inference of Blanche causes a turning point in the story; therefore

another identity of Stanley is greatly being shown in the Scene 3. The interference of Blanche

leads the unhealthy relationship between Stanley and Stella to be even worse. As Blache is

the sister of Stella who comes from the Old South, all actions and decisions being made by

Stella become more difficult. She has to try to please on both sides; meanwhile, both are

going against. On the poker night, the violence occurs that Stella seems to be considered as a

victim that Blache turns on the radio and has waltz to music romanticly; then Stanley threw

the radio out of the window. Stanley is slightly drunk and Stella strongly yells “Drunk -

drunk - animal thing, you!”(page.35). She is hardly punched by Stanley and runs back to her

room. According to the text, Stanley yells “I want my baby doll down here. Stella,

Stella!”(page.37). The use of the words of repeat of Stella coveys how much Stanley is

jealous that Stella protects Blanche will abandon, no longer listening to him and be with her

sister instead. He cannot bear to see his wife treating her sister better than him. In the result,

with just a short time of wailing, Stella eventually comes down and stares with each other.

Thus, this is another evidence of his identity being shaped by his jealousness.

Last, Stanley not only wants someone to stay besides him and feel jealous but also, is

a most selfish person who is willingly to fulfill his desire. As his heart is full of abhorrence to

Blanche, he does whatever Blanche to depart from his family. Evidently, to the last scene, the

setting is the poker night as well but comparing to the Scene 3, the mood of Stanley clearly

shows the difference. The doctor has arrived to take Blanche to hospital and everyone is

sobbing except Stanley and Mitch is frustrated to what Stanley has done to Blanche. This is

evident when the writer states “You! You done this, all o’ your Goddamn interfering with

things you -”(page.106) said Mitch. It is clear , therefore, that Stanley does not seem furious

to the behaviour of Mitch who attempts to punch him. He is rather calm and concentrates on
Blanche who is leaving which implies that this is the day he has been waiting for. He does

not care how much miserable others are excluding himself. His selfishness is one of his

identities that he wants his beloved wife to always be with him.

To conclude, Stanley is the one whose identity is shaped by the surroundings. The

submissiveness of Stella empowers him. The arrival of Blanche makes him hardly envious

about his wife. The departure of Blache brings the fulfillment of his desire, expressing his

selfishness. Sometimes, in reality, people are shaped by cultures ,environment, people who

behave to them. Reflecting from the book, Old South and New South could not stay together

as they believe and have attitude dissimilarly ;otherwise any kind of problem could happen

like Stanley and Blanche. Living in different cultures, environments, and societies emerges

different identity in each person. In addition, the power dynamics in relationship does affect

the identity of people like the behaviour of Stanley towards Stella.

 Part B

According to A Streetcar Named Desire, the story illustrates and reflects to readers of

how the identities of people are being shaped. Truly, the ​family, culture, friends, personal

interests,​ and society have an immense impact to each person. I was raised by my parents

who are half thai half chinese; therefore I am taught to follow both thai and chinese cultures.

My family is the initial factor that shapes my identity. Since birth, as I stayed with them most

of the time, I tended to follow their movement, speech, way of life, and attitude. For example,

my parents always teach everyone of us to love each other and due to their influence, we all

have lack of dispute. More importantly, in spite of the long different range of ages, my

brother and sister who are 9 and 10 years older than me, treat me as an adult as well as they

treat each other and we often spend time together. In addition, everyday as a routine, all my

family’s members must sit and talk concurrently on the table or in my parents’ room that no

one will lock themselves in his own room. Next, my personal interest and society are another

both factors that shape my identity. Since 12 years old, I have been interested in food that I

have developed my cooking skills until today. Also, my family and relatives are interested in

eating that they usually buy delicious food to every sunday that everyone gathers. Hence, I

have numerous opportunities to eat variety of food which teach me to learn to try new things

and be open-minded in eating. Some weeks, all of relatives reserve a table of a restaurant in

urban area due to some different occasions. This routine makes me continue to learn about

food in different cuisines and techniques. During eating, I always keep thinking what

ingredients are used and the seasoning and sometimes, I rather apply those dishes into my

own, creating my own recipes; therefore, I am very doubtful while I am eating. My father and

I are usually searching new restaurants that we have not yet been there before. To clarify,

because of my personal interest and society that I live in, I have my own dream career of
being a chef. When it comes to pay for food or ingredient I purchase for cooking, I have

gotten no restriction to it but instead support anything relating to culinary world.