Topic > Evaluation of the classification of social classes as illustrated in the book A Streetcar Named Desire

Class differences are the basis of the conflict in the work. Through careful analysis of the dramatic methods used in the play and drawing on relevant external information about social class in the southern states of America, show the extent to which you agree with the above statement. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In “A Streetcar Named Desire,” William presents conflict as a major theme. Class is an important factor within this theme, shown through the characters and their actions. You can see clear contrasts between the characters almost immediately. Blanche DuBois, the Southern Belle, who still lives in the ideals of the “Old South,” and Stella DuBois, the former Southern Belle who chose to abandon the social hierarchy and marry Stanley Kowalski, a lower-class Polish immigrant. Blanche is initially surprised by her sister's new lifestyle, surrounded by people from the lower classes; not only her husband, but also her friends. Issues of social class are clearly illustrated in the opening two scenes. Although both sisters come from the same family, they have different lifestyles that they have adapted to. The social class differences between them demonstrate how society behaved in the 1940s. It is important to establish the atmosphere in this particular New Orleans setting, especially because Blanche brings her prejudices to the Kowalski apartment, which prove to be out of time and place. Class distinctions don't matter here, which is why Stella and Stanley seem to get along despite their backgrounds. It was around this time, in the 1940s, that everyone who lived in the surrounding areas began to move there along with many different groups. also of immigrants, making it a multicultural center in the United States at the time. New Orleans attracted people from all walks of life. And with this diverse variety of groups of people from different classes and backgrounds coming together and living in one place, a kind of cultural revolution occurred that was completely and utterly unprecedented at that time. Blanche was not completely used to this, and therefore her prejudices may have been a source of conflict in the play. When Blanche shows up at the Elysian Fields, Williams writes that "her appearance is incongruous with this setting. She is delicately dressed in a white dress with a fluffy bodice, pearl necklace and earrings, white gloves and hat, appearing as if she is coming to a summer tea or a cocktail party in the Garden District. Not only are these clothes incongruous with the setting, but they may also represent more expensive items of clothing worn only by upper-class people. Blanche owns many furs, which Stanley immediately assumes are expensive. causing a little conflict between her and the couple also has costume jewelry, such as a tiara, which could represent a past member of a higher class who wishes to move up the hierarchy. Blanche assumes the inherited superiority with her surname. She is denigrating the little ones size of Stella's house and expects But most of all she is amazed that her sister would marry someone as lacking in refinement and culture as Stanley he clearly in scene four, after witnessing his violence in the poker party of scene three. In her damning account of him, which he hears, she calls him "subhuman" and "ape-like." This display of ignorance towards the lower classes and immigrants causes conflict within the show. Stanley gets irritated byStella's disrespect towards him, presumably caused by Blanche's influence. Stella claims that Stanley "makes a pig out of himself", which causes conflict between the couple, due to Blanche's superficial ways. Operating on the idea that all men are created equal, the “American Dream” is an ideology in the United States in which freedom includes the possibility of prosperity and success for all, regardless of social class or race. It highlights a direct link between individual effort and success in an open, merit-based system and attracts most people to this country in the first place. However, the American “dream” changed dramatically when the country's definition of success applied primarily to white, middle-class men from the 1930s to the 1950s, creating a class structure fueled by discrimination. In the play, the audience sees that Stanley is the one who seems to benefit most from the “American Dream,” as an immigrant who has built a decent life for himself in America. Stanley states that he "brought Stella down", referring to her marrying down the hierarchy of society. This fact displeases Blanche, as well as another element in which class is the driving force among the conflicts within the play. Stanley also stated that she "liked it", meaning that she enjoys living life as a lower class citizen, which would also cause conflict between her and Blanche, as Blanche was left to defend Belle Reve on her own. Some elements in the relationship between Blanche and Mitch could be seen as class conflict. Blanche behaves like a refined woman, who has "old-fashioned ideals". It is clear that Mitch wants to act out his desires with Blanche, but is stopped by his pretenses. Try to behave like a superior member of society, who will not stoop to be treated by a man and lose his respect. After Blanche asks Mitch if he speaks French, an attribute associated with the more refined and educated upper class, he replies no, showing the gap in hierarchy between them. Blanche teases Mitch in the language he can't understand, asking, “Do you want to sleep together tonight? Don't you understand? What a shame!" Blanche quickly becomes more amorous, irritating Mitch and increasing underlying conflict themes. During Blanche's stay at his home, he feels that she has been drinking his liquor, eating his food, using his house, everything he provided with his house. money from hard work, but still belittled him and opposed him. He never gave him the right to be the "king" in his house look and see his marriage and home destroyed, and himself belittled by someone of a supposedly higher class than his, otherwise he must fight back. His attack is slow and calculated. He begins to gather information about Blanche's past life. He must present his past life to his wife so that she can determine who is the superior person and prove that he is not actually from a higher class As he has accumulated his information, he is convinced that as ordinary as he is, his life and past are far superior to Blanche's. Now that he feels his superiority again, he begins to act. He feels that, having demonstrated how degenerate Blanche actually is, he is now justified in directly punishing her for all the indirect insults he has had to suffer from her. So he buys her bus ticket back to Laurel and reveals her promiscuous past to Mitch. This is a major conflict within the play, where the driving force is class. The “Varsouviana” represents the upper class, therefore she represents Blanche. The “Blue Piano” represents New Orleans, and therefore.