Stanley tells her that it will be all right once again between them as soon as Blanche leaves. But Stella's function is not just to be an object in this struggle, to be merely swayed from one side to the other. She also seems to be the only hope of a compromise between these two different backgrounds. As Blanche and Stanley represent two diametrically opposed worlds, so Stella represents a bridge between the two poles. For Stella shows that a meeting point of coexistence is possible between Blanche's and Stanley's separate worlds.
Stella still has many qualities of Belle Reve. She has not allowed a gentle and refined nature to completely disappear simply because she has accepted Stanley and all he stands for.
Nor has she allowed her upbringing to stand in the way of enjoying life with her raw and lusty husband. She has, rather, combined both worlds into one and has shown that these two apparent opposites are, if not compatible, at least co-existable. The problem between the play's two main characters seems not to be the irreconcilable worlds which they represent, but the rigid inflexibility of Stanley and Blanche in their respective attitudes. Stella seems to indicate that such a reconciliation is possible.
She is not a perfect blend; however, she does show that a mixture of the two viewpoints can be workable. But one should not maintain the position that Stella is a strong character. She is far from this. Blanche appears to be the weaker of the two sisters but this is a false impression. If Stella were a strong character with a definite mind of her own, a three-way conflict and not a two-way conflict would appear in the play. Stella would have a definite standard of action and would pursue this throughout the course of the play.
But her definite vacillation between the two opposite poles of Blanche and Stanley is only possible because of her weakness. This quality in her character enables her to become a pawn in the death struggle between the two major characters. This weakness alone makes her a battleground. Stella does not attain the blend of the two worlds because she wills it; they simply come together to form this blend without her assistance.
In fact, by obeying a primitive survival instinct instead of considering morality or loyalty or even logic, Stella has done just that. She hangs back with the brutes not just by staying with Stanley, but by catering to the animal impulse of survival over all else. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. By Tennessee Williams. Previous Next. Stella Kowalski Click the character infographic to download.
Setting What's Up With the Epigraph? Tired of ads? Join today and never see them again. Get started. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. What happened to Belle Reve, the DuBois family home?
Why did Blanche come to New Orleans? Why does Mitch reject Blanche? Who is Shep Huntleigh?
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