Saturday, September 12, 2015

Why does Stella stay in the abusive marriage with Stanley?

Throughout the play Tennessee Williams makes it clear that
Stella is crazy about Stanley even though, or because, he has such a violent,
animalistic nature. She is in love with him. She expresses her feelings clearly in Scene
Four when Blanche tries to persuade her to leave
Stanley.


readability="8">

BLANCHE:


But you've
given in. And that isn't right, you're not old! You've got to get
out.


STELLA:


I'm not in
anything I want to get out
of.



Earlier, in Scene One,
Stella makes such statements as:


readability="5">

I can hardly stand it when he is away for a
night...



And:


readability="5">

When he's away for a week I nearly go
wild!



Obviously Stella is
willing to put up with a certain amount of crudeness and physical abuse from a man who
gives her such sensual pleasure and genuine love. There is no question of her leaving
Stanley. If he has her in his power, she enjoys it. And it would appear that she has him
in her power too, as exemplified in that famous scene where he shouts, "HEY, STELLA!"
This is something Blanche could never understand.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Film: 'Crocodile Dundee' directed by Peter FaimanHow are stereotypical roles upheld and challenged?

One of the stereotypes that is both upheld and challenged is the role of the damsel in distress. Sue is supposed to be the delic...