In the play A Streetcar named Desire there are many victims, but none as noticeable as Stella. Stella is a young house wife who puts up with more than she needs to. She takes the abuse from both her husband and sister which creates a harsh reality for herself. She wants to please her sister and wants to have the love of her husband that she will sacrifice her pride amongst other things to have it.Stella is a generous person and allows her sister Blanche to stay at her house for a visit. After Stella is courteous enough to allow her to stay in her house Blanche insists on degrading her by making it sound like she lives in poverty. Blanche says “Why didn’t you tell me, write didn’t you write me, honey, why didn’t you let me know? Why, that you had to live in these conditions.”(pg 20) After Blanche makes Stella feel like she lives in horrible conditions Blanche then continues to degrade her by saying she has put on weight. “But you-you’ve put on some wait, yes your just as plump as a little partridge! You just have to watch around the hips a little.”(pg 21) Stella’s husband Stanley also takes advantage of Stella but she wants so badly to keep her marriage happy and loving that she takes the abuse. Stanley is a man who believes that women are below men and that’s the way it should be. On page 57 Stanley lashes out at Stella by first throwing a radio out the window breaking the glass and then again by striking her with his hand. This shows how little respect he has for Stella. Stella then takes shelter in the upstairs apartment only to come back down into the cold fake arms of Stanley.Stella has a life of her own but insists on making herself miserable to either defend someone or please other people. She is clearly the victim in this play and whether she finally takes her life into her own hands is left unclear in the end....
