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A Streetcar Named Desire

by Tennessee Williams

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Student Question

How is family portrayed in A Streetcar Named Desire?

Quick answer:

In A Streetcar Named Desire, family is depicted with complexity, highlighting both its importance and the burdens it can bring. Characters like Stella and Mitch show deep familial loyalty, as Stella shelters her sister Blanche and Mitch cares for his ill mother. However, these bonds also come with sacrifices; Blanche regrets losing her youth while caring for relatives, and Mitch is ridiculed for his devotion, suggesting that intense family ties can compromise personal independence and dignity.

Expert Answers

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There are mixed messages about family bonds in A Streetcar Named Desire. Bonds and loyalty to family members are important. We see this in the way that Stella takes her sister Blanche in at first, even though it causes arguments with Stanley. We also see it in the way that Blanche stayed on at the family home to take care of her aging parents and in the way that Mitch takes care of his mother. There are multiple references to his mother being sick and to how close he is to her.

On the other hand, having too great a bond to one’s family members can also be the cause of problems, frustration, and lack of dignity. For instance, even though Blanche took care of her aging mother, just as Mitch cares for his, it is a source of regret for her because she believes it is partially the cause of her sacrificing her youth and independence.

Blanche also tells Stella how difficult it was to stay at home and care for their parents through their final days. In a none-too-subtle way, she lets Stella know that Stella had it much easier because she was away during this awful period for their family.

Similarly, although Mitch is presented as a caring and devoted son, he also has compromised his independence. Stanley and the other men mock him for this and view him as a "mama's boy" who has compromised his own independence and dignity.

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