Main Characters
Ever wondered how a playwright creates characters so real they feel like people you might actually know? Williams crafts three unforgettable protagonists whose relationships drive this intense drama.
Blanche DuBois appears sophisticated on the surface, but she's actually falling apart inside. Her past traumas have left her mentally fragile, and she struggles to adapt from the genteel Old South to the harsh realities of modern life. Ironically, her name means "white from the wood," suggesting purity - which she definitely isn't.
Stella Kowalski is Blanche's younger sister who's torn between loyalty to her family and devotion to her husband. Despite Stanley's violent behaviour, she remains physically attracted to him. Unfortunately, her dependence on men leaves her powerless to control her own life.
Stanley Kowalski embodies the American Dream as a Polish immigrant's son, but he's also brutally aggressive. His violent and sexual nature both attracts and repels those around him. He becomes obsessed with Stella's aristocratic background and feels cheated when he discovers there's no inheritance.
Key Point: These three characters represent the clash between old Southern values and new American realities.