A Streetcar Named Desire

Independence and Security

How do these themes work themselves into the play, and how are they related? Any thoughts?

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First of all let me start by saying that "A Streetcar Named Desire" is one of the best plays I have ever read. The themes of independence and security are very much present in the play. Blanche as we see is seeks ernestly for security and this is what led her to her promiscuos life style. Blance was a victim and she is still hurting because of the experience with her Husband. It is quite obvious that she does not have sex for pleasure butb rather for security, as she said " yes I have intimacies with strangers". My question is how can you have intimacy with a stranger.

The whole concept of indepence is not one that is achieved by any character i believe as we see taht Blanchs cannot servive without feeling sexy or imporatn, she cannot service without feeling secure. Stella cannot servive without Stanley and Stanley cannot servive without sex or his trophy wife. Stella also acts as a form of security for Stanley. Security in the sense that with her he feels as if he has achieved something and he will never let go of this. His act of raping Blanche is an act to secure his masculinity.