Streetcar Named Desire Essay

The information provided by Paper masters, women and news help understand how many women were involved by domestic violence and how men were the cause of the problem. The 1940’s normalized the idea of violence towards women by men. Although, it was the desire that made them stay with the abuser. Masculinity plays a big role in the play and is the main cause to the violence. In the entire play of Streetcar Named Desire William is showing that domestic violence and desire go hand in hand. It is showing how the society of men and women live in a romantic relationship in the 1940’s. The violent behaviors in romantic relationships are highly unhealthy for mostly the women in the relationship, but yet they stay together because of the strong desire.

Instead of leaving the life of violence, these woman stay but there is a reason. Woman can be affected by Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS). It is a mental disorder that involves victims of abuse for a long period of time (Mifflin). Stella has shown some of the stages of BWS, such as denial. This is when a woman refuses to believe that here is a problem and will think the act of violence wasn’t on purpose (FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL STAGES OF THE BWS). It is seen many times that Stella is going through a violent relationship, but she still stays with Stanley. Even after the abuse she still feels love towards Stanley. When he becomes violent with Stella she is in a state of denial and fear but afterwards he will show affection, making her dependant on her abuser. Her lack of confidence is gone because Stanley is making her feel worthless. Stanley makes Stella feel as if she needs him but in reality she is better off without him. There are 3 more stages of BWS but Stella doesn’t show any signs of them. They continue with the victim realising the problem and confronting it. But Stella is still in the state of refusal to believe she doesn’t deserve the abuse. She can’t leave because when Stanley shows affection Stella believes he is still in love with him, that he won’t do it again. But it won’t stop until Stella takes