A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams in 1947, follows two sisters as they reconnect and discover more about each other, in the landscape of an urban, post-war New Orleans.The young women, formidable Blanche Dubois and dutiful Stella Kowalski, live with Stella’s husband Stanley, often drunk and aggressive yet protective of his wife. Many other male characters reveal themselves throughout the play, particularly Mitch, who attempts to spark a romance with Blanche. 

A main message of the play for me is the gender roles and expectations awarded to men and women. The actions that the men are allowed to indulge themselves in, drinking, gambling and sex, are admonished when performed by Blanche. This is apparent of the time period, as the early-to-mid 1900s are infamous for this kind of discrimination. However, Blanche is a powerhouse, whose mysterious backstory is one of sordid exploits and a degrading reputation. She is the subject of rumours, insults and assumptions, many of which one can only imagine were taken straight from early 20th Century conversation. 

Such ruination, paired with a wicked trauma, leads to her slow descent into madness, insecurity and the destruction of the relationship between Blanche and Stella. Blanche relies completely on the approval of men. Where once she was somewhat steadfast and powerful, nothing no longer remains, her individuality finally stripped. The last moment is particularly poignant for me, where she is lead offstage by a male doctor, who takes her to a mental hospital. The specific detail that the character is male reinforces the theme of gender inequality and imbalances, as Blanche’s final shred of dignity is destroyed and she is once again desperate for the touch and aid of a man. 
I believe this was Williams’ attempt at warning the post-war audience that a change is needed. They may have seen how valuable women are during World War II, as they kept the allied countries running. He, perhaps, is proving to the audience how women should not be taken advantage of and how their worth in society should not be dictated by the views of men.