A Streetcar Named Desire Alcohol Analysis

Why do people drink? There have been many theories and explanations, but there has never been one conclusive answer as to why people turn to alcohol. In the first chapter of A Streetcar Named Desire, it becomes blatantly apparent that alcohol will play a large role in this story. Shortly after Blanche arrives at number 632 in Elysian Fields, she becomes antsy and a bundle of nerves. While most people presumably would try to calm their nerves with reassuring or soothing words, Blanche turns to the half-hidden whiskey bottle. As described in the play, Blanche “pours a half tumbler of whiskey and tosses it down. She carefully replaces the bottle and washes out the tumbler at the sink. Then she resumes her seat in front of the table” (18). Not

Again, there is alcohol involved. Alcohol is not in itself bad, just the way that people abuse it and use it as a crutch can be detrimental. Stanley’s temper slowly begins to unravel as the night progresses until finally he snaps. Stella just turned the radio on again for the second time that night, and Stanley loses it: “He crosses to the small white radio and snatches it off the table. With a shouted oath, he tosses the instrument out the window” (57). If his actions towards the radio were not bad enough in his drunken state, Stanley goes on to hit Stella. As described in the play, Stella “backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow, Stella cries out” (57). While Stanley normally seems docile and clearly loves Stella, he becomes a different person when he drinks. But yet there is not any real consequence for his actions against Stella. The neighbor eventually does threaten to call the police, only because Stanley will not stop yelling Stella’s name, not because he hit her. Both Stella and Stanley accept what happened, as well as Eunice and Mitch. The only person that seems concerned by the events is Blanche, which is ironic considering that Blanche ends up going to a mental institution. Despite the differences in time period and culture, many of the same issues that our society faces today with alcohol are the same as in the 1950s. One of the major differences however