A Streetcar Named Desire Feminist Analysis

Contrasting Feminist Themes Between Two Plays Throughout history the role of womanhood has constantly been defined by society and not a natural, instinctive condition, unlike being a man. Although this theme continues through the ages, different societies, cultures, and time periods have led to many different views of womanhood and the female body itself. Feminists believe that the idea of gender is a social construct and does not solely define a person. “As a social and political movement with practical goals, feminism necessarily emphasizes the destructive results of such gender teachings on those who are biologically human” (Baym 1). This has created “feminist criticism” which is defined as literary criticism informed by feminist theory. Many playwrights and authors have used this kind of criticism to fuel their stories, such as Tennessee Williams, Charlotte Bronte, Eve Ensler, and even William Shakespeare. Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues has both similar and contrasting feminist themes as Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Feminism in literature has a long history, as does the feminist movement itself. Although feminism has always been present, modern feminism is split up into three waves. First wave feminism describes the suffrage movement in

This play brings up issues such as a woman’s need for marriage and men’s approval, the role of womanhood given to girls in the South, and even sexuality and promiscuity of a woman and how society views them for it. Blanche spends her whole time devoted to hiding the fact that she “had many intimacies with strangers” (Williams 118) among many other skeletons in her closet. Both plays have the same feminist ideals, but one shows them outright and in a positive light, where the other shows the negative effects if these ideals are not put into