Williams utilizes the stage directions to establish an omniscient narrative voice in which to carefully present the complexity of the characters to the audience, he also uses plot, dialogue, imagery and symbolism frequently throughout the play to explore the dynamic of the relationship between men and women.
Williams creates a plot in which Blanche and Stanley can be described as rivals, they are a threat to each other’s lives and play against each other to win Stella, their relationship is presented as a self-perpetuating poker match, each individual another card to be dealt and played. It is self-perpetuating in the sense that even in scene 11 where Blanche has clearly lost (by being taken to a mental asylum), the game still doesn’t stop; …show more content…
Initially it can be assumed these relationships are supposed to be in contrast to one another, but notably they are quite similar: Scene 3, after Stanley assaulted Stella, “…they come together with low, animal moans. He falls on his knees on the steps” their relationship revolves around primitive instincts and desires – “low, animal moans”, Stanley kneels before Stella, a position of forgiveness, their relationship is very physical and animalistic, which is the imagery frequently associated with Stanley, “STELLL-AHHHHH!” he roars with a “heaven-splitting violence”, Williams portrays Stanley as what we can presume is a typical “man” at the time, all he understands/ wants is sex and to be in control, and yet only the audience can clearly see this whilst “[Stella’s] eyes go blind with tenderness; Stella is choosing to ignore this incident, she is surrendering herself to him and ignorantly choosing to accept him for what he is. She is happy to let him “[Lift] her off her feet and [bear] into the dark flat”, language such as “bear” and “dark”, give the impression Stanley is a caveman taken his wife back to the