Stella Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Stella Kowalski is one of the main characters in Tennessee Williams
' play
A Streetcar Named Desire
. She is the younger sister of central character Blanche DuBois.
who left her home town of Laurel, Mississippi
to find work after her family fell on hard times. In New Orleans, she met her soon-to-be husband, Stanley Kowalski
, who has just returned from World War II
, complete with decorations. He has the self-assured swagger of a low class Polish-American, and it is probably his freedom from the aristocratic hierarchies under which Stella grew up which refreshes her. Stella is portrayed as sensual and declining to the will of her husband. She seems to decline to the reality of the way things are, a quality which Blanche (for all the illusions of the old South cost her) cannot do.
From the modern point of view, Stella is a victim of domestic violence
. Her husband, Stanley, is prone to fits of rage in which he throws things and hits Stella. Stella often finds herself taking refuge at her neighbour Eunice’s home, only to return to Stanley when he cries for her to take him back. It is clear in the play that Stella is attracted to Stanley's passionate, animal nature, and that is why she stays with him. The playwright neither condemns nor condones this sort of love; it is the way Stella yields to her marriage. Blanche, who has arrived for a "visit," is horrified by her sister's situation and tries to convince Stella to divorce
Stanley, but Stella refuses, bound to Stanley by sexual attraction
and her pregnancy
with his child.
Stanley, who prides himself on luring Stella away from her privileged background, dislikes the influence Blanche has over his young wife. When Stanley discovers that Blanche has lost the family estate, Belle Reve, and been forced out of her home town, he gleefully tells Stella, who initially refuses to believe him.
The night Stella goes into labor, Stanley drunkenly happens upon Blanche and rape
s her. This sends Blanche completely over the edge into a nervous breakdown
. From what she says in the final scene, it is clear that Stella has chosen to believe Stanley's lie over Blanche's truth about the rape. She acquiesces in the plan to send Blanche off to a mental institution.
in the Broadway production as well as the 1951 film adaptation. Hunter won an Academy Award
for her performance.
In the 1984 and 1995 made for TV remakes, she was portrayed by Beverly D'Angelo
and Diane Lane
.
In the 1951 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, there is a suggestion that Stella may leave Stanley after she finds out about the rape.
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
' play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
A Streetcar Named Desire
A Streetcar Named Desire (play)
A Streetcar Named Desire is a 1947 play written by American playwright Tennessee Williams for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948. The play opened on Broadway on December 3, 1947, and closed on December 17, 1949, in the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Broadway production was...
. She is the younger sister of central character Blanche DuBois.
In the play
The play begins when Blanche comes to visit Stella and Stanley in New Orleans. We gather that Stella was a Southern belleSouthern belle
A southern belle is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class....
who left her home town of Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel is a city located in Jones County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of...
to find work after her family fell on hard times. In New Orleans, she met her soon-to-be husband, Stanley Kowalski
Stanley Kowalski
Stanley Kowalski is a fictional character in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire.-In the play:Stanley lives in the working class Faubourg Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans with his wife, Stella , and is employed as a factory parts salesman. He was an Army engineer in WWII, having...
, who has just returned from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, complete with decorations. He has the self-assured swagger of a low class Polish-American, and it is probably his freedom from the aristocratic hierarchies under which Stella grew up which refreshes her. Stella is portrayed as sensual and declining to the will of her husband. She seems to decline to the reality of the way things are, a quality which Blanche (for all the illusions of the old South cost her) cannot do.
From the modern point of view, Stella is a victim of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
. Her husband, Stanley, is prone to fits of rage in which he throws things and hits Stella. Stella often finds herself taking refuge at her neighbour Eunice’s home, only to return to Stanley when he cries for her to take him back. It is clear in the play that Stella is attracted to Stanley's passionate, animal nature, and that is why she stays with him. The playwright neither condemns nor condones this sort of love; it is the way Stella yields to her marriage. Blanche, who has arrived for a "visit," is horrified by her sister's situation and tries to convince Stella to divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
Stanley, but Stella refuses, bound to Stanley by sexual attraction
Sexual attraction
Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
and her pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
with his child.
Stanley, who prides himself on luring Stella away from her privileged background, dislikes the influence Blanche has over his young wife. When Stanley discovers that Blanche has lost the family estate, Belle Reve, and been forced out of her home town, he gleefully tells Stella, who initially refuses to believe him.
The night Stella goes into labor, Stanley drunkenly happens upon Blanche and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s her. This sends Blanche completely over the edge into a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
. From what she says in the final scene, it is clear that Stella has chosen to believe Stanley's lie over Blanche's truth about the rape. She acquiesces in the plan to send Blanche off to a mental institution.
In other media
Stella was portrayed by Kim HunterKim Hunter
Kim Hunter was an American film, theatre, and television actress. She won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, each as Best Supporting Actress, for her performance as Stella Kowalski in the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire...
in the Broadway production as well as the 1951 film adaptation. Hunter won an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for her performance.
In the 1984 and 1995 made for TV remakes, she was portrayed by Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly D'Angelo
Beverly Heather D'Angelo is an American actress and singer.-Early life:D'Angelo was born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Priscilla , a violinist, and Gene D'Angelo, a bass player and television station manager. She is of part Italian ancestry...
and Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Diane Lane is an American film actress.Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at the age of 13 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance, starring opposite Sir Laurence Olivier. Soon after, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine...
.
In the 1951 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire, there is a suggestion that Stella may leave Stanley after she finds out about the rape.