Hedonistic Orientation and Class Distinction in Tennessee Williams’ Play A Streetcar Named Desire

Abstract

The present research work explores the Hedonistic Orientation and Class Distinction in Tennessee Williams’playA Streetcar Named Desireespecially focusing on dialecticalrelation between Blanche and Stanley.Stanley’s authority derives from physical violence, intimidation, and above all economic domination. Stanley stays within the parameter set for him by his sex and class and is victorious while Blanche loses because she fails to conform. Blanche is driven out of competition by Stanley. Blanche is deviant in regard to her class and sex. Although she tries to maintain the trappings of the aristocrat in her hedonistic orientation like expensive and elegant tastes. She has allowed the rest to slip, like Belle Reve, teaching profession, away from her. Her last grasp at happiness is cruelly destroyed as the boundaries of class and profession, she arrives in New Orleans to attempt to regain her aristocratic ascendancy. She explicitly makes plans to regain her class till she is raped and send to asylum. Finally she is defeated as Stanley has more economic power over Blanche.