In class we discussed the possibility that Stella knew that Blanche had been raped by Stanley, and was choosing her husband over her sister. I thought of this situation a little differently. I thought it was possible that Stella didn’t want to give up her current happiness and therefore didn’t want to accuse Stanley of what had occurred. I agree that Stella knew that Stanley was guilty of raping Blanche, but she was willing to accept this in order to make sure that no drastic changes occurred in her life. If Blanche was to go to a psychiatric hospital and the two sisters were no longer in contact, it would be no different than before Blanche showed up at their house. One reason that I believed this was the case was when Stella said “What have I done to my sister? Oh, God, what have I done to my sister?” (p. 689). I took this as Stella feeling directly responsible for what was occurring. She didn’t seem to feel as though Stanley was a factor in this situation; she seemed to feel as if she directly made a decision to have her sister taken away.
Stella and Blanche obviously weren’t extremely close. It seemed as though they had rarely spoken in the last few years. While the dialogue in the story didn’t come right out and say it, Stella seemed to know that Blanche wasn’t the person that she made herself out to be. Stella may have made the decision to have Blanche put away because she thought that Blanche could only bring down Stella’s life. If she knew that Blanche consistently lied and made herself look like someone she wasn’t, why would she choose this liar over her own happiness? Stella also didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that Stanley hit her, because she was happy. I’m sure if she was unhappy with Stanley she wouldn’t stay in this situation and be beaten just to live a miserable life.
I guess this situation could easily be viewed either way. I would have to believe that most people reading this will disagree with me, but I just figured I would throw my thoughts out there for others to think about. In my eyes the most important thing to Stella was her happiness. She could set other issues aside as long as she was happy.
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Although Stella may have felt guilty for what she did to her sister, Blanche definately needed some help. I think that Blanche far overstayed her welcome, and was lucky that Stella was nice enough to take her in. Blanche put a lot of stress on Stella, which I don't think Stella deserved.
If Blanche couldn't face reality herself, she shouldn't have dragged Stella into it. I agree with you, Stella was happy with her life. Maybe Blanche was a little jealous of her sister's happiness. Maybe the lies stemmed from Blanche wanting Stella to be unhappy like her.
I think Stella did the right thing. If Blanche stayed with Stella and Stanley, I think things would have only gotten worse for all of them.
Blanche had lost everything in her life, her husband, her family, her home...Stella had lost much of these same things but she had also found Stanley. Stanley was Stella's entry into the "new south." Blanche didn't have that and was lost, she didn't know what her place was or how to find it. I agree with what you said about Stella not wanting to change her life. If Stella agreed out loud that Stanley had raped Blanche, she would have to do like she said and leave him. If Stella left Stanley, she would be just as alone and out of place as Blanche had been.
Of course stella didnt want to give her happiness up she that is why she denied the fact that her sister was raped by her husband. I didnt like thsi at all. She was willing to stay "HAPPY" and denie the fact that her sister was raped by her husband that was the way she shows her love to her. I also think that in a way she felt maybe it wasnt a rape since that was expected from Blanche.
Although Stella and Blanche are different people, their background is similar in many ways. They both grew up on a plantation and were used to a richer, gentler lifestyle than the fast-paced, industrialized scene of New Orleans. They both grew to value the protection of males, and both expressed this in unsettling ways. Blanche essentially became a prostitute, using males for company and money, and Stella stayed married to a man who beat her. I do not think that Stella was necessarily “happy” in this relationship outside of its sexual element; I think she was comfortable. She was provided for, and this notion of being taken care of is what leads her sister Blanche to consider marrying Mitch, a man she out-classes. Both sisters want a man to provide for them because they do not have marketable skills themselves in the industrialized world. Blanche cannot even work a phone and Stella says, “My head is swimming!” the moment Stanley starts discussing the Napoleonic code, showing she has no head for business. They are rather “typical” women, in this respect, and I think that is why Stella makes the choice to remain in the care of Stanley.
I also think that Stella knew deep down inside that Stanley rape Blanche and didn't want to believe it (which makes her kind of like her sister doesn't it?) I think Stella felt guilty because if it weren't for her having the baby Blanche and Stanley would have never been alone. Kind of making her responible or at least feel responible. I'm curious if Stella ever visits her sister in the hospital can you imagine if that happened. I think Blanche would just pretend like nothing ever happened and she was on so retreat.
Good point that sending Blanche to a psychiatric hospital would be like things were before she showed up. I never thought of that. Stanley is someone that Stella would have to continue to deal with, and Blanche was just like a fleeting character that was kind of imposing to begin with.
Now that we have watched some of the movie, I am pretty sure that Blanche is completely insane, and belongs in a mental institution. Like you said, Stella seemed to be very much turned on by Stanley's rage, so it makes sense that she would choose him over crazy Blanche.
I agree, if Blanche was to get sent to a psychiatric hospital things would be the way they used to be between Stanley and Stella. But in the long run would Stella be able to forgive Stanley about what he had done to her sister Blanche? I know that I couldn't. I think it was a good decision for Stella to put Blanche in the psychiatric hospital because she needs all the help that she can get to overcome her emotioal problems, but I don't think Stella should have forgiven Stanley by pretending not to believe her sisters story. I think she should have went with Blanche to help her get better and bring the baby with her.
Stella and Blanche were obviously very close i will agree with you there. But reading the story it was almost like they hadn't talked in a few years. I was wondering at first why Blanche would end up with Stella and Stanley but then it was more clear when i found out that Belle Reve was gone. This was Blanche's downfall. She knew she had lost everything. Well i think that towards the middle of Blanche's stay she realized what Stella had and this made her realize what she didn't have and so the lies just started to fly.
I have to say that it maybe true about Stella knowing. It is almost like Stella was finally so fed up with Blanche and that she couldn't take it anymore. It almost made it seem like she wanted to be with Stanley more because of the baby and the fact that she wouldn't have had anyone to help with the baby and to provide for her.
I didn't get the impression that Stella knew that her sister had been raped. If she knew and didn't do anything about it that is wrong.
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