I quite appreciate the director's effort to denounce tragic and unlucky events such as the one of Stanley and Stella. A usual quarrel between husband and wife can turn into a dangerous fight in which the man would do anything (for example being violent) to be right. As we can see in the film the woman, Stella, has to face Stanley’s anger after a drunkenness.
Since only a few years women are no more subordinate to their fathers’ or husbands’ will.
Even if nowadays our society recognizes women’s independence there are still lots of women who are under their men’s control.
In most cases women try to hide their problematical situations because they are frighten by the reaction the men could have after the denunciation. They suffer in silence and in fear.
The increase of these cases (from stalking to abuses) have convinced the governments to take side and fight against them. For instance in Italy, the government have just passed a bill against stalking but there is still a lot to do. Firstly women must have the bravery to denounce these dangerous situation then we have to become stricter with the punishment.

Virginia M.
Liceo Amaldi, Alzano L.do

Hello Aifredo.c As we know that we face the fanacial crisis,and many people are out of work.Expecially for women ,it's really a challenge for them to look for a job.I hope things will get better soon.

A Streetcar Named Desire still remains on our highschool bookshelves because it has several different themes that relate to us today. Even though it was written quite a few years ago the same social problems still exist in society. Many people enjoy reading this peice of literature because we can actually see ourselves in the book.

Katherine B.
USA, CA, P4

As men usually dominate over women in A Streetcar Named Desire, in today's world this has changed much. The role of women has changed and became more dynamic. Going from just staying home to take care of the house to maintaining a full-time job and the such, roles for women have became more diverse.

De'Angelo D.
San Diego, CA, USA.

Question 1:

I believe that most men think that they should dominate over women. But I think that women should be treated with more respect. They should get just as much respect as men do because a women can do something the same as us men or even better. When I get married I'm going to treat my wife with as much respect as men get from women. But men should NEVER hit a women no matter what!

cheyne hoke p.3 U.S.

I like the book Streetcar Named Desire but not so much the movie . I'm happy that I can talk to other people that have seen the movie. This blog page is great to communicate with people and to hear what they have say about this book. I like to hear about other peoples opinion about the book, but I wish blanch was a better actor in the movie. But over all its great to hear about what other people have to say about Blanch and the other characters in the book or movie.

cheyne hoke 3/12/09 U.S.

I think that on the one hand some women actually need men to feel economically and especially emotionally secure. On the other in today’s society women are more independent in comparison with the past and they don’t need a man to make their living. In my society there are both women similar to Blanche and more self-confident women, who are in a greater number. Moreover, I see that many girls who are about the same age as I am don’t think of the marriage as a way to feel secure. To them (and also to me), this is an old-fashioned idea.
Nevertheless Blanche represents a need of protection that women naturally have. By this I don’t mean women are weak, I just mean that there’s this psychological component in them. Blanche also embodies the need of feeling attractive , that some women have, partly because of cultural and social influence. I don’t think Blanche should be blamed for this, but I also believe she doesn’t have to be taken as an example.
In Italy to many women, especially the young ones, marriage is not a high priority anymore, although a lasting relationship is certainly a way of feeling secure. Fortunately nowadays marriage is commonly seen as an act of love by almost everyone.

Daniele R.,
Liceo Amaldi, Alzano Lombardo, Italy

I thinktimes have changed and women are free to be more independent and do what they want. Back in the 50's, as in the book A Street Car Named Desire, women where not allowed to work and men dominated over them. Women's main role was to stay home and tend to the kids, and to make dinner, but now women can do and be who ever they want to be! They can get a job and provide for their family and they dont really need a man in their life if they dont want to because they can survive on their own.

Nowadays, I think that in the Occidental world men and women have the same rights and the same duties, and this is the result of a lot of demonstrations in favour of the sexual equality. In fact for many century women have been obliged to do what men wanted, staying at home all the day, looking after their babies and following their husband’s prescription.
This sort of domination over women was really beyond the pale of the respect that there must be between two people, especially if they are husband and wife.
The turning point of this violence over women began when women stated to become economical independent, and so they stopped to be tie up necessarily to their father or husband. This discrimination towards women was present in any part of the society, in the job but also in the social life. In Italy women were allowed to vote only in the 1946, and in these last years in my view sexual equality has been almost achieved.
However violence have to be anyway condemned but especially if is towards women, in the same way as wife-beating or sexual assault.
Valentina P.
Alzano L, Bergamo, Italy

During the history, Italian women are usually subdued to men. In particulary to their father when they were young and after their marriage to their husband. Above all, women were obliged to marry a man chosen by their father for economic reason and not for love. Therefore women especially in the Middle Age were considered as objects of change and they couldn't disagree with the decision of the family. Their unique duties were to be a good wife, a good mother and a good housewife.

Only at the and of the XIX century during the Second Industrial Revolution, Italian women started to have an important role in the society because they helped the development of the economy, working in the factories doing for exemple precisious job.
Then, during the Second World War they take the place of the soldiers sent in the war. Working, they became every day more aware of their faculty, possibility and role in the society.

Thankfully nowaday Italian's Women situation is changed and women and men have the same rights. As a matter of fact Italian women has the right to vote since the elections of 1946 when Italian people had to choose for the Republic or for the Monarchy. Women role became day by day more active in the society and today we can say that women have the possibility to do the same thing of men; for exemple there are also women in the army! In spite of this, sometimes there are still some prejudices which obstruct some dreams!
Marta C, Alzano L. (Bg), Italy

QUESTION 1-3

Men have always had a prominent role in the society, to the detriment of woman’s figure. It’s a spread opinion that the woman has naturally an inferior role compared to the man. In my country, for example, women didn’t have the right to vote until 1946, when they finally succeeded in gaining it. The figure of a person devoted only to the house, busy in taking care of children and husband when he comes back from work, has always been associated to woman. It’s difficult to suppose the contrary. However in the last decades, things have changed in a radical way. Although many limitations still exist in work field, women have more possibilities in comparison with the past. It’s unfair to consider women less important than men. Women and men have both the same rights. But why does the woman seem to have to conquer these natural rights only because woman? They’re typical of all humans.
Many women, like Blanche, consider marriage as a way to feel more emotionally and economically secure. Lots of marriages have often at their base only an economical appearance as an absolute priority. However if you accept the fake ethical value of money, you could forget what is the main element of an union that is the love. How can you choose a man only to guarantee yourself some certainty of stability? It isn’t possible and it’s unfair to deny the deepest feeling that is in us, as we would deny ourselves.

QUESTION 6

This story is still very common because even nowadays we can spot this problems in our society. Violence on women and alcoholism are still very spread and they’re a plague that very difficultly we will be able to eliminate. It’s a situation bound to occur again in the course of the time because man is always the same; he doesn’t change his nature through the different epochs. If the human’s essence isn’t subject at any change, the issues will not disappear.

My experience in using this blog page has been pleasant and i think it really helps us in thinking about what we read. we also get to communicate with different people and find out what they're perspective was on reading what we read. I think this is a great experience and it helps us relate to thew rest if the world.

Men and women are both human and so they are the same. I think this is one of the most important step that mankind has taken throughout all history.
Anyway men have been forcing women to do what they wanted for many centuries and in many countries women are still considered like slaves.
Our society has changed very much over these years, even though just 60 years ago the situation was completely different. "A streetcar named Desire" is a film which shows very well how wifes and girlfriends were treated in the 50s. Stanley's a rude man who wants her wife to be nothing but a housewife and uses to drink nad beat her. Anyway, Stella never tries to reply and always forgives his husband.
In the following decades women showed the world taht they don't need to be led by a man to get by, to grow a child, to get a job, to live.
Nowadays there are women who do things have always been done by men and, of course, there are men who do things that have always been done by women. I do think that is a great achievement, an achievement which showed ud that men and women can stay together without treating women as slaves, animals or objects. =)

Fabio Pedroncelli. Liceo Scientifico Amadli, Alzano Lombardo, Italy.

Men and women are both human and so they are the same. I think this is one of the most important step that mankind has taken throughout all history.
Anyway men have been forcing women to do what they wanted for many centuries and in many countries women are still considered like slaves.
Our society has changed very much over these years, even though just 60 years ago the situation was completely different. "A streetcar named Desire" is a film which shows very well how wifes and girlfriends were treated in the 50s. Stanley's a rude man who wants her wife to be nothing but a housewife and uses to drink nad beat her. Anyway, Stella never tries to reply and always forgives his husband.
In the following decades women showed the world taht they don't need to be led by a man to get by, to grow a child, to get a job, to live.
Nowadays there are women who do things have always been done by men and, of course, there are men who do things that have always been done by women. I do think that is a great achievement, an achievement which showed ud that men and women can stay together without treating women as slaves, animals or objects. =)

Fabio Pedroncelli. Liceo Scientifico Amadli, Alzano Lombardo, Italy.

Unhappy marriage and domestic violence are the two most prevalent problems plaguing today's Chinese women, according to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).

The ACWF received some 300,000 letters, visits and phone calls seeking assistance during each of the past two years. Half of those complaints were from people suffering from marital and family-related problems.

The organization also witnessed an increase in the number of domestic violence complaints.

According to senior ACWF official Deng Li, domestic violence has become a pervasive social problem in recent years, seriously endangering women's psychological and physical security and health.

Although China amended marital legislation in 2001 to guarantee family and marital rights, it still takes time and effort to enforce the relevant laws and regulations, said Deng.

At present, the police, the women's federations and residents throughout China are working together to set up an effective anti-domestic violence mechanism to better protect women's rights.

Hello Wei Haiyan,
It is very sad that Stella keeps letting Stanley back into her life and its seems as though there is no change what so ever and Stella makes women look defeated and helpless due to the fact that she lets Stanley back into her life after so many altercations. Do you think that Stella makes women look weak? and How are women treated in your society?
Farhiya A. San Diego, CA USA

Hi Chen!
Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it! That is such an unfortunate situation for your friend to be in. I am so sorry to hear that. I think that your friend should try the best she can to be strong. She should keep her head up for her son. There are many people in our country that have to deal with problems such as this one and most of the time they end up getting as far away from the problem as possible. I hope that everything works out for your friend! Talk to you soon!

Carly P
San Diego, CA, USA

hello Wang Lingzhen,

My first impression of of Blanche was the same a beautiful, mature, sensitive and a gentle lady. But once i saw how she was in the movie and the way she was around Stellas husband Stanley and how she was around every guy that she was around with. how do you think Blanche should act towards Stanley??

Yadira T. San Diego Ca,USA

Cai Yan,
I agree with you, but i think Blanche is superficial girl who only wants things that are materialistic. She wants a life that she can barely live herself and she acts as if she is very classy and well put together when we know that she is the complete opposite and a bit unclassy. What do you think?
Farhiya A. San Diego CA USA

In the past, this kind of behaviour was very common as women were seen as those who had to stay at home, bringing up their children and waiting for their husbands. Men thought they weren't able to do anything else and this gave them the right to rule over women. But at one point women started to pretend their "independence" as they wanted another place in the society, something that could allow them to be at the same level of men.
With the emancipation, women stopped being subordinate and started to have their own dignity. Nowadays men don't rule over women as they did, but there still is a sort of superiority; for example it's easier for men to have a job.
In spite that men's behaviour has changed, in our society there is a serious problem that has been broadcasted especially in these days; I'm talking about rapes. This is a real plight of our society as this phenomenon is increasing gradually. So, even though men don't rule over women anymore, they still have them under their "control" and their "power" in different ways, sometimes even worse than before.

Francesca Z.
Liceo Scientifico Amaldi, Alzano L.do (BG)

1
In the past women were usually subdued to men’s will and they didn’t turn against their condition because they were considered inferior than men.

The main role of women, during the history, was the family, house and children’s care; while in the world of work they often were under paid.

During the World War I women became important for the industries and since that they started their emancipation.

An example of this is the novel “The Great Gatsby” settled in the 20s , where the role of women changes, they have some emancipation’s elements as voting, smoking, driving or drinking alcoholics. But in this novel the women haven’t a real position in the work and their highest ambition is money and success.

Nowadays, in most part of the world, women and men have equal rights and some women have also achieved a high position in the society.

On the contrary in some cultures women are still attending upon the men without having the possibility to revenge their freedom. An example is the Arabic’s culture where women are men’s property and they can’t look at a man different from their husband.

I respect this culture, and the others, even if I disagree with their women’s idea; I hope that in the future this conception will change and let the women be independent.

Anna Spiranelli
Liceo E.Amaldi, Alzano

 Hello Carlos,In the past, many families in China  were just like the family of  Stella and Stanley ,men were kings in home. women must do housework and look after children and old people .Women hadn’t jobs outside, so they had no status whatsoever at home .If a woman made some mistakes and her husband didn’t like it ,he would beat her .But now men and women are equal in the society. Women in China are more independent. They work outside and have jobs suitable to them and they can do what they want to do .They aren’t afraid of their husband beating them, because  the laws can protect them .Sometimes man and woman share the housework and look after their babies. And now most of men respect women.

Pan xiao

Blanche was a poor girl. She loved one who she shouldn’t love. However, when Mitch liked her and wanted to merrymarry her, she made a heavybig mistake that she had told a lie to him. At last, Mitch didn’t merrymarry her. Meanwhile, since she came to her sister’s home, she had madecaused  her a lot of trouble to her.troubles. Sometimes, I think if she didn’t come to her sister’s home, her sister would have stayed happy. Now that I have not yet finished  the movie, I still don’t know the result. I should have more to say when I have watched the whole movie.

====================

Sometimes  I  feel  that  the  reality  is  so  cruel  to  everyone  on  earth.  Blanche  became  so  sensitive  , even  crazy  after  her  younger  husband  died. She  felt  very   lonely  and  was  very  eager  to  be  loved again. So  she  covered  her  painful  past  and  told  lies  to  Mitch ,  who  longed  for  her  so  sincerely. Maybe  it  was  not  all  her  fault  to  have done  that  because  everyone  wanted  to  live  a  happy  life.  But  most  of  the  life  time,  we  can  not  be  so  selfish. If  we  do  that,  we  may  hurt  the  one  who  cares for  ourselves.  That  is  too  unfair!   So  we  should  be  honest  and  consider  others instead of  only  ourselves. Only  in  that  way  can  we  harvest  the  true,  sincere  love!  

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Reply to Yazmin I want to answer your question below.nowadays in China,if a wife is always beaten by her husband, it is against law because in a family husband and wife are equal to each other,if family violence takes place or in many cases no love exists between the couple the wife will divorce husband. But if they still love each other,  they may get on good terms again.However, the husband must promise that he will never beat the wife.

 from liuying.

In western society men have always dominated over women, except rare cases. In "A streetcar named desire" Stanley wants Stella to be a good housewife. He is violent and when he's drunk he beats up Stella. She pardons him, although I believe that she should have called the police! All this is set in the 50's. It's not too far from now!
Luckily today this situation has improved, and most men don't force their wives to stay home to take care of the house. This is come about thanks to social changes occured in the XX century.
Many feminist movements have fought for women's rights and achieved many goals. In Italy women got the right to vote only in 1946, and feminist movements were very active in the 1970's, while in the USA these phenomena came earlier.
Throughout history and literature we find many examples of dominated women. Wee see it in Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby", where women, even in a favourable period as the roaring 20's, were tied to shallow roles and weren't independent from their husbands.
Things started to change when women had to get by on their own, like during war periods when women worked to support their families in stead of their men, who were out to fight. This highlights women's verve!
In my opinion women are equal to men and everyone must act following this statement. Women have the right both to have a career and not to have to take care of the house alone.
This concept is now well understood, but not always applied!

Daniele R., Liceo scientifico Amaldi, Alzano Lombardo, Italy

QUESTION 1

Nowadays women are emancipated in comparison to the situation that they had to face in the past.
They were considered objects,they had only to stay in silence at home,grow up children and feed men,they were submitted by the powerful of the men and excluded from any part of the social life.
Women hadn't a real identity but they lived like shadows of their men,infact the husband had to take decisions,to work and support family,he was the patriarch and he guided all the member of the group and women had no voice in.
The career for women didn't exist because their place were forcement in their house,but now they can also become important in job and have a place in society.
The Women depicted in the novel "the Great Gatsby" were free,they can drink and give their vote,they are indipendent and they can choose their life and their ideals.
However also today there are sex discrimination or sexual assault so there are always somebody who thinks women are inferior still now.
Francesca Pres.
Alzano LOmbardo
Italy

Hi Cai Yeyin,
It's true that Blanche is a beautiful woman who could probably get a man to do anything she wants but I think she is always scared because of what men have done to her. Every time she got close to a man they ended up hurting her.
Concerning Stella, I don't think that she doesn't like working rather, that she wants Stanley to know know she's dependent on him. During those times, it was nearly impossible for a woman to get a job so she had to depend on a man to survive. I'm sure Stella realizes Stanley's rudeness but she has grown too attached to him to really care. Until only recently have women really become more independent in today's society.

Do women still have trouble keeping a job in your country?

Alfredo C, San Diego, USA

In the novel the great gabsy women obtained a lot of rights, for example they could drive, smoke, vote; they had more indipendence compared to the past years. Women could do a lot of things like the men, but they weren’t completely free yet. In the past woman was considered inferior than man, she stayed at home, she took care of the family, and she couldn’t do the same jobs of man. Today the situation is changed because women are considered at the same level of men, but in many countries women are considered inferior yet! In the North of the world, women can study and do the job that they love, but there are certain situations where it’s more difficult for a woman obtain all that she want compared to the man. There are also some men that don’t want that their wife has a job, but they want she stays at home, and she can’t do something for the society. I’m happy because I can study and in the future I hope to do something to improve the woman conditions, and I hope that people will be considered for their personality, not for their sex. We have different sex, but we have the same dreams and needs!!

Laura Vescovi,
Liceo Scientifico E.Amaldi,Alzano Lombardo,Bg,Italia