Describe Blanche, Stella and Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Blanche
is the central character and appears in every scene. The action of the play revolves almost
entirely around her. 

Blanche is a classic Southern Belle, to all appearances
genteel and ladylike and chaste, the representative of an old and decaying aristocracy which is
being rapidly displaced by the social changes of early twentieth-century America. Without a home
of her own, Blanche has been cast adrift and struggles to cope. She normally hides her anxieties
under a somewhat domineering exterior as she attempts to impose her ideas on her sister Stella
and brother-in-law Stanley. She is particularly locked in a contest of wills with Stanley who
deeply resents her interference.

As the play wears on Blanche's failings are
exposed; contrary to the high ideals and lofty morals which she espouses, she lies, drinks and
sleeps around. Therefore she is nothing like as refined as she pretends to be. But her
vulnerability also becomes clear; she has never recovered emotionally from the shock of losing
her young husband to suicide years ago, and she also had to face the burden, alone, of trying to
keep the old family plantation going. In the end, her hysterical tendencies, Stanleys brutality,
and Mitchs rejection overwhelm her and she breaks down completely. It is hard not to feel pity
for her by the end of the play, even if she has brought a lot of her troubles upon
herself.

Stella is younger and quieter than Blanche, and generally appears
uncomfortable in her sisters presence. The main difference between the sisters is summed up in
their own words when Stella remarks: €˜I never anything like your energy, Blanche, to which
Blanche replies, €˜Well, I never had your beautiful self-control (scene 1)

Stella often appears rather cowed by Blanche when they are talking together, but she is
quietly resolute. She never wavers in her love and support for Stanley despite Blanche insisting
that he is an entirely unsuitable husband. Being of a more conciliatory and calmer nature than
either her husband or sister, she attempts to mediate between them. She does genuinely love her
sister, and tries to make her comfortable as she can, but in the end she cannot cope with
her.

 Stanley, quite unlike his wife Stella, is of working-class background,
 very much the rough, down-to-earth, plain-speaking, uncultured type. His boorish behaviour and
lack of manners attract Blanches criticism. Being dominant and hot-tempered, he does not stand
for this, and ultimately crushes Blanche for daring to challenge his control.

There does seem to be a certain unpleasantly cruel streak in Stanley in his treatment
of Blanche, and he is undoubtedly crude, but he is also capable of great tenderness towards his
wife Stella. Although from such different backgrounds, he and Stella are extremely compatible -
something quite beyond Blanche's comprehension. It is true, though, that Blanche does appear to
be somewhat attracted as well as repelled by him.