About a political-cinematic dichotomy: Blanche (left) versus Stanley (right) and with many "spoilers"

 

Text originally published on January 22, 2016 on an old blog and whose main idea I will comment on again here...

Blanche DuBois is the main character in the novel, which was also made into a film, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennesse Williams. She is Stella's older sister who is married to Stanley Kowalski, a working-class couple living in New Orleans. Blanche appears to be a fine, educated and somewhat affected woman, in short, a high society lady. The complete opposite of Stanley, a gluttonous, very masculine type, full of muscles, testosterone and rudeness, typical of the lower classes. Stella is the most balanced character in the plot, a typical housewife, young, sensitive, worried about her sister who moved in with her and emotionally dependent on her husband, Stanley. Gradually, the relationship between the three deteriorates, reaching the breaking point, when Blanche's lies are discovered by him and Stella, pregnant, decides to move away from them both, even more so after her sister's admission to a clinic and because she doesn't endure more physical and psychological abuse from Stanley.

Clinically speaking, Blanche represents a case of pathological lying, a psychiatric condition in which the sufferer has an uncontrollable need to lie, to the point of believing their own fantasies. But she is not the only one in this novel who can be diagnosed with a mental disorder, because Stanley also fits, particularly the anti-social personality, because of his very insensitive and sadistic way of being.

So, some time ago, I had the idea of associating these characters and their relationships, in a metaphorical way, with the political-ideological spectrum in force in the Western world, in which Blanche would represent certain types or traits common to the Left, such as an attachment to idealistic fantasies (or unrealisms); Stella would represent the Center, more silent and supporting, even more so in times of ideological polarization, and Stanley would represent certain traits or types of the Extreme Right, excessively sincere and insensitive, to the point of sadism. The first is more feminine, artistically and intellectually inclined, sensitive and more likely to lie to avoid offending, especially towards certain groups and also about herself. And the last, its opposite, more masculine, focused on the physical world rather than the mental one and more prone to offending in order not to lie (or tell the truth about what they think and feel), also due to the simple lack of commitment of not being respectful to others, even more so with those they consider inferior.

The pseudo and the anti-intellectual

Blanche DuBois, as with the left, pretends to be what she is not. She, like a high society lady. The left, as the absolute holder of wisdom and reason. Both, therefore, would fall into a category of anti-intellectualism, of denial of reality, but intending not to do so. Stanley Kowalski, as with the right, makes a point of being faithful to his own authenticity, although or therefore closed to reflections and criticism. In a way, they also end up denying facts that do not corroborate or confirm their self-images. Hence, they would express an anti-intellectualism, of suspending critical thinking in favor of their emotions or instincts.

It is worth remembering that pseudo intellectualism is basically anti-intellectualism, only disguised as sophistry.

In conclusion, both deny realities that do not align with their worldviews. But, while the first, Blanche and the left, pretend to be or think they are what they are not (very insufficiently), Stanley and the right insist on being what they are and only that, disregarding any deviation, regardless of its quality or constructive potential. . Stella would be the third way, although, as with the center on the political-ideological spectrum, she, during the plot, tends to be too tolerant of her husband and sister.