Drama: A Street Car Named Desire

        All siblings are known for having their own quarrels. In Tenessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, audiences are exposed to the tensions that exist between Blanche and her younger sister, Stella. Blanche's role as the eldest child in the family left her with many hardships and responsibilities, especially when Stella leaves home. Upon arriving at Stella, and her husband, Stanley's, apartment she says, ". . . You left! I stayed and struggled! [. . .] I stayed at Belle Reve and tried to hold it together . . . all the burdened descended on my shoulders" (1122). When she begins to feel judged by Stella, she elaborates, "How in the hell do you think all that sickness  and dying was was paid for? Death is expensive [. . .] I let the place go? Where were you! In bed with your- Polack" (1123). By illustrating Blanche's frustrations with Stella, Williams reveals their roles as oldest and youngest have shaped their relationship.

       As the oldest sibling in my family, I can't say I currently relate to this situation. However, I do believe it is a common circumstance between families. When parents get sick, the oldest child (or children depending on the size of the family) are usually obligated to help their parents. While the youngest child(ren) are left off the hook. This ideology is often seen in the entertainment industry- in television shows and movies particularly. For example, in the film Sister Cities, the eldest sisters were in charge of taking care of their impaired mother, and the youngest sisters were free to do as they wished. 

       The relationship between Blanche and Stella, in terms of oldest and youngest, relates to power and privilege. Power and privilege are illustrated by age. Blanche, as the oldest, lacks power and privilege because she has been held to higher standards and expectations for her family. Thus, her obligation to stay with her family and keep the home. On the other hand, Stella, as the youngest, holds both power and privilege because she wasn't raised knowing she needed to stay home with her family. She was free to leave and marry Stanley. Thus, she had the power and privilege to live her life freely unlike Blanche.

       When fully looking at the relationship between the Dubois Sisters, I believe it represents the power and privilege divided among siblings through age. While many parents try to treat their children equally, age prevents that from becoming a true reality. Older siblings, like Blanche, are actually weighed down by their age through the hardshps and responsiblities of family matters. And younger siblings, like Stella, are allowed their freedom through which they have acquired power and privilege.