ABSTRACT
Objectification theory, sexual objectification of women, and female self-objectification are new trends in gender studies. When a woman is observed only through her body parts, i.e. as an instrument, she is believed to be sexually objectified. Likewise, when a woman exploits her sexuality, either through wearing revealing clothing or displaying lustful behavior, she is engaged in self-objectification. This paper focuses its attention on the female characters in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire based on the female objectification theory. It examines Blanche’s past and present behavior and argues that Blanche has undergone sexual objectification and consequently self-objectification. She unconsciously suffers from psychological repercussions resulting from her objectification, namely, her drinking problem and her immersion in a false sense of reality. Furthermore, this paper narrows its scope of analysis down to Stanley’s character as an agent of violence and women subordination and examines his relationship with women objectification.
References
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