Our emotions control our actions in everything we do. When we are hungry, we eat. When we are in love, we get married. When we are angry, we often hurt others or ourselves. The 1951 film, A Streecar Named Desire, directed by Elia Kazan, is based on the 1947 play written by Tennessee Williams. The first time I say this movie I was in high school, but it left a memorable mark. It has been found that the emotion of desire can drive someone, even a sibling, into jealous rages and often indulging in sly and sneaky tactics.

         Blanche (Vivien Leigh), the sister of Stella (Kim Hunter), always wants someone or something to fill the void she has in her heart due to the death of her first love. She is depressed and lonely, and this has led to major jealousy of her sister, who is more or less happily married to Stanley (Marlon Brando). Both the sisters are extremely different from one another. Unlike the monogamous and steady Stella, throughout the story, Blanche desires many men and even falls for a very young boy. Also she has been fired at the high school were she had been teaching for wanting one of her English students. She started to turn to strangers for help because those who had loved her no longer did and were often very ashamed of her.

         Emotions can make us do the craziest of things. People should normally trust their instincts and follow their heart, but in the story I would suggest otherwise. I learned and realized from this story that sometimes there is exceptions. If the path is heading toward a destructive end, then it becomes harder, leading to worse choices. Sometimes women who are insecure or depressed turn to sexual desires of men to feel more wanted and loved. Unfortunately this does not help the situation; and, although they may feel good physically for a brief time, they still hurt mentally.

Jaclyn Ramage

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