The Hubbels & Other Characters

Eunice and Steve Hubbel

Steve and Eunice Hubbel act as choral figures in the play - commenting upon and enhancing the wider impact of the tragedy.

Marital problems

Eunice has disagreements with her husband. But they work things out and continue their marriage. They row and fight but she does not have the frustrations that Blanche has.

Eunice and Blanche

In many ways, Eunice has similar characteristics to Stella. Throughout the play, she becomes increasingly aware of Blanche's vulnerabilities.
Blanche is the complete opposite of Eunice. Blanche pokes fun at her appearance.
Eunice is, however, very grounded and helps Stella to pack Blanche’s things moments before her incarceration in a mental institution. She seems pleased that Blanche is leaving.

Steve Hubbel

Steve is married to Eunice and is a friend of Stanley’s and a regular poker player.
Steve does not have much to say in the drama.
Steve can be violent but is worried when Eunice goes out – perhaps because she may be chatted up by some "hunk".
Steve is part of the patriarchal world of the play but he is the one character who is not charmed by Blanche.
This may be because, in fact, he is in a happy relationship already.

Minor Characters

Other characters that feature in A Streetcar Named Desire are:

Pablo Gonzales

Pablo Gonzales does not play a huge role in the drama.
He is one of Stanley’s friends and is part of the poker game circle.
Pablo reflects the Mexican culture in New Orleans. He often uses Spanish phrases and language to comment on events.
He represents the multi-cultural aspect of New Orleans.
He may act as an ironic contrast to the supposed 'cleanliness' of Blanche.

A Strange Man (The Doctor)

The Doctor represents both hope and death for Blanche.
He might be able to bring her hope of coming to terms with what has happened to her and eventually moving her life on, but the audience knows that this is unlikely to be the case and that she will be incarcerated under his dictate for the rest of her life.
Blanche confuses him with Shep Huntleigh, which makes his arrival all the more heart rendering. He is another "stranger" offering her kindness and comfort.

A Strange Woman (The Nurse)

The Nurse (also called Matron) is a person who has to deal with the practicalities of Blanche’s move to a mental institution.
She has to make sure that Blanche does not self-harm, but in so doing, destroys her beauty and femininity.
It is clear from the Matron’s actions that Blanche is going to lose her sense of self and become a number.

Minor Characters

Other characters that feature in A Streetcar Named Desire are:

Negro Woman

The Negro Woman gives a sense of the multi-cultural nature of the city but also shows the legacy of the slave trade in the South.
She shows an openness about her sexuality which is perhaps more repressed in the world of white, middle class culture of the other characters.
She tries to seduce the Young Man / Collector.

A Young Man / Collector

The Young Man is naive and innocent and finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Blanche remembers the sexuality she felt with her former young husband and the student and perhaps sees something of them in the Young Man.
If he had not run out, then Blanche might have repeated her earlier error with even more disastrous consequences.
The Young Man also shows how shallow Blanche is because once he leaves, she immediately turns her attention to Mitch.

A Mexican Woman

This woman’s principle role is symbolic.
With her bouquets of flowers and her selling voice, she demonstrates that Blanche is heading towards her own funeral and that celebratory flowers for a wedding festival will not be purchased.
Again, she shows the multi-cultural nature of New Orleans.

1Context & Overview

1.1The Author

1.1.1Tennessee Williams

1.2Social Context & Setting

1.2.1Social Context

1.2.2Social Issues

1.2.3Setting

1.3Tragedy

1.3.1Overview of the Tragic Genre

1.3.2Modern Domestic Tragedy

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy

2Scene Summaries

2.1Scene One

2.1.1Scene One: Summary

2.1.2Scene One: Tragedy Ideas

2.2Scene Two

2.2.1Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two

2.3Scene Three

2.3.1Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4Scene Four

2.4.1Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four

2.5Scene Five

2.5.1Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.6Scene Six

2.6.1Scene Six: Summary

2.7Scene Seven

2.7.1Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8Scene Eight

2.8.1Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight

2.9Scene Nine

2.9.1Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.10Scene Ten

2.10.1Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11Scene Eleven

2.11.1Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11.2End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven

3Character Profiles

3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions

3.1.2Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown

3.1.3The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley

3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1Stella Kowalski

3.2.2Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.3Minor Characters

3.3.1The Hubbels & Other Characters

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others

4Key Ideas

4.1Sex & Gender

4.1.1Sex & Desire

4.1.2Masculinity & Femininity

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender

4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1Outer & Inner Appearances

4.2.2Fantasy & Reality

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...

5Writing Techniques

5.1Structure

5.1.1Structure & Stage Design

5.1.2Linking Devices

5.1.3Recurring Motifs

5.2Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1Genre

5.2.2Form & Language

5.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6Critical Debates

6.1Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

6.1.2Contemporary & Modern Reviews

6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1Feminist Approach

6.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

6.2.3Marxist Approach

6.2.4End of Topic Test - Critical Debates

7Ideas About Tragedy

7.1Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1Tragic Ideas & Villain

7.1.2Tragic Structure & Language

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