“I saw! I know! You disgust me…”: Manifestation of Homophobia and Patriarchal Oppression in Tennessee Williams’s Play, A Streetcar Named Desire

Abstract

A Western heteronormative society hints at its homophobia in diverse manners, but one of the most ubiquitous internalized notions is that of disgust and rejection. This sort of biased sexism fuels the gradual accretion of suicidal rates among LGBTQ youths. Generating homophobic discourses is one of the ways through which a hetero-patriarchal society demonstrates and maintains its power and oppression against sexual minorities and gender subalterns. Hetero-gender-based violence against women and homosexuals is also not uncommon in any society. The present paper aims to explore the manifestations of homophobia and hetero-patriarchal oppression against homosexuals and women in Tennessee William’s play, A Streetcar Named Desire. By delving into the principles of Gender Studies and Queer theories, this paper seeks to investigate the role of compulsory heterosexual and patriarchal norms in the lives of Allan, Blanche, and Stella in victimizing and silencing them violently.