Critical Perspectives on A Streetcar Named Desire

Although it has been awhile since I've read A Streetcar Named Desire, I think I remember enough to analyze it from the perspectives of several different types of literary critics.  All of the literary criticisms that we have learned about could be applied to A Streetcar Named Desire.  However, there are some that provide more information than others.  The easiest type of criticism to apply to this play is Feminist Criticism.  Both Stella and Blanche are portrayed in manners that a feminist critic would certainly not approve of.  However, I think that the feminist would criticize these characters in different terms.  For instance, Stella would likely be criticized as being too submissive.  Throughout the play, she yields to the desires and demands of Stanley.  Blanche would also be criticized, but for different reasons.  The critic would likely complain that she is too emotionally unstable and hysterical, a common stereotype applied to women.  Even though Blanche doesn't necessarily act the part, she tries to come across as a "Victorian Woman."  I'm pretty sure that feminist critics in general do not support this type of woman.
Another critical perspective that A Streetcar Named Desire can be examined with is the Psychological (Freudian) Criticism.  This type of criticism examines the roles that the id, ego, and superego play over the course of the literary work.  All of these psychological terms are revealed through the subconscious of each character, which can be seen in the way that they act.  The critic would support the presence of the "id" in the play, but would lament the lack of balance since the "ego" and "superego" aren't very apparent.  Stanley's character most clearly represents the id.  Throughout the play, he acts based upon simple desires and animalistic tendencies.  Towards the end of the play, I think that Blanche even refers to him as a "beast" or at least something along those lines.  He makes no attempt to subdue his sexual temptations, even when they involve Blanche towards the end of the play.  There are very few characters that suggest the existence of the superego at all.  Although Stella is one of these characters, she seems to be surpressed and controlled by Stanley through most of the play.  Therefore, the critic would comment on the fact that there is not much of a balance between the id and the superego, and therefore the ego does not play as important of a role.