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Masculinity In A Streetcar Named Desire

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As one of the main characters, and arguably the antagonist of A Streetcar Named Desire, Stanley stands as a representation for more than just a disgruntled husband who is bothered by his sister-in-law. For example, Stanley’s character embodies the shift away from the “Old South” and traditional Southern values, both of which are embodied by Blanche, to a new more “common” era. This can be seen when Stanley states, “I was common as dirt…I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it” (Williams 137), showing the dismantlement of the pompous South by the ever-growing “common man” population. Additionally, Stanley’s character represents a new America by embodying the emerging “working man” or blue collar stereotype, while also exemplifying …show more content…
In fact, after stating that Stanley is the only one of his friends “going places”, Stella points out that his success is presumed because of “a drive that he has” (Williams 53), showing his hard work and determination, two crucial traits for blue collar employees in this “new America.” Moreover, Stanley also embodies the new sense of post-war masculinity by displaying his dominance and power over others, specifically Stella and Blanche, through the use of violence. Overall, Stanley prefers to keep control of his home and family, and the fact that he abuses Stella by hitting her in order to do so shows his dominance as the man of the household. As an example, readers can also see this power in the beginning of scene eight, when Stanley smashes a place to the ground in response of Stella calling him a pig. Screaming, “Don’t ever talk that way to me!” (Williams 131), he causes Stella to cry, leaving her speechless, therefore exemplifying his power over her through the use of …show more content…
Additionally, when Stella is discussing what happened with Eunice, she refers to the rape as a story, again downplaying the severity of what Stanley did to his sister-in-law. Furthermore, in reference to Blanche’s psychological downfall and subsequent admittance to psychiatric care, the play again gives off an indifferent attitude. Throughout the scene where Blanche is being taken away, the men are playing poker while Stella and Eunice speak in hushed and vague tones about what occurred. In fact, Blanche doesn’t even know what is occurring as seen when she states, “Whoever you are—I have always depended on the kindness of strangers” (Williams 178), simply accepting her fate without question or much fight. Moreover, the last line of the play is, “This game is seven-card stud” (Williams 179), showing that Blanche’s “destruction” was something happening in the background of the men’s poker game and wasn’t given any thought by them. This shows that for Blanche, there is no justice, for the play approaches her downfall in a matter-of-fact tone, with Stella being the only person who truly

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