4.1.2
Masculinity & Femininity
Masculinity
Masculinity
A core thematic strand of the plays is masculinity and the challenges to masculinity.
Stanley
Stanley
- When we first meet Stanley Kowalski, he is presented as animal-like and filled with carnal lust.
- In many ways, he comes across – both to the audience and to Blanche – as a creature dominating its territory through aggression and noise, almost intimidating any other males present.
- Williams hints at Stanley’s sexual nature but also his low status by labelling him a "gaudy seed-bearer".
Portrayal of Stanley
Portrayal of Stanley
- Performances tend to emphasise Stanley’s musculature and his physicality.
- Many of the stage directions refer to him taking his shirt off.
- The presentation of Stanley overtly marks him as the lead ape in a pack. When he shouts at Stella, this is almost like a kind of mating ritual.
Sensitive side?
Sensitive side?
- We also see another side to Stanley.
- He can be very tender and caring towards Stella and seems particularly proud of her pregnancy.
- When Stella leaves after he has hit her, he also seems to show his true love for her. This proves that Stanley has a sensitive side to him.
- However, some observers argue that this is negated because of Stanley’s aggression and rape of Blanche. Nothing outweighs or can compensate for the horror of the latter.
Mitch
Mitch
- Mitch shows off his athleticism and strength.
- He appears to wish to challenge the dominant male (Stanley) at times. But at other times he shows a more sensitive side. He is worried, for example, that Blanche drinks Stanley’s alcohol and is concerned as to what his mother will think of Blanche.
- Blanche appears to find Mitch’s physical form attractive.
Femininity
Femininity
Like masculinity, feminity contributes much to the tragedy of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Blanche's reliance on men
Blanche's reliance on men
- At times, Blanche's appearance seems calculated to attract men - such as Mitch. She undresses in the light of the apartment so that he can see the curves of her body.
- Blanche seems somewhat reliant on the attention of men to make up for the void created by her failed relationship with her husband.
- Blanche is consistently reliant on the hope that Shep Huntleigh will save her.
- In the final reckoning, it is a male doctor who takes her out of this situation and tries to help her.
Stella
Stella
- Pregnancy marks Stella as feminine - but this is also the way she will continue Stanley’s line.
- This means she is dependent on the male figure of Stanley in a different way. He is the father of her child and, despite Stanley’s violence and cheating, she still sticks by him.
- Ultimately, Stella sticks by Stanley and does not believe Blanche’s story about him raping her.
Eunice
Eunice
- Eunice is another female figure in the play who is reliant on her husband.
- She contributes to the idea of problematic femininity in the play by trying to convince Stella that Blanche is telling a lie about the rape.
- But you could also argue that societal and economic pressures prevent them from being defiant of men – so Williams was right to depict them in this way at this point in history.
1Context & Overview
1.1The Author
1.2Social Context & Setting
2Scene Summaries
2.3Scene Three
2.5Scene Five
2.6Scene Six
2.7Scene Seven
2.9Scene Nine
2.10Scene Ten
3Character Profiles
3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski
3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
4Key Ideas
4.1Sex & Gender
4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality
5Writing Techniques
5.2Genre, Form & Language
6Critical Debates
6.1Early & Modern Reception
6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach
7Ideas About Tragedy
7.1Ideas About Tragedy
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1The Author
1.2Social Context & Setting
2Scene Summaries
2.3Scene Three
2.5Scene Five
2.6Scene Six
2.7Scene Seven
2.9Scene Nine
2.10Scene Ten
3Character Profiles
3.1Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski
3.2Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)
4Key Ideas
4.1Sex & Gender
4.2Appearances, Fantasy & Reality
5Writing Techniques
5.2Genre, Form & Language
6Critical Debates
6.1Early & Modern Reception
6.2Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach
7Ideas About Tragedy
7.1Ideas About Tragedy
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