Role of Masculinity in Shiloh and A Streetcar Named Desire Essay

In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, gender roles were reflected on gender roles in the American Society in the 50’s. The male gender was predominant while the female gender was considered less powerful. Williams really emphasizes this stereotype, yet he focuses on the females in the play the whole time.

In ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Stanley Kowalski is portrayed as a very stereotypical and animalistic man; he feels the need for dominance and is very condescending towards not only the women in the first three scenes, but those who he considers friends too. He is a common working man and his intentions with women are always sexual and demeaning.

As a result for not listening to his command, the abuse follows: "Well, you can hear me and I said to hush up!" (Williams 1217). Men and women did not have the same equal rights as we do now. Stanley is known as a Army engineer in WWII, precedes him to have a brutal temper. He feels as if he is the male leader and all other characters around him are his servants. Since men were more dominant, women were usually housewives, the jobs for women are basic "female jobs" with lower income than men working. Women would also not have the opportunity to vote in elections. This can be seen when Stanley gets what he wants by pushing his masculinity to another level as he says to Stella: "Don't ever talk that way to me!" (Williams 1245). Some men, as illustrated by the aforementioned quote, are careless about women's feelings or their well-being as long as they are satisfied. As sex is an important aspect in relationships for men, Stanley is bothered by the fact Stella's sister is in town: "She'll go! Period. P.S. She'll go Tuesday!" (Williams 1243). Given that Stanley is the man of the house, everything must go his way - he decides what happens in their household. Much like Stanley, if women do not listen to the rules imposed by men, abusive violence will ensue as a result of not obeying

The themes of A streetcar Named Desire are mainly built on conflict, the conflicts between men and women, the conflicts of race, class and attitude to life, and these are especially embodied in Stanley and Blanche. Even in Blanche’s own mind there are conflicts of truth and lies, reality and illusion, and by the end of the play, most of these conflicts have been resolved.

A Streetcar Named Desire adheres to most conventions found in this genre, which is inseparable from the values of American history and culture, in order to ensure a life-like portrayal of the issues and people of its author’s time.

Tall, dark, and handsome has long been the standard of a desirable man. There is undoubtedly something about a “man’s man” that is intriguing and beguiling. However, there must be a point where too much masculinity becomes a problem. As society continues to praise men with the biggest muscles, the nicest cars, and the most women, it is becoming increasingly hard to draw the line between healthy masculinity and toxic masculinity. In Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, toxic ideas about what it means to be masculine ultimately ruins several characters, but most overtly Stanley, Stella, and Blanche, showing that toxic masculinity is a threat to everyone’s well-being, both male and

In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, Stella and Stanley Kowalski have a far from perfect marriage. In the Kowalski household ranking is set in stone; Stanley is the alpha and protects his ranking by emotionally and physically abusing Stella. Stanley is an aggressive husband but signs of a softer side peak through Stanley’s hard exterior creating two personalities. Stanley has destroyed the meaning of sex, using sex for physical satisfaction and creating a sense of desire for Stella. By using sex as a type of desire Stanley has created an animalistic need for sex. Stanley has contrived authority over Stella, creating a strained marriage. Out of panic, Stella has become Stanley’s enabler, returning to him regardless how hard the hit, Stella accepts the abuse. Stella has become so manipulated by Stanley that she believes that the abuse is a large part of marriage. Stella has grown so dependant on Stanley that Stella grows panicked by the thought of being without Stanley. The Kowalskis have become trapped in an endless cycle of domestic abuse. Stanley Kowalski’s control over Stella Kowalski creates an environment of fear.

Williams’ concern regarding the oppression of women in male-dominated societies is apparent throughout A Streetcar Named Desire. As stated by Nancy Tischler; “as a gay man, Tennessee Williams felt he was particularly sensitive to the status of women- powerless” (57). His portrayal of Stella as a victim of Stanley’s machismo illustrates this sensitivity and is a construct of his unease. At the exposition of his play, Williams establishes Stella’s place in her society through the stage instructions; “she jumps up and kisses him [Stanley] which he accepts with lordly composure.” This portrays Stanley as the lord of the household, implying that Stella is beneath Stanley both figuratively and physically. Stella’s entire identity is centred around her role as Stanley’s wife and she has no means to support herself without him, financially or socially. Once she hears that Stanley has sexually abused Blanche, her reliance on him forces her to choose her manipulative husband over her abused and mentally ill sister. She states “I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley,” emphasising the destruction of independence which is experienced by females in patriarchies. For a contemporary

Social upheaval in many senses was explicit through the beginning of the twentieth century; two world wars had - for a short time - shifted the balance of power between men and women. Women were increasingly employed to fill positions which had previously been considered masculine. This was not to last however, and by the fifties men had reassumed their more dominant role in society. People were finding new voices at this time by taking pre-existing forms and pushing the boundaries to re-voice established literary forms. Tennessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire around the time this reversal was occurring in American society. Williams was a homosexual from the deep south of America, and his play is about physical, emotional

Typically, in a relationship from the historical social construct, there is a stereotype amongst gender roles where the male is the dominant figure, and the female tends to be vulnerable and compliant with the male. In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, this relationship is exemplified through the main characters Stanley Kowalski and Stella. Stanley possess the role of “Alpha Male,” and projects this onto Stella who assumes the role of “submissive wife”. She experiences mental and physical abuse, yet unconditionally loves him. In the setting of 1950’s New Orleans, this would be considered part of the norm, despite modern social beliefs. With current social standards, their relationship would push past the boundaries

Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) critiques society’s idea of strictly categorizing men and women into roles based upon gender. Williams starkly highlights the vast difference between these assigned gender roles and the resulting consequences of placing these unobtainable expectations on people. The main difference between the two socially conceived genders correlates with the amount of power each gender holds and, therefore, how each gender reacts to the opposite. The female gender should submit all power to males resulting in men being in complete control over women. Masculinity becomes associated with manipulation and control, implying and encouraging female frailty and weakness. Williams exhibits this balance between masculinity and

The nature of motivations is often driven through the need of the pursuit of self interest, directing an individual's course of actions. An individual’s perception is often blinded by their own need and greed to pursue their interest, which at times may be flawed. One’s interest is dependent on their influences, background, and ambition to achieve certain goals. In Tennessee Williams’ play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Stanley’s actions are directed by his need to maintain his level of dominance with Stella, even when these actions are immoral or at the expense of others. Stanley’s dominance in his relationship with Stella is challenged when Blanche is introduced into their lives, and reminding Stella of her history of power and where she came

(cliffnotes) During the time period the author of the play A Streetcar Named Desire lived in, men were portrayed as leaders. (123helpme) Throughout the play, the usage of specific descriptions, dialogue, and sound illustrates to readers how the society today compares to that time of period. Stella, Stanley’s wife, is displayed as a passive woman through how she reacts and connects with people and situations around her.

Written and taking place in 1947, times were drastically changing, Williams incorporated this into his work starting with his characters. The stark contrast between characters Stanley and Blanche represent the divide in America and its culture during this “post war” time. “Stanley represents the American Dream that all men are born equal and can succeed equally, whilst Blanche represents the old world, where class and race are still important issues.” (The English Department) Stanley Kowalski, one of Williams most masculine characters, represents change and modernization with the times. Described as brutish, gruff, and intense, he is the provider and sees himself as the head of the household while wife Stella takes on the role of homemaker. “the 1950s are often identified as the pinnacle of gender inequality as women were denigrated and portrayed as stupid, submissive, purely domestic creatures” (Kgeorge) Women's roles in the South during 1947

Streetcar shows a capitalist society in which the gender differences come into account because the women aren’t able to be treated as equals. In capitalist society the idea is that people should be able to progress on their own by working hard, but in A Streetcar, one sees that the only gender allowed to work is a male. The reader first witnesses this when it is known that Stella is a stay