Masculinity In A Streetcar Named Desire

In Tennessee Williams’ A Street Car Named Desire, the reader is shown human nature through desire and the power desire has over the plays characters. Stanley Kowalski, the plays antagonist, is used to demonstrate animalistic masculinity with vary basic human urges. He uses his unrefined sexuality and desire as power over those around him as the reader sees with his hold over Stella and ultimately over Blanche. Stanley’s character is important to the play as he is used to level the playing field with Blanche and bring her back into reality. Stanley Kowalski, however a controversial character, is important to the plays demonstration that desire, power and fantasy are all inter connected and if not controlled can lead to destruction and turmoil.

Stanley is heard bellowing at Stella, a word usually used to describe an animal’s roar. Shortly after he is heaving his package of meat at her (Williams, 1778). This sexual innuendo immediately portrays Stanley as an uncouth sort of man. Throughout the play the theme of describing Stanley as an animal continues. Stanley is described as being in the peak of manhood and even his clothes are expressed as being loud and vivid like a peacock. Stanley emits sexual energy and power. He likes to continuously assert his dominance over situations and the people in his life. This is displayed in his deep primal relationship with Stella. As the reader is shown even after he inflicts physical abuse on her she still comes back to him. When describing the night of their wedding Stella says “I was sort of thrilled by it” (Williams, 1804). Stanley’s’ behavior becomes very important to the play as it contradicts Blanche’s more refined ladylike character. We see two totally opposite characters in a clash over power and

He demonstrates some basic aspects of human nature: power and sexuality. Stella is so overcome by Stanley’s sexuality that she is powerless to him and even denies her own sisters claims of rape and essentially believing lies of her own (Williams, 1838). Stella is fantasizing that all is well because of her overwhelming and unhealthy sexual desire towards Stanley. The characters in this play are so deeply immersed with sexuality and desire that they become displaced with reality. While Stanley’s sexuality brings Blanche out of her fantasy world he puts Stella in one. Tennessee Williams uses Stanley’s character to show the damage that can come when one succumbs to raw animalistic desire and the effects it can have on