Stanley Kowalski Traits

Character Analysis of Stanley Kowalski From “A Street Car Named Desire”
By: Tennessee Williams Stanley Kowalski the lead male character in the, 1948 Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tennessee Williams, starts out as a egalitarian. His physical vigor is expressed in his love of his work, his fighting, and sex. Williams used his own family as a model for most of his characters, a violent father, a mentally ill sister, and an invalid mother. Most of his male characters are domineering and abusive, and his female characters are sensitive, frail, and unstable. Stanley is typical of Williams’s male characters. He possesses domineering physical traits, and is practical and determined in a “down to earth fashion.” Williams’s description of Stanley

He actually sees himself as a social leveler, as illustrated in scene 8-page number 1825, [He hurls a plate to the floor.] “That's how I'll clear the table” [He seizes her arm] “Don't ever talk that way to me "Pig-Polack-disgusting-vulgar-greasy"-them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister's too much around here What do you two think you are? A pair of queens? Remember what Huey Long said, “Every Man is a king" And I am the king around here, so don't forget it!” [He hurls a cup and saucer to the floor] “My place is cleared! You want me to clear your

She attempts to fool him and his friends into thinking he is better than they are. Much of the action of the play shows Stanley’s animosity toward Blanch. Stanley first actions are his investigations and revelations of her past. He continues to show his animosity by his crude behavior at her birthday party. Stanley then demonstrates his hatred by his sabotage of her relationship with his friend Mitch. Stanley’s character may be down to earth, but proves harmfully crude, and brutish. He has a disturbing degenerate nature underneath, this is first hinted at when he beats his wife, scene 3-page 1800, “Take it easy, Stanley, easy fellow. Let's all . . . You lay your hands on me and I’ll [She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow, Stella cries out. Blanche screams and runs into the kitchen. The men rush forward and there is grapping and cursing. Something is overturned with a