Male Dominance

1074 Words3 Pages

“He’s not the type that goes for jasmine perfume, but maybe he’s what we need to mix with our blood” (Williams 1794). Stanley’s wife’s sister, Blanche, has come to live with him and his wife, Stella. Tennessee Williams depicts a man who is a true blue-collared man infatuated with the female gender. In, A Streetcar Named Desire, Stanley exhibits his sexuality and his dominance to assert that he is in control of the house. Williams makes Stanley’s dominance evident when he first introduces Blanche to Stanley. During this first encounter, Stanley doesn’t mind at all to make sure that Blanche knows that it is his house that she has come to stay at. As Stanley does take the time to simply ask her, “Do you mind if I make myself comfortable?” He then proceeds to remove his shirt (1787). With this question it has certain to make Blanche a little uncomfortable to meet someone new, her brother-in-law, and then he loses an article of clothing. Stanley does this act by just making himself known to be dominant and in control. Through this male attribute Stanley displays, he is able to do what he wishes in his own house. Through the narrative, Stanley is expressed through roaring noises. He is continuously trying to get his point across to Blanche, whom has a delicate personality, that he is superior to her. When speaking to Blanche, even through the stage directions Williams makes it evident that he is powerful. His voice is described as “booming” and “bellowing” when speaking to Blanche or Stella (1778, 1792). Williams defines this man as not a mellow person to have a conversation with. Through the stage direction, it is evident that Stanley means everything to make himself clear. Stanley is most certainly the alpha male throughout the stor... ... middle of paper ... ... of this reading, Stanley violates all rights of Blanche. As Blanche becomes delusional and slips into a psychiatric personality, she is okay hoping that Stanley will comfort and rescue her. Instead, “She moans. The bottle-top falls. She sinks to her knees: He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed. The hot trumpet and drums from the Four Deuces sound loudly” (1837). Stanley has tampered with Blanche’s wishes and rapes her. Through this statement it seems like Blanche has lost all faith in which she was and has let Stanley conquer her with his aggressive dominance. In conclusion, Stanley is a manipulative man who loves to uphold his domination towards others. He uses his verbal, emotional, and physical aggressive behavior to take control of others and depict himself as the “king.” Through the struggles other face before him, Stanley has total control.

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