Blanche's Masculinity In A Streetcar Named Desire

Moving forward, Blanche’s masculinity influences her decision making in the present because she interferes with her sister’s marriage, as well as lies to protect her dirty past in a failed attempt to hide her insecurities. When Blanche arrives in Elysian Fields, she sees that her sister’s marriage is far from perfect, and that her husband is quite a brute. Due to her past of sexual misconduct and defensiveness at the Flamingo, Blanche does the unthinkable and tries to interfere. BLANCHE “When I found out you’d been insane enough to come back in here after what happened – I started to rush in after you! Your fix is worse than mine is! Only you’re not being sensible about it. I’m going to do something. Get a hold of myself and make myself a

new life” (Williams 71-73). It is interesting to finally see Blanche take on a powerful role by being Stella’s protector, as well as explicitly acknowledging the abuse in their marriage.

Years ago, people would not comment on the state of other’s personal relations, especially not women. Embracing her sisterhood, Blanche tries to save Stella which shows masculinity because Blanche takes charge and the male character in question, Stanley, now feels his dominance is threatened. These actions make Blanche a target for Stanley, and in consequence leads to the rape and her ultimate distrust in the world. Since Stanley is growing tired of Blanche criticizing him and his behaviour, he decides to do research and discovers the promiscuous past of Blanche DuBois. Lying to protect her image further demonstrates Blanche’s inability to be content with her true self. STANLEY “Lie number one: All this squeamishness she puts on! Sister Blanche is no lily. She moved to the Flamingo! A second class hotel which has the advantage of not interfering in the private social life of the personalities there. She pulled the wool over your eyes as much as

Mitch’s! That’s why she’s here this summer – because she’s practically told by the mayor to get out of town!” (Williams 119-121). Blanche’s secrecy is something most women in their society would not have even fathomed.

It is understandable as to why she kept her “job” confidential. Not only was it taboo for women to work, but a career such as prostitution is shameful and could have caused her only living family to denounce her. Keeping secrets and creating this alter ego proves her intelligence as well as Blanche’s capabilities; she is not as weak as everyone thinks. This behaviour, though does infringe on Blanche reaching self-actualization as she is not secure with the ideas of her true self and represses those memories. Altogether, Blanche’s behaviour noticeably demonstrates resistance to societal norms depicting that she does not act like a typical lady and showcases her insecurities discouraging her self-actualization.
Coincidentally, Hamlet conducts abnormal behaviours like contemplating suicide and procrastinating violence due to his feminine shaped personality. Hamlet’s depression is truly expressed in his infamous soliloquy ‘To be or not to be’. In this, he internally contemplates suicide, and feels he needs to escape life rather than facing the issues, which is a typical female trait. HAMLET “To be, or not to be? That is the

question — by a sleep to say we end The heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished! For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, th' oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, the pangs of despised love, the law’s delay, the insolence of office, and the spurns that patient merit of th' unworthy takes, when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin?” (Shakespeare 3.1.57-78). Hamlet does not share his feelings because in his eyes no one is trustworthy, and he knows that his male peers will not understand such dilemmas. Suicide was unspeakable in the Elizabethan era, as it would have its victims automatically sent to purgatory. Hamlet, in lines 73-76 recognizes what is supposed to be his role in society; the arrogant, unloving politician, and makes it very clear he wants none of that, which would make him feel more like an outcast. Hamlet cannot reach his full potential because he knows exposing these thoughts would ruin his life. Having no true friend’s indicates Hamlet is the only one drinking from his emotional faucet overflowing with feminine insecurity. On top of that, Hamlet can be viewed as less masculine because he chooses not to initially be physically vengeful with Claudius at first. Hamlet devises other plans, like the play and suicide before realizing the new king needs to die. “We have a feeling that Hamlet is coming too late to the final decision to fight and avenge his father. The play is a bomb. Suspicion lights the fuse, tension increases, the final explosion kills Hamlet and everyone else” (Duren 1). After losing his father, Hamlet does not get immediately angry and vicious like men in the Elizabethan era, but instead mourns openly. Choosing to display such emotions for a prolonged period of time, as well as conducting plans involving plays and suicide demonstrate Hamlet’s rationale. He knows for a fact that his father was killed by his uncle, and chooses to not immediately kill him even when given the opportunity. This constant rational thinking signifies Hamlet has not reached his full masculine potential because he is insecure about his every move, and overthinks his vengeance. After all, Hamlet behaves in a feminine way by contemplating suicide and prolonging physical vengeance in society blocking his true male potential. Once analyzed, it can be said that both characters are stuck on Maslow’s fourth level on the Hierarchy of needs, which is esteem. Being driven by their opposite forces has left both characters at a loss for true identity, causing gender abnormal behaviour. Blanche keeping secrets and interfering in a marriage shows she is insecure about the loss of control in her own life. Hamlet pondering suicide and revenge plans shows he feels incapable of making strong manly choices.
Thus, Hamlet’s Hamlet and A Streetcar Named Desire’s Blanche defy the ideas of masculinity and femininity in an attempt to become self-actualized as demonstrated by their misshapen pasts and behaviours dictated by such that other notice defeat societal norms. Blanche is sexually driven and feels she must be a provider proves her masculinity as shaped by her past at Belle Reve and the Flamingo. Similarly, Hamlet losing his father and betrayal of his mother reveals his femininity as expressed through sensitivity and longing for support, and both are similar when analyzed with Maslow’s third level on the Hierarchy of needs; love and belonging. They find common ground on the fourth level on the Hierarchy as well, esteem needs, as described through both characters behaving in ways their gender typically would not. Blanche, for example gets involved with her sister’s marriage and lies to protect her promiscuity, while Hamlet ponders suicide and other plans before becoming physically enraged to kill his uncle. This is why the characters cannot reach self-actualization; they constantly feel incomplete. All this discrepancy and character downfall is caused by such confining truths that one must fit a description to live up to their fullest potential which is entirely false. “Rather than trying to fit a woman into a man’s world, we must create a society where the masculine and feminine have an equal role to play” (Sadhguru).