Masculinity: Achieved Through Dangerous Situations

A raging, oncoming freight train is roaring down the tracks around a slight bend bearing towards a helpless, vulnerable damsel in distress that is tied to the railroad tracks with only seconds to spare. She only has one hope: Superman. Faced with this nearly impossible situation what does Superman do? Naturally, he jumps in front of the locomotive head-on, putting his life in danger, and stopping the train with a screeching halt just inches away from the young lady, of course. What could be more heroic or courageous than succeeding during a dangerous situation? Nothing. As Superman demonstrated, these situations present the chance for traits of masculinity to be displayed. Now, not all situations may possess the severity or extremity of the situation that Superman handled but in all situations that are somewhat perilous masculinity is often associated with the attributes brave, bold, muscular, virile, and forceful, as well as many more. Masculinity requires facing challenges head-on and defeating the dangers; no second guessing, no hesitation. Get the job done. In various short stories from Benjamin Percy’s book Refresh Refresh the male protagonist is always presented with dangerous situations to display his masculinity through his courageous actions. This is executed during multiple different situations, but is often the result of saving a female character. The male protagonist rises to the occasion when an opportunity presents itself, but often they are responsible for creating the dangerous situations. These stories seem to verify Germaine Greer’s view that she expresses in her work Masculinity that “Masculinity requires the creation of dangerous situations, actual or symbolic.” (898)

In Refresh Refresh Benjamin Percy uses th...

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...g in that dangerous situation. Once again, it often results in the male being responsible, with a few exceptions, to provide complexity and unpredictability to the character. If there was any doubt that the actions of the male protagonists of overcoming danger wasn’t enough, the element of a masculine figure protecting or saving a female character made sure to declare the masculinity of the character. On a regular basis the presence of dangerous situations is directly responsible for the degree of masculinity of a character.

Works Cited

Greer, Germaine. "Masculinity." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 8th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 889-902. Print.

Percy, Benjamin. "The Caves in Oregon," “Meltdown,” “When the Bear Came.” Refresh, Refresh. Saint Paul, MN: Graywolf, 2007. 21-41, 101-132, 225-49. Print.