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.

From the first scene we are shown Stanley’s animalistic and sexual demeanor.

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

control.
“Since earliest manhood the center of his life has been pleasure with women the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgences, dependently, but with the power and pride of a richly feathered male bird among hens” (Williams, 1786). In this play sexuality is used as a means of control. Stanley displays his sexuality to Blanche during their initial meeting by taking off his shirt. This scene can also interpreted as Stanley trying to assert his dominance. Stanley clearly has control over Stella; the way she returns to his bed after he hits her and the way she condones his barbaric behavior. Stanley and Blanche on the other hand are in a battle for control though flirtation. Over the course of the play Stanley’s frustration with Blanche grows. He feels he is losing control of all he desires: his house, friends, alcohol and Stella. Blanche threatens his establish role as alpha male. This all changes when Stanley finds out Blanches true nature. By scene ten Stanley finally is able to establish his dominance over Blanche in the only way he knows how, desire. Staley’s raw animal passion finally takes over and he assumes dominance and control over Blanche. The flirtation is brought to an end with Stanley saying “we’ve had this date with each other from the beginning” (Williams, 1837).
Stanley’s conflict with Blanche is also important for he discovers Blanche’s lies and is a symbol of reality throughout the play. A common theme of the play, which is most prominent in Blanche’s character, is delusion and fantasy. Stanley’s quest to regain control finds him skeptical of Blanche resulting in him uncovering truths that she has been hiding. A relationship between Stanley and the Blue Piano is made evident, suggesting reality. We hear the blue piano music throughout the play and this strong association with Stanley is made in scene ten, the plays climax, while Stanley is finally confronting Blanche on her lies and fantasies, “the barely audible ‘Blue Piano’ begins to drum up louder.”(Williams, 1836). This is suggesting that there is no escape. Blanche is to face reality head on.
Stanley’s importance in A Street Car Named Desire is clear.

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

reality.