Masculinity in A Streetcar Named Desire
Stanley Kowalski
● “Napoleonic Code” - shows the power
dynamic in his relationships as he must
be in control
● He has financial control over Stella,
"Stanley doesn't give me a regular
allowance, he likes to pay the bills
himself, but- this morning he gave me
ten dollars to smooth things over."
● Objectifies Stella, “loud whack of his
hand” - performative masculinity
● Infantilizes Mitch due to his closeness
to his mother, “bone headed baby” -
enforces masculinity through a stoic
demeanor
● “Every man is a king” - power
imbalance
Shep Huntleigh
● Symbolises survival through
conforming to gender expectations, as
he is Blanche’s only escape option, “I’m
writing a letter to Shep.”
● Masculinity as possession, “I went out
with him at college and wore his pin for
a while.”
Key Moments:
Before and after the rape scene
(final established connection between sex
and violence, toxic masculine power)
Mitch’s date with Blanche
(“Let me lift you” - performative yet
traditional masculinity)
The Poker night
(symbolic of the roles of men in the play -
“as coarse, direct and powerful as the
primary colours”)
Recollection of Allan Gray
(different type of masculine power, as “the
Gray boy” is never seen yet continually
mentioned, plus the Varsouviana)
Allan Gray
● “Tenderness unlike a man’s” - his
sexuality meant a different, perhaps
healthier type of masculinity compared
to the likes of Stanley or Mitch
● The contrast between his relationship
with Blanche to her other relationships
- “poems a dead boy wrote.”
● Links to Hart Crane who inspired
Williams, hence Allan’s character was
created
○ The opening to the play features
a stanza from Crane’s ‘The
Broken Tower’ with the notable
quote “visionary company of
love” - potential link to the
“searchlight”
The Doctor
● Fits into Blanche’s preference of a
‘Southern gentleman’ - “I have always
depended on the kindness of
strangers” potential parallels to her
“leaky roof” monologue
● Treats Blanche in a “gentle and
reassuring manner”
Mitch
● Initially defends Stanley’s rage -
“poker shouldn’t be played in a house
with women.”
● Attempts to side with Blanche after
Stanely rapes her - “I’ll kill you!” -
shows contrast to his earlier actions
● Holds fairly traditional views - “you’re
not clean enough to bring in the
house with my mother.”
● “What I’ve been waiting for all
summer” - masculine entitlement as
also shown with Stanley, although he
doesn’t proceed with it
● Vulnerable, “the girl’s dead now.”