Presentation of Masculinity in a Streetcar Named Desire

Williams uses Stanley’s character in the novel to represent the masculine man of 1900s America. This masculinity not only affirms the prominence of post-war gender roles, but also helps Williams express a side of his sexuality unparalleled to that of societies ideal. Stanley's representation of masculinity comes in many forms, however majorly by his violence and aggression towards Stella, and rivalry with Blanche.

Williams describes Stanley as a ‘gaudy seed-bearer, who takes pleasure in his masculinity’. The use of ‘gaudy’ suggests the garish nature of the 1900s American man; a lack of refined emotion, and implying of an almost ‘simple’ social nature. Williams’ own portrayal of the couple initially supports this suggestion, as he has Stanley shouting, and throwing a pack of meat to a pregnant Stella. This lack of emotional intelligence which has him treating his pregnant wife in such a rough way could be viewed as a ‘primal’ attribute to Stanley’s masculinity. He seems to show ignorance to all emotions other than his impulsive own, which is befitting of his ‘masculine’ character as it was always the dominant man who would be responsible for his family. This responsibility results in Stanley's own elevated value of judgement, as he finds it pointless to use empathy to see through others' viewpoint. Williams seems to portray here a fine line between intelligence and masculinity; where his own willingness and complex connection with women is an attribute to his lack of ‘masculinity’.

Stanley's leadership role as the dominant ‘alpha’ also makes him arguably possessive over his ‘pack’. When Stanley discovers Blanche in his apartment, he immediately ‘sizes her up’, using his impulsive, primal instinct to categorise her as a threat or a newfound possession. This innate action proposes the ‘masculine man’ to be ‘animalistic’ in act by Williams, himself describing Stanley with "Animal joy in his being is implicit’. This animalism is portrayed further in the form of Stella, as it becomes her responsibility to keep Stanley happy, and to fulfil his desires. Masculinity is therefore not only a lack of emotional complexity as argued before, but also an inability to access such complexity, whereby the only option for the masculine man is to remain impulsive and primal in decision making. It's this attribute which Williams seems to highlight most in Stanley; he may be ‘the man of the house’ however his hothead