Essay- Are the men admirable in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
28 views 1 purchase
Course
Unit AS 1 - The Study of Drama
Institution
CCEA
Book
Streetcar Named Desire
There is nothing to admire about the men in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams- how far do you agree with this statement?
This is an essay for A Level English Literature, which received full marks (50/50) and an A* grade. As well as a clean copy, I have attached an notated ve...
A LEVEL STREETCAR CRITICAL ANALYSIS, CONTEXT AND AO2 ANALYSIS
Essay- Stanley and Mitch in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
Essay- Is New Orleans Hostile in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
All for this textbook (17)
Written for
A/AS Level
CCEA
English Literature
Unit AS 1 - The Study of Drama
All documents for this subject (53)
Seller
Follow
jessiebolton06
Reviews received
Content preview
There is nothing to admire about the men in “A Streetcar Named Desire” by
Tennessee Williams- how far do you agree with this statement?
Throughout the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”, Williams develops
several male characters in various ways. However, ultimately, all men fail in
achieving any good, allowing Williams to criticise the violence and intolerance
of a misogynistic, heteronormative society through their characterisation. This
is especially clear in Williams’ depictions of domestic violence in the play,
particularly with Stanley. Stella “backs out of sight… There is the sound of a
blow”. The stage direction demonstrates how domestic abuse is hidden
behind the facade of Stella and Stanley’s marriage portraying Stanley as a
violent tyrant. Williams explores the abuse of power that men hold in marriage,
particularly in the mid-twentieth century, and many contemporary audience
members would have identified with Stella and Stanley’s dynamic, leading to
increased sympathy for Stella and condemnation of Stanley.
However, such violence isn’t limited to Stanley, as Williams displays to
the audience how this behaviour extends to Steve and Eunice, whose
marriage is accompanied by a “murmur of thunder”. The pathetic fallacy
conveys an ominous tone to the audience, suggesting that Steve shares
Stanley’s violent traits. Whilst such domestic violence may have been
generally accepted by the original audience, modern audiences share
Williams’ clear pity for the women suffering at the hands of unadmirable men.
This culture of toxic masculinity extends to the entirety of New Orleans,
allowing Williams to imply to the audience that the men’s unadmirable
behaviours are reflected across all men in America. The discussion of the
Napoleonic Code demonstrates the possessive nature of Stanley, as well as
men across Louisiana, when Williams writes “when you’ve been swindled
under the Napoleonic Code, then I’m swindled too”. The repetition conveys
Staley’s greed and anger to the audience, causing their admiration to dwindle.
However, the men aren’t without merit, and Mitch initially appears to
represent the “admirable” man. He moves “like a dancing bear”, and the simile
suggests a willingness to adapt to Blanche’s level of sophistication, implying to
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessiebolton06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.17. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
