How does Shakespeare create tension in Act 2 Scene 2 of Macbeth?

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Explore how Williams portrays men in this play?

Tennessee Williams has portrayed men in various manners in A Streetcar Named Desire from extremely dominating and overpowering Stanley to caring and sensitive Mitch. This clever portrayal of men also helps deliver the social context of during the time the play was written; the consideration of women as ‘objects’ and men’s overpowering personality. A Streetcar Named Desire explores men; their violent and aggressive behaviour constantly trying to gain dominance and so forms an extremely crucial part of this novel helping reader to understand there fluctuating emotions.

Stanley is presented as a tremendously assertive and domineering character throughout this play and perhaps reflects the nature of men during the time. This is mirrored in his speech that state: ‘Every man is a king! And I am the king around here, so don’t forget it!’. The repetition of ‘king’ represents he’s trying to re-establish his authority which portrays he’s perhaps making an attempt to just reiterate that he’s the boss. Moreover, the exclamation marks further puts special emphasises on his aggressive tone and helps readers visualize and feel the forceful attitude. Alternatively, the idea of the ‘king’ also connotes being the king of the jungle which further implicates that it’s his territory and it is unrightful to argue with men, him in particular.

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Furthermore Stanley is also presented as a character with primitive qualities throughout this play. This is reflected through Blanche’s speech: ‘He acts like an animal, has an animal’s habits! Eats like one moves like one, talk like one!’. The constant repetition of the word ‘animal’ emphasises his animalistic behaviour and attitude, illustrating that he hasn’t evolved into a refined human-being. The listing further highlights his never ending animalistic qualities and the exclamation mark creates fascination for the readers to his unusual and abnormal characteristics. In addition his animalistic personality is described as ‘Animal joy in his being is implicit ...

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