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.