A small indication that Stanley’s “kingship” is being challenged is show in the start of Scene 2. In Scene 2, Stella takes Blanche out to a show and supper, while Stanley has his poker night. Stanley notices that Stella’s attention has been taken off him. Stanley says, “Well isn’t that just dandy!” when Stella explains how she has put his dinner. Stanley says this sarcastically as he doesn’t like the fact that Stella would rather go out with her sister than stay at home, cooking his dinner like a conventional housewife. Stanley’s threatened attitude caused by Blanche is developed later in the scene where Stanley tries to get Stella back on his side. He does this by showing off his masculine power like he done in Scene 1, as he “jerks” and “hurls” Blanches possessions to the floor, trying to find evidence to get Stella back on his side. His actions have an opposite effect, where Stella then feels that Stanley is being “stupid and horrid”. This makes Stanley feel as if he has widened the gap between himself and Stella even further, and that all the blame should be put on Blanche, as she caused his wife to become rebellious to her housewife role and took Stella’s attention off of himself.
Stanley sees his change of role in the house as a threat to his masculinity. To regain respect from peers and from Stella, he tries to regain is status by loosing his temper, and proving how powerful he is. In scene 3, he “tosses” the radio out of the window. He wants to the source of Stella’s attention, and he hits her. This leaves the audience with the impression that Stanley is almost punishing her for paying attention to other people. However, this works slightly as Stella goes back to Stanley. Stella is in control at this point, as Stanley knows he can loose Stella at any point. Stanley “falls to his knees” symbolising his lower status at this point, and Stella then “raises him level with her” which shows how they both have equal status. Stanley then gets his power back by proving his masculinity and sexual power by lifting Stella “off her feet” and into the flat.
Another example of how Stanley tries to get his “kingship” back is when he tells Stella Blanches reasons for leaving Laurel, and expects Stella be disgusted and want Blanche out of the home, which would resort the family life back normal. This backfires on Stanley, and causes Stella against Stanley. Stanley then realizes how he must get Blanche out his home, as this would restore his status.
The remainder of the play is partly focused on Stanley’s actions to Blanche. To try to get her to leave, he attempts to turn Stella against Blanche by revealing Blanches history to Stella, he then buys a train ticket back to Laurel as a gift on Blanches birthday. But these things don’t work so Stanley eventually rapes Blanche. As Blanche confides in Stella about what has happened, Stella “couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley” so she has to choose between them. Stella then chooses Stanley, leaving Blanche to be taken away by a Doctor to a mental hospital.
In the beginning of the play it is clear to see how Stanley has higher status than Stella, shown through a combination of stage directions and speech. Stanley realises that his status has been lost fairly early on in the play, and firstly believes that he must show his masculine power by hitting Stella. This is obviously the way he has solved any previous issues to do with his masculinity, as Stella says about how “Stanley’s always smashed things”. Stanley realises how this usual solution won’t work this time, so he puts his efforts into driving Blanche away. He succeeds in doing this, but it shows the audience a terrible side to Stanley. His last action to regain masculinity is an awful act with risky consequences, as Stella could have easily turned against him.
