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Essay- Are the men admirable in “A Streetcar Named Desire”? £3.99
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  7. Unit AS 1 - The Study of Drama

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Essay- Are the men admirable in “A Streetcar Named Desire”?
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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...

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  • July 21, 2024
  • 4
  • 2023/2024
  • Essay
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  • A+

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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

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