stanley

Question 1

what does Stanley symbolise

Answer 1

animalistic alpha male
toxic masculinity
the American dream
rising working class/ new South
patriarchal attitudes

Question 2

what are Stanley’s key characteristics

Answer 2

violent
crude
primitive
cunning
blunt
sexual
being a working class man of immigrant decent

Question 3

what is the significance of poker in regards to Stanley

Answer 3

establishes his position as the alpha male
makes him the antithesis of Blanche- he can be himself in public whereas she has to hide it
his innate violence
societal acceptance of toxic masculinity, male violence and patriarchy
male dominance

Question 4

how does light relate to Stanley

Answer 4

he accepts the light and is seen to be utilising it/in it a lot which foreshadows how he will bring light to all of Blanche’s lies
he brings back the light to his and Stella’s life which represents how crude life can be
his affiliation with light is negative as he prospers at the expense of Blanche’s downfall (he ripped the lantern and revealed her secrets)

Question 5

what is the significance of the rape to Stanley

Answer 5

he destroys Blanche’s delusions
the emotional battle prior to the rape foreshadows his true intentions with her
rape is symbolic for the new America’s victory against the old south
it shows the animalistic dominance he finally officially claims over Blanche
he is considered irredeemably evil from this point forward
he feels entitled to have sex with her- male ignorance, toxic masculinity
he rapes her whilst Stella is in labour- selfish villain, contrasts the experiences of the sisters

Question 6

what is the authorial context behind Stanley

Answer 6

Stanley is a representation of Williams violent alcoholic working class dad, Pancho Rodriguez y Gonzalez who Williams had an abusive relationship with and William’s friend Stanley Kowalski

Question 7

what is the critical context behind Stanley

Answer 7

bold portrayal of desire and sexuality- crude realism is seen to be refreshing by audience members
he is a victim of Blanche’s madness and her attacks on his masculinity, class and heritage- so the rape can be seen as justified as Blanche consistently flirted with him so she initiated the event to happen
Freud- Stanley is the Id (pleasure principle), Blanche is the superego (morality) and Stella is the ego (reality principle)