Stanley Kowalski

Question 1

Working-class man and of immigrant descent

Answer 1

• Provider
• Strongly asserts that everything he provides for and owns is his

Question 2

Violent and crude

Answer 2

• Brute force to convey his emotions
• Underlying violence reflected by Williams choice of diction
• Objectification of women leads him to treat women violently
• Animal sexuality and his masculinity
• Quintessential (representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class) disrespect and misogyny

Question 3

Straightforward and cunning

Answer 3

• Brutal honesty
• Faulty speech suggests lack of schooling
• Finds a way to get rid of the threat Blanche imposes on his dominance

Question 4

villain

Answer 4

• Primitive nature
• Brutal and destructively violent

Question 5

Animalistic nature (Scenes)

Answer 5

Scene 1, 3, 4

Question 6

Controls the world of the play

Answer 6

• The only one who has a sense of individuality but is aggressive

Question 7

How is Stanley’s brutality presented?

Answer 7

• Could be said that his brutality is influenced by the desire to protect his family and reputation
• Through his physical and sexual manipulation of Stella
• Through his sexual assault on Blanche: Scene 10 (rape), scene 2 (the trunk) and scene 7

Question 8

Stanley’s dominance over women

Answer 8

• Heightens the brutality of the modern world as it does not recognise established moral codes
• Audience is appalled by Stanley and what he represents
• Irresistible force of the modern world

Question 9

Stereotypical masculinity reaches new heights in scene 8

Answer 9

• Sexually manipulates Stella shows how sexual desire is destructive “noises in the night”
• “Who do you think you are, a pair of queens”: aggression and stance as the male dominant patriarch is evident
• dominates the mood, shots down sympathy for Blanche, modern world controls the old world
• “Ticket back to laurel”
• Violence in response to Stella’s insult: “hurls his plate to the floor”
• “I’m… one hundred percent American”: highlights his insecurities and this is what motivates his hate

Question 10

How does Williams present Stanley’s absolute domination of the world of the play

Answer 10

• Stanley is hosting a game of poker, dominance in scene 3 and scene 11
• Stanley’s sexual dominance over Stella
• Stanley’s match, Blanche and Mitch are dominated by Stanley
• “Spilt talaum” and “old-empty perfume bottles” shows that Blanche’s ability to charm the modern world has ran out