Hegemonic Masculinity

• What is hegemonic masculinity defined as?

  A practice that authorises male domination
• How does hegemonic masculinity relate to Williams' play?

  It is central to the social context of the play
• Who are the characters that represent hegemonic masculinity in the play?

  Stanley and Steve
• What does Mitch's character reveal about masculinity?

  Even beta males can enforce misogynistic norms
• What tragic event happens to Allan in the play?

  He commits suicide
• How does Williams portray Blanche in relation to Stanley?

  As a symbolic foil to Stanley's brutishness
• What moral problem does Williams explore in the play?

  The exploitation of the vulnerable by the privileged
• What cultural clash is represented between Blanche and Stanley?

  The Old South vs. the New South
• How does masculinity evolve in the New South according to Rotundo?

  It becomes key to the American social landscape
• What shift in masculinity occurred in the late 19th century?

  From communal to self-made manhood
• What characterizes 'passionate manhood' in the post-WWII era?

  Expression of self through passions and pleasures
• How does Stanley's character embody passionate manhood?

  He prioritizes pleasure and enjoyment
• What does Stanley throw at Stella in the opening scene?

  A bloody package of meat
• How does the masculine ideal evolve in the 1950s?

  From passionate man to father figure
• What societal expectations did men face in the 1950s?

  To provide for families and commute to work
• How does Blanche's mockery of Stanley lead to her fate?

  It leads to her eventual rape
• What does Stella justify ignoring in Scene 11?

  Blanche's rape accusation
• What does Blanche's character represent in terms of sexual conduct?

  She defies expectations of chastity
• How does Stanley's behavior affect Stella's perception of him?

  She excuses his abuse as natural
• What does Stella feel thrilled by in her relationship with Stanley?

  His brutish qualities
• How does Stanley's alpha male persona manifest in the play?

  Through his unapologetic sexual behavior
• What does Stanley's manipulation of Blanche reveal?

  His hypocrisy and sexual dominance
• What are the key characteristics of Stanley's masculinity?

  • Sexual volatility
  • Animalistic physicality
  • Gaudy masculinity
  • Capitalist greed
• What are the implications of the Napoleonic Code in the play?

  • Grants husbands authority over wives' assets
  • Reflects cultural misogyny in society
  • Influences Stanley's control over Stella
• How does Williams depict the treatment of women in the play?

  • Women are economically dependent
  • Women are expected to conform to chastity
  • Women's sexuality is condemned while men's is celebrated
• What does the tension between Blanche and Stanley signify?

  • The struggle between old and new masculinity
  • The impact of patriarchal ideals on relationships
  • The consequences of challenging gender norms

  
• What does the relationship between Stanley and Stella illustrate about gender roles?

  • Hierarchization of activity/passivity
  • Naturalization of abusive behavior
  • Subservience of women to male desires
• How does the play reflect the societal changes in masculinity post-WWII?

  • Shift from communal to self-made manhood
  • Emergence of passionate manhood ideals
  • Transition to father figure expectations in the 1950s
• What are the key scenes that depict Stanley's sexual domination?

  • Scene 3: Poker game dynamics
  • Scene 7: Manipulation of Blanche
  • Scene 8: Revelation of Blanche's past
• What does Blanche's character reveal about societal expectations of women?

  • Conflict between sexual freedom and societal norms
  • Struggle against the stigma of past actions
  • Consequences of failing to conform to expectations
• How does Williams use Blanche's character to critique gender inequality?

  • Highlights the hypocrisy of sexual conduct
  • Exposes the double standards in treatment of men and women
  • Illustrates the tragic consequences of defiance
• What does Stanley's character symbolize in the context of post-war America?

  • The embodiment of machismo and capitalist greed
  • The archetype of the New American man
  • The representation of evolving masculine ideals
• What is expressed through acts of violence in male-dominated domains?

  Anxieties over masculine power
• What do the key scenes depict regarding Stanley's character?

  • Stanley's sexual domination
  • His manipulation of Blanche
  • The expression of masculinity through violence

  
• How are the men described in the stage directions?

  As coarse, direct, and powerful
• What is the primary method for men to assert their masculinity?

  Competition, aggressiveness, and domination
• How does Stanley's drunkenness affect the atmosphere?

  It creates a threatening atmosphere
• What does Stanley's manipulation of Blanche reveal?

  His cruel knowledge of her sexual past
• What does Stanley say about his conscience regarding Mitch?

  He would feel guilty if Mitch got caught
• What does Stanley's hypocrisy expose about societal norms?

  Repercussions for women deviating from norms