stanley

• Use of props and kinesics emphasises Stanley's cruelty as the play develops
• 'a ticket. Back to Laurel'. - Ticket a symbol of mental abuse and control. She 'springs' to escape him
• an animalistic physical vigour.
• Hhe represents the new, heterogeneous America to which Blanche doesn't belong , she is a relic of a defunct social hierarchy
• He is primitive- 'Animal joy in his being is implicit' 'Bearing the raw meat home from the kill in the jungle' ( scene 4) 'jungle sounds'- when Stanley stresses Blanche reinforcing his animalistic nature.
• Stanley is an outsider who has been accepted into American society by virtue of his strength and masculinity. He embodies the idea that the strong survive and he will not be intimidated by anyone or anything. This makes him a threat to Blanche because her power comes from her ability to manipulate others through charm and sexuality rather than brute force. In this way, Stanley can be seen as a metaphorical representation of the forces of change that are sweeping across New Orleans at the time the play is set.
• Relationship with Stella 'He kneels beside her and finds the opening of her blouse' triumph of sexuality- weakness in Stella 'He smashed all the light bulbs with the heel of my slipper! I was sort of thrilled by it' Stella's denial of abuse manifests in her acceptance of violent behaviour
• The child- It ties Stella to him. Pragmatism
• His alpha male status- 'He is pinioned by the two men, into the bedroom. He nearly throws them off' superior strength- dominance heirachy 'hurls' 'jerks' 'shoves' 'throws' 'snatches' 'rips' 'slams' - diction accentuates his brutish force
• unapologetic male gaze- 'he sizes women up at a glance.'- assessing prey?

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• The light- he contrasts Blanche's affinity to darkness' , he 'holds the bottle up to the light to observe its depletion'- he uses light foreshadowing how he will expose everything blanche has done' 'Get the coloured lights going'