Hegemonic masculinity- authorises and encourages male domination, justifying the subordination of women and non-hegemonic men
Masculinity is not monolithic- effeminate Mitch and Blanche’s ‘degenerate’ closet homosexual. Despite Mitch’s ostensibly beta-male status, he reinforces sexual purity standards on women, shown when he left Blanche after forcing her to confess, (‘you’re not clean enough to bringing the house with my mother.’) showing that it is not only alpha males who reproduce misogynistic ideologies which oppress women. Allan commits suicide bc of blache’s disgust, Allan can be seen as a victim of heteronormativity.
Motif of luck in ‘luck is believing you’re lucky….to hold front position in this rat race’ ‘baby boy’ and ‘richly feathered bird among hens’
Believes that he is the front-runner in the ‘rat race’ American dream makes his own luck. Patriarchy reinforce his luck. Williams explores a moral problem concerning he extent to which societies polluted by patriarchal ideals bestow power upon the privilege like Stanley - intersectionality at this time favours the cultural society zeitgeist of the patriarchy, strengthening their alpha males foothold in the household.
Williams creates a false sense of security by depicting new orleans as a liberal melting pot.
Progressive imagery : ‘cosmopolitan city,’ ‘easy intermingling of race’ and musical motif of thee ‘blue piano’
Break from old south plantations
However the irony of New Orleans as it is far from an inclusive utopia with issues of sexism and racism
‘Napoleonic code’ - deep-seated misogyny acts as a microcosm for the deep-rooted female entrapment in soc.
Highlights the extent to which female sexuality, freedom and choice could be tolerated before it is condemned in soc.
Yes it is true that Blanche abides to feminine southern belle standards of beauty by frequently appearing in ‘dark red satin wrapper,’ arguably she also simultaneously subverts this by
Adopting a ‘masculine energy’ when seducing the young men, she is the courtier in this relationship and not the one being courted. Audience of the 1940s may find disturbing , but for feminists this could illustrate Blanche’s independence by breaking free from feminine expectation engendered by the patriarchy such as men being the leaders and taking the initiative. Despite her initial superficial facade of a southern belle, towards the play’s culmination, she rises as a symbol of female power who tries to break the gender hypocrisy but is ultimately trapped by the new America’s codes of hegemonic masculinity.
Scene 1 Williams’s use of colour symbolism in Blanche’s costuming
‘White suit’ ‘white gloves’ - innocent and pure but she is already an outcast bc she appears ‘incongruous to this setting’
Therefore, Williams uses proleptic irony to foreshadow that Blanche is far from the reality of her past endeavours with men. Blanche is derived from the french meaning of ‘white’. However Blanche in English means to bleach trough lack of sun exposure- it is not pure white. Use of motor of bathing to expunge her sense of impurity.
Scene 5 Blanche: ‘you’ve got to be soft and attractive. And i-I’m fading now!’
She realises that being ‘soft’ is essential to a women’s beauty and acceptance in society. ‘Fading’ Williams comment on the invisibility of women.
Scene 10: ‘had this date with each other from the beginning’
Suggest that this sinister act is premeditated
Triumph of brutish animal magnetism over female expression.
