Stanleys Control in A Streetcar Named Desire Essay -- Control A Stree

Stanley's Control in A Streetcar Named Desire Remember what Huey Long said – Every Man is a King! - Explain how Stanley had his control, how he has had his kingship challenged and how he is trying to re-establish his control. â€Å"Remember what Huey Long said – â€Å"Every Man is a King!† Explain how Stanley had his control, how he has had his kingship challenged and how he is trying to re-establish his control. In the opening of â€Å"A Street Car Named Desire† by Tennessee Williams, we are presented with a stereotypical presentation of a husband and wife. However, during the duration of the play, we see how Stanley changes from being in control, to loosing his control and using desperate measures to regain a higher status. In Scene 1 the impression the audience gets about Stanley is that he is in control over his wife. The first time the audience sees him, he â€Å"bellows† at Stella and Stella â€Å"mildly† talks back to him, showing Stanley’s higher status. Stanley also â€Å"hurls† a meaty package at Stella, showing his masculine power that he possesses. Stella, in contrast, is the one that waits for Stanley. The first time we see Stella and Stanley together, Stanley has gone to find Stella rather than the other way round. This gives the audience the impression that Stella is almost a stay at home wife to Stanley. When Blanche and Stanley first meet, it is easy to see that Stanley feels as if he has control. He â€Å"starts to remove his shirt† in front of Blanche when he has first met her, indicating his confidence and his high status attitude. A small indication that Stanley’s â€Å"kingship† is being challenged is show in the start of Scene 2. In Scene 2, Stella takes Blanche out to a show and supper, while Stanley has ... ... then chooses Stanley, leaving Blanche to be taken away by a Doctor to a mental hospital. In the beginning of the play it is clear to see how Stanley has higher status than Stella, shown through a combination of stage directions and speech. Stanley realises that his status has been lost fairly early on in the play, and firstly believes that he must show his masculine power by hitting Stella. This is obviously the way he has solved any previous issues to do with his masculinity, as Stella says about how â€Å"Stanley’s always smashed things†. Stanley realises how this usual solution won’t work this time, so he puts his efforts into driving Blanche away. He succeeds in doing this, but it shows the audience a terrible side to Stanley. His last action to regain masculinity is an awful act with risky consequences, as Stella could have easily turned against him.