The evidence of masculinity in scene three is shown through dialogue, stage direction and description of the surroundings. The introduction to the dramatic purpose of the poker party demonstrates Stanley’s domination over his friends through the way in which he makes all the decisions about the game. He also shows domination over his wife by hitting her during an argument.

Scene three opens with a description of surroundings during a poker night. The description of the poker night immediately introduces it as an all guys night. Stanley, Steve, Mitch and Pablo, all men are described as wearing shirts that have colours that are “powerful as the primary colours”. Primary colours are childish colours showing how childish and immature their personality is going to be through out the poker night. This is a contrast to how they are described physically as “strong”. These solid colours suggest they are strong, powerful men who are “coarse” and “direct”. Even though they are at their “prime” of physical manhood, alternatively the primary colour description can be seen as them not being in their prime mentally, suggesting immaturity and simple thi

Blanche informs Mitch how she cannot stand a “rude remark” or a “vulgar action”. Her statement reinforces her feminine, refined personality, which is the complete opposite of Stanley’s personality who is often referred to as an “animal”. As the conversation continues Stanley shouts for Mitch to return to the game. Blanche gets a shock when she hears his loud voice and remarks what “lung power” Stanley has. His lungpower shows the strength he is capable of producing. “Power” is a word that reflects his strength physically too.

Later Mitch starts to worry about his sick mother who he left at home. He says she wouldn’t be able to sleep until he, “comes in at night”. This implies she needs him to be there all the time and that she, as a female, is dependent on him, the breadwinner of the house. Stanley patronizes Mitch by saying he’ll fix him a “sugar tit”. Stanley is cutting down Mitch’s masculinity by saying he needs to go home to be with his mother. Stanley’s mockery of Mitch shows his dominance and masculinity over Mitch because it is almost like the pecking order amongst wild animals; competition amongst males and their dominance. Also the word “sugar tit” is quite vulgar which men would generally say. I think women wouldn’t be this crude and direct because they would think it is too explicit and women generally don’t make fun of their friends because they are sensitive.

As we hear the men have a poker talk conversation about a “wild deal,” we not only hear that the vocabulary is simple but also common which is in contrast with Stella and Blanche’s flowery, finer vocabulary. We also see Stanley “toss” some watermelon rind to the floor. The word “toss” is a very rough way of disposing a watermelon rind. He doesn’t throw it in a rubbish bin showing he doesn’t seem to care. He also does this when he throws the meat to Stella in scene one. I think he also expects Stella to clean up after him, reinforcing the idea that females take care of the house and clean up after their husband.

The only part in the scene that doesn’t present Stanley as a strong, masculine man is when he breaks into “sobs”. Men aren’t usually seen as the crying ‘type’. Williams does show Stanley’s sensitive side when he cries for Stella to come home. However, there is a contrast when Williams returns to describing Stanley as an animal when he throws his head back like a “baying hound” and “bellows” and “howls” his wife’s name. Immediately, he portrays Stanley’s masculine side as a dog, this time he is domesticated unlike the previous description as an undomesticated dog – wolf.

I think there is great amount of masculinity presented in scene three but without the feminine contrast I don’t think it would have been so obvious. Is Stanley’s brutality just a type of masculinity or was it aggravated by jealousy and the usage of alcohol?

Some topics in this essay:
Mitch’s Blanche, Stella Blanche’s, Stella Blanche, Stella Stanley’s, Mitch Pablo, Stanley Stella, Williams Stanley’s, Masculinity Scene, Blanche Stella, Eunice Stanley, stella blanche, animal imagery, poker night, stanley’s brutality, masculinity scene, complete opposite, playing poker, colours childish, stanley strong, “sugar tit”,