A Streetcar Named Desire Comparative Essay

For centuries, theatrical performances have presented mythical plays that have endured the test of time, exploring stories as ancient as Shakespeare himself and tackling central themes of power and dominance within a patriarchal society. Both William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” exemplify these timeless themes of literary critique as the main characters grapple for power within their distinct life contexts. Correlating to this, Hamlet explores the concept of power by seeking revenge and justice. In contrast, Stanley asserts his dominance over women to establish patriarchal power within his household. This stark contrast between the characters highlights varying degrees of masculinity and their pursuit

The concept of power is exemplified by Stanley’s character, who attempts to achieve dominion over others by dominating and manipulative behaviour. Stanley’s desire for power is evident through his actions, such as his attempts to assert dominance over Stella during poker nights. As depicted in the passage, he charges after her, as shown in the quote: “Stella, watch out, he’s [Stanley charges after Stella]” (Williams, 62-63). Additionally, Stanley, being Stella’s husband in a patriarchal society, seeks to establish dominance over her. This is illustrated when he drunkenly attacks his pregnant wife during a poker night, revealing his volatile temperament and questionable moral principles. His abusive behaviour highlights his yearning for power and control, aiming to be the dominant figure, the “King” of the household, as he exercises authority and exhibits toxic masculinity. As a result, both Hamlet and Stanley represent distinct degrees of masculinity through their desire for power and how they exert or plan out acts to acquire it. Similarly, Hamlet and Stanley are contrasted by their differences in the topic of power as they both attempt to gain control inside their kingdoms, Hamlet as a king and Stanley as the major male provider in the patriarchal society. Throughout the play, Hamlet acts to establish power through revenge for his father, but as seen in the quote, he frequently overthinks or procrastinates the tasks that will lead to the gain of power, implying that he is unsure about his decisions and only wishes to kill Claudius or commit sinful acts for justice. Furthermore, this contrasts with Stanley, who desires and achieves authority to display his masculinity and be recognized as the “King” of his home. Stanley’s dominance is demonstrated in the passage by his controlling and manipulative behaviour, as evidenced