The term paper analyses how the play “Dying City” by Christopher Shinn takes up the picture of stoic, cliché masculinity, and shows how some characteristic features can easily convert into toxic masculinity.
Masculinity is often a term not easy to define. In recent times, the popular opinion has tended to consider masculinity to be more sensitive and emphatic – a man shows strength if he allows himself to be weak. This progressive view is fundamentally different to the John-Wayne-like picture – strength, heroism and fighting spirit – which defined the life of so many men, especially some decades ago and even in the present day.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 Main part: Argument and Evidence
1.1 Famous male writers as role models in “Dying City”
1.2 Deceptive war ideals and reality
2 Conclusion and Outlook
3 Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the depiction of toxic masculinity in Christopher Shinn's play "Dying City," focusing on the protagonist Craig Conners. The research explores how traditional, stoic ideals of manhood—often influenced by literary figures like Ernest Hemingway—can manifest as destructive behavior, and how the brutal reality of war ultimately conflicts with these rigid masculine archetypes.
- The evolution of masculinity from traditional stoicism to toxic manifestations.
- Craig Conners' behavior and his identification with famous male writers.
- The intersection of misogyny, sexual dominance, and masculine trauma.
- The psychological impact of military service and the disillusionment with war ideals.
- The role of family history and childhood violence in shaping adult masculine behavior.
Excerpt from the Book
Famous male writers as role models in “Dying City”
Toxic masculinity is an aspect in the play which is not to be discovered so suddenly: at first sight, Craig only shows a slight degree of male superiority towards his wife Kelly. They seem to be happy in the first couple of retrospective views before Craig’s death. In the present, when Kelly is talking to Peter, she seems to be still in a soft mode of mourning: “[…] Everyone was in shock [at his funeral]”, (Shinn 2008: 361)
However, as the plot moves forward, Craig’s machismo behaviour becomes more obvious. On several occasions during the retrospective views in the play we see that he does not take his wife seriously in terms of her work: “you treat me like I’m this ridiculous person. Which doesn’t make me feel good or loved [sic] […]”, (Shinn 2008: 376). Even though Kelly appears to be able to defend herself in front of her husband – at least she tries to take a stance in her conversations with Craig – in the end she is the one in the relationship who gives in and is more vulnerable: even when Craig tells her that “it was mistake. I knew I didn’t love you” (ibid.: 405) and she first “cries. She punches Craig repeatedly” (ibid.), but she tries to ease the tensions when he departs, offering to stay in touch via “phone, email, whatever you’re most comfortable with, whenever you – we’ll find a way to understand […]”, (ibid.: 408). What is more, she obviously does not speak up to her husband’s demands and, instead, “let him fuck me – every night of my life” (ibid.:401).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section defines the scope of the study, introducing the concepts of masculinity and toxic masculinity within the context of Christopher Shinn's play "Dying City".
1 Main part: Argument and Evidence: This chapter analyzes Craig Conners' character, examining his fixation on male writers and his oppressive behavior toward his wife as manifestations of toxic masculinity.
1.1 Famous male writers as role models in “Dying City”: This sub-chapter explores Craig's fascination with authors like Hemingway and how their hyper-masculine personas influence his own conduct and relationships.
1.2 Deceptive war ideals and reality: This sub-chapter contrasts the romanticized, heroic vision of warfare with the traumatic, brutalizing reality that Craig experiences in the Iraq War.
2 Conclusion and Outlook: The conclusion summarizes how rigid ideals of masculinity lead to self-destruction and reflects on the potential for characters to move beyond the shadow of these harmful legacies.
3 Bibliography: This section provides a list of all primary and secondary sources utilized for the analysis.
Keywords
Dying City, Christopher Shinn, Masculinity, Toxic Masculinity, Craig Conners, Ernest Hemingway, War Trauma, Gender roles, Misogyny, Military, Literary Influence, Psychological impact, Suicide, American Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines how Christopher Shinn's play "Dying City" portrays the transition from traditional, stoic masculinity to toxic, destructive behavior through its protagonist, Craig Conners.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The core themes include the social construction of masculinity, the influence of hyper-masculine literary archetypes, the impact of patriarchal upbringing, and the disillusionment caused by the realities of war.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The goal is to analyze how Craig's need to adhere to an exaggerated, "heroic" version of manhood contributes to his abusive treatment of his wife and his ultimate psychological breakdown.
Which scientific method is employed?
The paper utilizes a literary and cultural analysis approach, interpreting text passages from the play against the backdrop of sociological and journalistic discourses on toxic masculinity.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section investigates the specific ways Craig attempts to replicate masculine archetypes found in literature and contrasts his initial romanticization of military service with his letters revealing the cruelty of war.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include "Dying City," "Toxic Masculinity," "Craig Conners," "War Trauma," and "Patriarchy."
How does the author characterize Craig's relationship with his wife, Kelly?
The author identifies Craig's behavior as patronizing, controlling, and emotionally abusive, noting that he struggles to see Kelly as an equal, often demeaning her while simultaneously betraying her trust.
What role does the Iraq War play in the development of the protagonist?
The war serves as a catalyst for Craig's disillusionment, where his previous adherence to a "heroic" masculine ideal clashes with the brutal, senseless reality of conflict, potentially driving him toward his final decision to commit suicide.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Franziska Sittig (Autor:in), 2021, Images of Masculinity in "Dying City" by Christopher Shinn, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1195220
