Gender Conflicts in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams

Tesis (Bachelor) , 2003 , 40 Páginas , Calificación: 1,7 (A-)

Estudios de América - Literatura

Tennessee Williams has often been called the American national poet of the perverse and a dirty writer because a recurrent theme in his work is sexual deviation, such as nymphomania, promiscuity, rape, impotence, homosexuality, profligacy, frigidity, cannibalism, and castration (Bauer-Briski 11).

This statement clearly suggests the controversy with which Tennessee Williams’ dramas were perceived by the public and the critics. It is well known that conflicts on these issues can be found in many of his plays. This raises the question as to what extent these conflicts are related to specific gender roles and their subordinate themes. Williams once said that he has never written about anything he has not experienced first hand, thus most of the conflict issues can be considered to be autobiographical to a certain extent. As Williams’ childhood was restricted to a rather reclusive life due to diphtheria, which forced him to spend almost his entire childhood at home with his family, the experiences with his mother, father and sister shaped not only his character, but also the themes in his plays. His upbringing was characterised by Puritanism which was of vital importance in his family. His mother later became the model for his antiquated Southern Belles and overprotective mothers in the plays. His boisterous father was perceived as a frightening and alien male presence by him, his sister and his mother. He later became the model for the same type of harsh, brutal characters in his plays, such as Big Daddy and Stanley Kowalski (Falk 155 f). Yet, not only his Puritan upbringing shaped his life, but also the fact that he grew up in the South of the United States, in the Mississippi Delta, and the region’s heat, its storms, floods, the division into social classes, the colourful imagery and rhythms of the language were to shape his setting and dialogue (Tischler 2).The uniqueness of the South along with its cultural and social characteristics is embodied in many of his plays, and the social roles appointed to the people living there offers an extensive basis of analysis for not only gender roles, but also the related conflicts. In addition to this, Williams was known as being homosexual and leading a very promiscuous life, especially with men much younger than him (Bauer-Briski 11).

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Theories on Gender
• Theories on Conflict
• Gender Conflicts
• The Cultural Background of the Plays - The United States South
  • Historical Background of the United States South
  • Southern Culture and Identity
  • Gender Roles in the South
• Southern Culture in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams
  • Southern Culture and Identity as a Source of Gender Conflicts in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
  • Southern Culture and Identity as a Source of Gender Conflicts in A Streetcar Named Desire
• Sexuality in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams
  • Sexuality as a Source of Gender Conflicts in A Streetcar Named Desire
    • Blanche
    • Stella and Stanley
  • Sexuality as a Source of Gender Conflicts in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    • Big Daddy
    • Mae and Gooper
    • Brick and Maggie
• Homosexuality in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams
  • Gender Conflicts Related to Homosexuality in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    • Brick's and Skipper's Relationship a Source of Conflict for Maggie and Brick
    • Brick's and Skipper's Relationship as Source of Conflict for Big Daddy and Brick
  • Gender Conflicts related to Homosexuality in A Streetcar Named Desire
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis explores the representation of gender conflicts in the dramas of Tennessee Williams, focusing on the plays "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." The main objective is to examine how these conflicts are rooted in the cultural and societal context of the American South, particularly in relation to established gender roles and their impact on characters' relationships and choices.

• The role of Southern culture and identity in shaping gender expectations and conflicts.
• The impact of traditional gender roles on characters' actions and relationships.
• The exploration of sexuality, including homosexuality, as a source of conflict in the plays.
• The portrayal of female characters and their struggles within the patriarchal structures of the South.
• The representation of male characters and their complex relationships with gender expectations.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: Introduces Tennessee Williams' work, highlighting the controversy surrounding his themes of sexual deviation and the potential connection to gender conflicts. It discusses Williams' personal life and how his upbringing and experiences shaped his writing, particularly the influence of Southern culture and Puritanism.
• Theories on Gender: Explores the concepts of gender and sex, distinguishing between biological and cultural constructions. It examines the theory of biological determinism, which suggests that gender differences are rooted in biological factors.
• Theories on Conflict: Briefly outlines various theories on conflict, providing a theoretical framework for understanding the conflicts explored in the following chapters.
• The Cultural Background of the Plays - The United States South: Delves into the historical, cultural, and social context of the American South, analyzing its influence on Williams' plays. It examines the historical background of the South, its cultural identity, and the specific gender roles prevalent within that society.
• Southern Culture in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams: Examines how Southern culture and identity serve as sources of gender conflicts in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." This chapter analyzes the specific ways in which cultural norms and expectations contribute to the tensions and conflicts within these plays.
• Sexuality in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams: Explores the role of sexuality as a source of gender conflicts in both plays. It examines the complexities of sexual desires, including homosexuality, within the context of Southern societal norms and expectations, and their impact on the characters' lives and relationships.
• Homosexuality in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams: Examines the presence of homosexuality in Williams' plays and how it contributes to gender conflicts. The chapter focuses on the specific examples of Brick and Skipper's relationship in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and its impact on the characters' interactions and dynamics.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis explores the intersection of gender, culture, and conflict in the dramas of Tennessee Williams. Key themes include the influence of Southern culture and identity, traditional gender roles, the exploration of sexuality, including homosexuality, and the portrayal of both male and female characters navigating societal expectations.

• Universidad: University of Bayreuth (Faculty for Language and Literature Sciences)
• Calificación: 1,7 (A-)
• Autor: Kerstin Müller (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2003
• Páginas: 40
• No. de catálogo: V29989
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783638313605
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: Gender, Conflicts, Dramas, Tennessee, Williams