Aggressive Masculinity

Throughout the novels we read this semester, there is a single common factor that is relevant in all each novel; aggressive masculinity. Within A Street Car Named Desire it was relevant that Stanley was the aggressive male in the novel. However we can clearly depict that although he was an alcoholic who was deeply in love with Stella that he cared deeply for her. It was a mutual feeling between the two of them that no matter how rough their relationship could get, they could always count on the love that they had for one another to allow them to communicate or at least understand intentions. While in Dream Boy we see quiet a few men who portray aggressive masculinity. However within this novel, it is apparent that there is in fact a central victim, Nathan. While his father abused him,  Roy somewhat was protective but controlling, and Burke was no better than Nathan's father. The development of this aggression character throughout the novels develops in close proximity to the central character. While at first you see glimpses of actions from the characters, the novels' develop the characters so that this aggressive character is portrayed clearly through the eyes of the main charters. Stella and Blanch saw the actions of Stanley in his alcoholic state, and Nathan was surrounded until his death by characters that made himself seem weak. Nathans father abused him, Roy controlled him but not necessarily unwillingly. Then of course Burke whom takes advantage of Nathan. This character plays a vital role through all novels because it develops the main characters and gives this grotesque literature style that allows the readers to want to look away yet cannot because we want to understand more into these situations that can be very subliminal at times.