The idealized standards for males in the 1950s were very demanding. They were expected to be providers, soldiers, and pioneers of industry. While all of these attributes associated with money and power seems very appealing, there was a flaw in 50’s era ideology. These standards undercut basic human instinct. Males could not cry, express fear, or cower. Any deviation from the social norm would result in ostracization from the community. It was vital for men to adopt an emotionally disconnected identity. The same applied to boys. Enter Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern. Stephen King’s “The Body” put emphasis on the gravity of masculinity and its effects on males during the 1950’s. The boys felt the need to protect their masculinity. They filtered
…show more content…
Kimmel, that could be applied to Gordie. It is located in the short Stephen king section and it reads, “The average King protagonist attempts to fit into the societal defined stereotype of masculinity but either fears that elements of it are dangerous or cannot properly adapt to the role” (Kimmel 454). Gordie struggles throughout the entire novella with the fear of his masculinity. The majority of adult males mentioned in the book are either violent, washouts or drunks. The only exception was the university bound Dennis.With the only respectable adult male figure gone, Gordie is faced with the fear of growing into the typical Castle Rock male. A minimum wage factory worker with no college degree and the propensity to drink, which is what Ace would become years later. He fears masculinity but he also does not want be without it and risk being ostracized. His fear of losing his masculinity really starts to take hold after the leech incident. That one leech practically sucked the manhood out of him. Immediately following that episode he faints. Instead of telling the group right away what the real cause was he deflects it with a joke. Gordie is one of the only boys to really hide his emotions consistently. Clear evidence of this is best illustrated by the moment he had with the doe. “I sat there looking mesmerized at the spot where she had been, . . . It was …show more content…
Most of King’s work epitomizes masculine cultures and the progressive hindrance that it causes. The thought of putting emotions over herculean power was something unfathomable circa 1950. The idealized version of masculinity limited men emotionally, like the refusal to ask for help or openly express themselves. Men were taught to be the dominant power and asking for help would prove otherwise. These ideals then get passed on to the next generation, who struggle with development because of the amount of pressure put on the importance of
Kimmel, that could be applied to Gordie. It is located in the short Stephen king section and it reads, “The average King protagonist attempts to fit into the societal defined stereotype of masculinity but either fears that elements of it are dangerous or cannot properly adapt to the role” (Kimmel 454). Gordie struggles throughout the entire novella with the fear of his masculinity. The majority of adult males mentioned in the book are either violent, washouts or drunks. The only exception was the university bound Dennis.With the only respectable adult male figure gone, Gordie is faced with the fear of growing into the typical Castle Rock male. A minimum wage factory worker with no college degree and the propensity to drink, which is what Ace would become years later. He fears masculinity but he also does not want be without it and risk being ostracized. His fear of losing his masculinity really starts to take hold after the leech incident. That one leech practically sucked the manhood out of him. Immediately following that episode he faints. Instead of telling the group right away what the real cause was he deflects it with a joke. Gordie is one of the only boys to really hide his emotions consistently. Clear evidence of this is best illustrated by the moment he had with the doe. “I sat there looking mesmerized at the spot where she had been, . . . It was …show more content…
Most of King’s work epitomizes masculine cultures and the progressive hindrance that it causes. The thought of putting emotions over herculean power was something unfathomable circa 1950. The idealized version of masculinity limited men emotionally, like the refusal to ask for help or openly express themselves. Men were taught to be the dominant power and asking for help would prove otherwise. These ideals then get passed on to the next generation, who struggle with development because of the amount of pressure put on the importance of