The Different Forms Of Masculinity In Stardust

In the real world, masculinity takes many forms, and masculinity in the magical world of the movie Stardust (2007) (( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. )) is no different. The movie tells the story of Tristan, a young man from a dull town, who ventures into the magical kingdom of Stormhold in pursuit of a fallen star. Tristan plans to bring the star back to his magic-less town in order to win the heart of the most popular girl in town.

Unbeknownst to him, the fallen star in Stormhold is not a lump of rock but a woman named Yvaine, who the most dangerous people in Stormhold want to kill so that they may eat her heart and live forever. Therefore, Tristan’s journey to find the star becomes far more perilous and transformative than he could have ever imagined. At the beginning of the movie, the narrator says that this story is about “how Tristan Thorn becomes a man” (( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. )). In other words, the notions and nuances behind the concepts of manhood and masculinity are thoroughly explored in Stardust.

Along his journey, Tristan encounters other men who show him different versions of what it means to be a man, but, ultimately, Tristan finds his own way. The movie Stardust shows that different manifestations of manhood and masculinity exist, and it argues that some are better than others.

Septimus’ Toxic Masculinity In Stardust

Prince Septimus, from the kingdom of Stormhold, practices one of the most harmful kinds of masculinity called “toxic masculinity.” In Stardust, Prince Septimus and his brothers grew up with the expectation that they would slowly kill each other off until there was only one brother left to claim the throne.

However, at the beginning of Stardust, there was more than one prince left alive when the king was dying. This rare occurrence prompts the king to send his sons on a scavenger hunt where the first male heir to find a special necklace gets the throne. It just so happens that after the king proclaims the new rules, the necklace flies toward the cosmos, and the necklace knocks Yvaine, the star, out of the sky. This occurrence ties Septimus’ and Tristan’s paths together as Septimus wants to eat Yvaine’s heart.

Septimus embodies the toxic masculinity he was taught as a child. Toxic masculinity “glorifies stoicism, strength, virility, and dominance” (( Dictionary.com, s.v. “toxic masculinity,” accessed July 21, 2020, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/toxic-masculinity. )). Septimus clearly values this dominant, emotionless, and violent form of masculinity, and he idolizes his father who acts the same way.

At the beginning of the movie, Septimus calls his father “strong and courageous” for killing his family, and resents that some of his “cretin” brothers are still alive when his father dies (( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. )). Additionally, while the other princes also feel compelled to kill each other because of their upbringing, Septimus finds much more amusement in killing than his brothers do. Septimus is also the only brother in Stardust who kills people on-screen.

Toxic Masculinity Is A Product of Nurture, Not Nature

Stardust demonstrates that toxic masculinity is a mindset that is taught. For example, before the king dies, the king tricks one of his sons into standing near an open window. The king then looks at Septimus, and without hesitation, Septimus walks over and pushes his brother out of the window to his death. The king and Septimus are both greatly amused this murder. However, Septimus’ oldest brother, Primus, does not share in Septimus’ amusement over killing. In fact, Primus exhibits kindness and concern for other people, and he even helps Tristan, a stranger, by giving him a ride. Primus’ and Septimus’ different approaches to life demonstrate that while toxic masculinity is learned from one’s environment, one can choose not to act on it.

Throughout Stardust, Septimus’ only goal is to become king by any means necessary. He exclusively acts for selfish reasons, is never kind to anyone, and kills anyone (not just his brothers) who stands in his way. For him, masculinity is tied to merciless, emotionless actions that are acted out to prove his strength and dominance. However, despite the number of “enemies” that Septimus kills throughout Stardust, he never becomes king, and he dies because of his overconfidence in his abilities. For Septimus, it is both his upbringing and his decision to adhere to said upbringing that lead him to value traits of toxic masculinity.

Captain Shakespeare’s Performance Of Stereotypical Masculinity

Tristan and Yvaine are captured by Captain Shakespeare and his crew in the middle of their journey. Captain Shakespeare has the reputation of a feared pirate even though, at heart, he is not the murdering, scary pirate that everyone thinks he is. After capturing Tristan and Yvaine, Captain Shakespeare puts on a show for his crew where he pretends to throw Tristan overboard for a slight offense in order to maintain his reputation as a cold-hearted killer. In reality, the Captain merely throws a mannequin off the ship and changes Tristan’s appearance so that he can pass him off as his nephew to the crew.

Throughout Stardust, Captain Shakespeare practices identity performance where he is one kind of person in front of people, and a different person behind closed doors. Erving Goffman, a sociologist, sees identity as a performance. He argues that the version of ourselves that we present to other people is influenced by “reflects internalized norms and expectations” (( Cole, Nicki Lisa, Ph.D. “Goffman’s Front Stage and Back Stage Behavior.” ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/goffmans-front-stage-and-back-stage-behavior-4087971 (accessed July 21, 2020). )).

Captain Shakespeare Behind Closed Doors

On the other hand, the version of ourselves that we are in private is free of these societal restraints, and we are able to be our “true selves” (( Cole, Nicki Lisa, Ph.D. “Goffman’s Front Stage and Back Stage Behavior.” ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/goffmans-front-stage-and-back-stage-behavior-4087971 (accessed July 21, 2020). )). Captain Shakespeare follows Goffman’s idea of the private versus the public self.

When out in the public’s eye, Captain Shakespeare acts out stereotypical masculine qualities. He is fearsome, gruff, and dominant. However, behind closed doors, Captain Shakespeare does not practice these same qualities, and he even plays around with gender norms by wearing dresses and makeup. Captain Shakespeare hides this version of himself because he thinks that society would not take him as seriously. He feels pressured to “[maintain] the whole Captain Shakespeare persona,” and he sometimes wonders if it’s even worth it.

The Captain is also extremely influential for Tristan because he teaches Tristan how to “be a man” in the conventional sense. He teaches Tristan how to act tough, and how to sword fight so that Tristan can better protect himself and Yvaine on their travels. Captain Shakespeare gives Tristan an up-close and intimate look at what it would be like to live like him, fighting oneself to be the version of a man that society wants. Tristan ultimately decides that this version of masculinity isn’t for him.

Tristan’s Subversion Of Stormhold’s Version Of Masculinity

The movie Stardust is set up to be about a journey about Tristan’s masculinity as at the beginning of the movie, the narrator says, “This is the story of how Tristan Thorn becomes a man” (( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. )). Along his journey with Yvaine, Tristan encounters different types of masculinity: Septimus’ toxic masculinity and Captain Shakespeare’s performance of stereotypical masculinity. After meeting Captain Shakespeare, Tristan asks him,

“Why fight to be accepted by people you don’t actually want to be like?”

(( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. ))

After asking him this question, Tristan realizes that he’s been pretending to be somebody else so that the most popular girl in his town will maybe marry him. Tristan has convinced himself that he likes this girl, while in reality, he only wants her to marry him because if he can get her to take him seriously, then everyone else in his town will, too.

However, Tristan falls in love with Yvaine while on their journey because she loves him exactly the way he is. Yvaine never asks him to change or to prove his love because she just loves him without question. And while Tristan grows and becomes more confident over the course of his journey to becoming a man, he never loses sight of who he was: this wide-eyed, kind boy who will never stop fighting for the people he loves.

Masculinity Built On Bravery

Toward the end of Stardust, Tristan realizes that he wants to be the kind of man who is true to himself, which is seen in his actions. Tristan never tries to bury his emotions (like his fear) behind a false facade of manly confidence. For example, at the end of the movie, Tristan must face a fearsome witch in order to save Yvaine’s life. As he faces her, Tristan visibly trembles out of fear, but he still stands tall and prepares to fight. Later in the fight, Tristan throws himself in front of a knife that’s meant for Yvaine, and even though he is hyperventilating and flinches when the knife goes near him, he still faces it without hesitation.

Tristan demonstrates courage with his actions because real courage is not masking one’s fear but, instead, doing something despite one’s fear. Not only is Tristan a brave man, he is also kind, which is seen in the way he treats Yvaine. It never once crosses his mind to hurt her or to cut out her heart so that he may live forever. He consistently treats her with kindness and compassion and even puts himself at risk to keep her safe. Unlike Septimus who spends his whole life taking things (like other people’s lives), Tristan is freely given and earns what he has.

At the end of Stardust, Tristan is granted immortality, not because he ate Yvaine’s heart, but because she metaphorically gave hers to him out of love. After all, the rule goes that “no man can live forever, except he who possesses the heart of a star” (( Vaughn, Matthew. Stardust. 29 July 2007. Marv Films. Film. )). Tristan gets the “prize” that Septimus and other foes wanted, and he does so not by taking it, but by being himself and earning it.

The Model Masculinity

Stardust showcases three types of masculinity: Septimus’ toxic masculinity, Captain Shakespeare’s performed masculinity, and Tristan’s own version of masculinity that is true to himself. Ultimately, it is Tristan who is the hero of Stardust. His decision to be a kind, compassionate, selfless man makes him the hero of Stardust who achieves what others tried and failed to take.

Masculinity takes many forms, and Stardust presents some forms as better than others. In this case, Stardust argues that masculinity that requires a man to bury his emotions or hurt other people is harmful for both the man himself and those around him. The movie provides a great model of masculinity because it presents a compassionate and truthful version of masculinity as the better option. Masculinity is oftentimes a touchy subject for people, but Stardust shows that the Hollywood manly man is not always the hero of the story. Tristan Thorn creates his own version of masculinity, showing viewers that one’s masculinity need not meet someone else’s standards.