Die Hard Men and Masculinity Quotes

This is not the first time McClane talks to himself. And it certainly won't be the last. His snarky soliloquies serve two purposes: (1) They highlight his vulnerabilities. He often talks to himself in quiet moments and particularly dire situations, showing just how alone and up you-know-what creek he is. (2) They show us that McClane's sense of identity and self worth come from a rather sarcastic place. When faced with a dicey situation, he wisecracks, rather than despairs. This is not a guy who's in touch with his feelings. This is a guy whose snark helps him survive.

In his first conversation with Hans, McClane lays his cards out on the table, in a snarky attempt to shift the power dynamics of their relationship. He uses a slang term for killing—"waxed"—and lets Hans know that he's not sitting as pretty as he thought he was. McClane has managed to shake up Hans's carefully crafted world. And the conversation that ensues after he drops this info is full of masculine posturing. You know, "who's the real man here?" type stuff.

McClane's manliness is also tied to his class. Dude's a down-home cowboy cop, not some fancy criminal in a luxurious suit. He's thoroughly working class, and his tastes make that known. Even while he references a decidedly unmanly outfit—Roy Rogers's sequined shirts—he does so in a way that lets him know he's secure in his own awesomeness. Just to seal the deal, he drops that famous one-liner, calling Gruber a "m***********," even as Gruber calls him "mister."