Malfi/streetcar quotations Flashcards
Duchess’s attitude towards her brothers comments not to re-marry
‘if all my royal kindred lay in my way unto this marriage, I’d make them my low footsteps’
Willing to pursue her desires, walk over her brothers if she has to. Non-conforming to society
Antonio about his social status in relation to the Duchess
‘my unworthiness’
Aware that his social status is lower than the Duchess, unusual for a man to marry a women of higher status
How Blanche describes herself
‘prim and proper’ schoolteacher
Conforming to societal expectations by presenting herself as a respectable member of society. Unusual for a women to be as educated as Blanche during this time
What Blanche tells Mitch about her past in Laurel
‘many intimacies with strangers’
Dual personality-tries to act as conforming to society when in reality she is non-conforming, just like the Duchess.
Pursues her desires more privately whereas the Duchess makes no secret of it
What Mitch expects in a women
Not ‘clean’ enough
Expects women to be pure, links her promiscuity to her being ruined in some way, destroys her reputation.
What the Duchess’s brothers expect her to be
‘cas’d up like a holy relic’
Similar to Blanche in how women are expected to be pure although with the Duchess this is connected to religious purity
Untouchable, cold, unfeeling
Ferdinand about the Duchess’s marriage to Antonio
‘royal blood’ ‘attainted’
Sees Antonio marrying into the family as a dilution of their royal blood. Could also be linked to a loss in superiority as their royal blood would be considered superior
Ferdinand about the Duchess’s thought
‘privatest thoughts will come to light’
Feels entitled to her most innermost thoughts, light is symbolic of truth
Possessive
Ferdinand’s imagination of the Duchess
in the ‘act of sin’ with a ‘strong-thighed bargeman’
Sexual obsession towards her, perverted and incestuous. Jealousy
Ferdinand’s mocking of the Duchess
‘lusty widow’
Derogatory term used against women for having sexual desires if they were widowed
Illustrates his sexual obsession with her as he is thinking of her sexual desires
What Blanche calls Stanley
‘animal’ ‘sub-human’ ‘ape-like’
Dehumanises him, animalistic, questioning his authority
Stanley when he is mocked by the sisters
‘I am the king around here’
Asserts his dominance and therefore maintains his status-similar to how Ferdinand tries to maintain their royal status
Wants a level of control over the women
Stanley’s attitudes towards women
‘pleasure with women’
‘gaudy seed bearer’
‘sizes women up with sexual classifications’
Double standards of men-able to enjoy being sexually expressive yet women are shamed for the same thing.
Sees women as mere sexual objects that he can control-like Ferdinand with the Duchess
Aware of his sexual prowess, being sexually expressive is often linked to a higher social status
Stanley before he rapes Blanche
‘we’ve had this date with each other from the beginning’
Potentially from the very first time he saw Blanche he wanted to have sex with her, consensual or not. Able to assert his dominance over her once and for all whilst also gaining control of her fate as this is the catalyst for her being sent away
Duchess’s final words
‘I am Duchess of Mali still’
Retains her integrity and social status, power, authority. Dignified way of dying, dies for natural human desires
Brothers punished
