masculinity

Question 1

thesis

Answer 1

Masculinity is rewarded in webster and william’s world where the world moves according to the male desire. It is clear the consequences of male power growing unfettered, however the main struggle in the plays arguably is between women and men. This causes conflicts as the women in this world are dragged into these desires and shows male power at a breaking point

Question 2

moral epiphany- street car

Answer 2

Conflict in the play arises due to the heroines attempting to break free from the expectations and shackles that the male hierarchy places on them.

The males characters all experience some sense of moral epiphany, but it is too late

‘I gotta sick mother’
not clean enough- mitch does not care about her age, but cannnot stand how she has lied to him all summer
mitch lunges and strikes at stanley - seems to blame stanley for interfering in the relationship that should have been left alone

Question 3

moral epiphany malfi

Question 4

male power class street car

Answer 4

Both plays explore the consequences of males own insecurities about their class

don’t call me polack

I’m 100 percent American

where are your fox-pieces stella?

Question 5

women vs men street car

Answer 5

Women are portrayed somewhat as causing chaos, but it is a result of the male hierarchy that has been imposed on them

Napoleonic code -I don’t like to be swindled

remember what huey long said, every man is a king- huey long made a speech to soak the rich to help the poor

he ‘jerks open the drawer’ and pulls out a ‘fist-full of costume jewellery’

Question 6

class malfi

Answer 6

to grow a pippin upon a crab- bosola

gianetti- focus on impurities

Question 7

challenge to power

Answer 7

In both a street car named desire and the duchess of malfi, the central cause for conflict arises as a result of the female challenge to power. The Duchess of Malfi shows strong will power to fight against the patriarchal nature of her society by choosing her husband. Ferdinand states that he ‘will not have her marry again’, which comes at the surprise of Bosola. This signifies his desire to prevent his sister’s remarririage to protect his honour and other possible

in a street car names desire stanley initially comandeers his power with little resistance before Blanche appears. This is shown as he ‘heaves the package’ at stella, with little regard for her. She also lives for his sake, accommodating to his ‘poker nights’ his ‘coloured shirts’ and bowling