SND And DOM - Madness

Question 1

Blanche Dubois and Duke Ferdinand - similarities

Answer 1

• ferdinand starts descent into madness due to failure of controlling duchess
• his lycanthropy stems from animalistic urge to control
• Blanche’s madness stems from unstable mental state as her manipulative hold on Mitch and Stella deteriorates plus Stella choosing Stanley over her
• Stanley is an avatar of DIONYSUS - god of madness and desire
• he acts as catalyst for b’s insanity

Question 2

Blanche Dubois and Duke Ferdinand - differences

Answer 2

• B’s manipulative tendencies stem from her desire to SURVIVE.
• Williams shows DARWINIAN outlook through B’s questionable means of survival.
• unlike Stanley who is born to thrive in cut throat society of post war America, b cannot
• b is her own source of dependency as all men she encountered fail to offer her stability

Ferdinand survives off of malice and terror
- controls those around him to reinforce superiority
- he is in his element - can kill as he wishes
B metaphorically wishes to do the same but only in the name of survival whilst F does it out of jealousy and MASOCHISM

Question 3

Callaghan on the twins

Answer 3

‘Webster gives two ‘twin’ shows of madness, the Duchess’s and Ferdinand’s, and directs two opposing responses, one charitable, one mocking’

Question 4

Ferdinand’s lycanthropy as POSTHUMANISM

“I’ll go hunt the badger by owl-light:
‘Tis a deed of darkness”

Answer 4

Cartesian dynamic of plays metaphysics complicates his lycanthropy as presenting good or evil

Dualistic conflict is a matter of mind and body - inability to function cohesively

Represents unity between soul and body
- exterior form mirrors internal soul

Question 5

Penelope Meyers Usher

Answer 5

“Appear to be human on the surface, but when they pull back their skin (…) they prove to be more animal than human”

Question 6

Time in both plays

Answer 6

Time passes regularly at first half of both plays
Dramatically quickly in second half
- children, years and months pass
Reflect how madness distorts time

Question 7

“I have this night digged up a mandrake”

Answer 7

Mandrakes were thought to drive the listener mad with their cry.
Ferdinand associates Duchess’ marriage with madness.
Digged - dental, gutteral, animalistic

Question 8

“There’s a mad lawyer, ad a secular priest, a doctor that hath forfeited his wits by jealousy”

Answer 8

Ferdinand uses law for his own ends and sexual jealousy drives him mad

Cardinal is corrupt and hypocritical religious figure

Masque of madmen represent the brothers

Question 9

“Givs’t my little boy // some syrup for his cold, and let the girl // say her prayers ere she sleep”
Act 4 scene 2

Answer 9

Insane??
Or staging a performance