Streetcar And Duchess Flashcards
Loss
Thesis:
Loss is a prominent theme and is clearly underlined by the main protagonists Blanche and the duchess.
In both it is used as a vehicle for the plot and for the characters to develop, presenting this through loss of sanity as a destructive concept with incurable impacts.
Both lose their identity at the fall of a man. While both seemingly lose identity and autonomy Blanche portrays a mental deterioration and the duchess loses her status she also is at a loss of her family which consequently causes her to lose her life.
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Blanches journey of loss of mentality strips away both her autonomy and her dignity.
‘While the grim reaper set up his tent on our doorstep’ the symbolism of the grim reaper examines…
‘I can’t stand a naked lightbulb anymore than a vulgar remark’ the symbolism of light underlines blanches insecurity as light, shows the illusion vs reality. Her illusion of herself hides her true self, she loses herself in the process of trying to preserve the idea of the southern belle. Blanches obsession with preserving her beauty and youth.
Critic: ‘we cannot understand [blanches] behaviour until we see how the past affects the future’
Blanche underlines this as…
It is interesting to note that the duchess also links with this critic as she…
Paragraph 2:
The duchess experiences a profound loss of identity. Her masculine authority, being a widow, is stripped by Ferdinand.
By marrying Antonio in secret the duchess loses public identity as a noble widow.
Ferdinand then takes her family with the wax figures ‘to bring her to despair’ this highlights Ferdinand’s use of the wax figures to manipulate ad torment the duchess, making her believe they are dead. The fact that he brings her to despair shows his ultimate hunger too be her hamartia. The wax figures symbolise a loss of hope and perhaps stems her loss of identity as her identity is within her family. Alike to this, blanches mentality loss is at the hands of a man (stanley)
Women
Thesis:
Blanche tries to preserve the old south ideals, she is the epitome of the fading ideals of the southern belle. She finds her identity within her femininity, this compares to the duchess as she also find her identity within her feminist but she uses is as a tool of independence authority and strength.
Paragraph 1: (Blanche)
-While Blanche clings to notions of chivalry, grace and delicate beauty, attempting to maintain an image of purity and refinement.
-Her femininity is marker by emotional fragility and vulnerability. She states she ‘can’t be left alone… she’s got to be with somebody’, shows her emotional fragility and need for support, she has a dependence on others particularly men.
-She depends on male approval and protection which reflects the limited autonomy and power of women in her social context.
-Blanches overt sexuality contrasts with her attempts to appear demure. Her desperate need for validation and fear of aging leads to manipulative and deceptive behaviour.
‘You make my mouth water. You have a place of your own?’ Blanches flirtation with the young boy reveals her overt sexuality and attempts to regain her lost youth through seduction. She uses her femininity to take control and exert her power.
-‘I never met a woman that didn’t know if she was good looking or not without being told’ female dependance on men in New Orleans; Stanley seems to see through blanches southern belle persona.
Blanches attempts to resist Stanley’s dominance and assert her own identity contrast with Stella’s submissiveness. However her fragility and past traumas make her vulnerable to patriarchal oppression.
-‘a womans charm if fifty percent illusion’, Blanche directly comments on her own southern belle persona and seems to admit it is all a facade. She believes that creating an illusion is essential for a woman to maintain charm and appeal. She uses this ‘illusion’ to mask her past traumas, age and the declining social status. By creating this feminin facade she tries to protect herself from the harsh truths of her life. It also highlights the societal pressures on women to conform to certain standards of beauty and behaviour. Her adherence to illusion underscore the unrealistic expectations placed on women to appear youthful and charming. It could also suggest that femininty itself is merely a performance and women are expected to play roles and project images that isn’t like their true selves which emphasises the superficial nature of social norms. This quote perhaps critiques the rigid gender norms that compel omen to rely on illusion.
-‘Blanche is a delicate and sensitive woman pushed into instantly by a brutish environment’ - KAZAN, focuses on the oppressive environment Blanche faces and the impact of Stanley’s aggressive, dominating behaviour. Williams seems to use Blanche character to explore the effects of toxic masculinity and the vulnerabilities of women in a patriarchal society.
-Blanche could be portrayed as a tragic heroine, her dependance on illusion both strengthens and weakens her, allowing her to navigate her present but ultimately leads to her downfall, this is similar to the duchess.
Paragraph 2: (duchess)
The duchess seems to defy traditional gender roles by asserting her independence and authority, while Blanche seems to fail while exert power, the duchess seems to succeed as she dies for what she wanted. Some may argue that the duchess and Blanche both die, Blanche metaphorically, for what they love. The duchess, although she exhibits strength and courage, her decision to remarry and defy her brothers command demonstrates her resilience and determination. It seems as if the duchess’ hamartia is her desire, she is willing to lose her power for her husband and children.
-‘I am Duchess of malfi still’ when she is imprisoned by her brothers and is subject to psychological and physical torture she asserts her femininity and grasps onto her dignity. The use of the word ‘still’ emphasises her unwavering sense of self, despite the circumstances. The duchess’ bold declaration challenges traditional gender roles and the societal expectation that women should be submissive and obedient. Her assertion of autonomy and authority is a direct affront to the patriarchal order. This not only empowers her as a woman but advocates for the recognition of their strength and individuality. It underscores the plays feminists themes and seemingly critiques the male dominance. Alike Blanche, she maintains her tragic heroism through her ability to maintain her dignity and identity in the face of immense suffering.
-whether i am doomed to live or die,/ i can do both like a prince’ the duchess asserts her autonomy and equates her strength o that of a prince. By referring to herself as ‘prince’, a typically male person of power it challenges the patriarchal notion that women are weaker and inferior and underlines her confidence and capability of power. Unalike Blanche, the duchess encapsulates a powerful figure and succeeds in using her femininty as a tool of power.
-while kazans point is partly true as she is ‘pushed into insanity by a brutish environment’ it is clear that she isn’t sensitive or delicate within her femininty as she gains what she wants despite th typical gender roles that she is to be controlled.
-additionally the fact that she is a widow seems to reverse gender roles as she has the power and riches of a married woman without the control of a husband. This elevates her multifaceted portrayal of femininity embodies the strength, vulnerability, love and defiance which makes her a complex and compelling character. Her position as a widow adds to her tragic heroism. Her struggles against societal constraints and her ultimate downfall highlights the power corruption and resilience of the male protagonists in the play.
Paragraph 3: (Stella vs Julia)
Stella seem to embody the traditional role of a submissive and loyal wife. Her dependance on Stanley and acceptance of his dominance reflect societal expectations for women to be devoted and obedient. While Julias sexuality is complex and tie to her pursuit of power and influence, Stella conforms to then power of Stanley.
-‘I can hardly stand it when he is away for one night’ -he ‘dragged her down from them columns’
-Stella conforms to traditional gender roles, showing loyalty and submissiveness to her husband while Julia defies traditional gender roles by engaging in an affair and using her sexuality and intelligence to navigate the courts politics.
Men
Thesis:
Both Ferdinand and Stanley are characterised by their obsessive and controlling behaviour.stanley exerts his control through physical strength, intimidation and a raw, unrefined masculinity while Ferdinand’s control is linked with his aristocratic status, he uses this too exert power over the duchess. They both seem to have a distorted sense of desire and control.
Paragraph 1:
Stanley seems to base his identity on his working class masculinity as her exerts his control over Stella. Williams uses the character of Stanley too to explore gender dynamics and the destructive impact of toxic masculinity
‘I am not a polack. People from Poland are poles, not polacks. But i am one hundred percent American’, this declaration emphasises his strong identification. Stanley distances himself from his polish heritage, he desires o be recognised as a true American. This statement also asserts his dominance and control. His rejection of ethnic slurs are tied to his masculine pride. He takes pride in his identity and demands to be treated with respect., reflecting his broader need for control and dominance.
- “Since earliest manhood the center of [Stanley’s] life has been pleasure with women, the giving and taking of it, not with weak indulgence”the phrase ‘pleasure with wome’ suggests that Stanley’s relationships with women are primarily drive by physical desire and sexual gratification. It is almost as if pleasure with women elevates his masculinity, he seems to view ‘pleasure’ as transactional. It emphasises Stanley’s primal and raw approach to sexuality, positioning women as a central aspect to his masculinity. The phrase ‘not with weak indulgence’ underscores Stanley’s disdain or any form of perceived weakness. This reflects. His need to assert control and dominance, reinforcing traditional notions of strong assertive masculinity. The reference to ‘earliest manhood’ indicates that these traits and behaviours have been integral to Stanley’s identity from a young age. It suggests that his understanding of masculinity has been shaped by a long standing focus on physical pleasure and dominance. This adds to his foreseen hyper-masculine identity that he desires to be seen as.
-stanleys behaviour exemplifies patriarchal authority, where male dominance over women is normalised. His relationships are a way to reinforce his power and control within his personal sphere.
-‘every man is a king and i am the king around here’
-critic: ‘where he cannot dominate sexually, Stanley uses force’ Stephen bottoms
-he is referred to as a ‘gaudy seed bearer’ and a ‘rich feathered male bird among hens’. Gaudy= something flashy, bold and showy. Emphasises Stanley’s overt and unrefined masculinity. Seed bearer=fertility and the propagation of life. It highlights Stanley’s primary, animalistic nature and his role as a dominant male figure. It highlights his physicality. And allows him to appear confidence and as a leader particularly with other men
-Stanley’s character is rooted in the context of post World War II America, reflecting themes f class conflict, the decline of he old south and the rise fa. New, more aggressive masculinity
Paragraph 2: (Ferdinand)
Alike to the character of Stanley, Webster uses the character of ferdinand too also explore gender dynamics and the destructive impact of toxic masculinity.
-Ferdinand’s character is set in the context of Renaissance Italy, reflecting themes of aristocratic power, corruption, and the struggle for control within a decaying moral order. He uses his aristocratic power to assert his dominance over
reputation
thesis:
reputation plays a significant role. in websters DOM it ties honour, social status and power. while in SND, the main protagonist, blanche, is deeply concerned by the way people perceive her and she roots her identity within the opinion of others which contributes and ultimately defeatas her fraggile mental stabiity. on the other hand webster presents the duchess as a character which defies social norms by marrying beneath her status. she has little care for her reputation and seems to be more in favour of her happiness, where blanche is the opposite.
paragraph 1:
blanches deteriorating mental state is seemingly caused by her previous actions. her need for an opinion of mwen that is in favour of her bodu seems to be a priority for her. she states that ‘a womans charm is fifty percent illusion’ She believes that creating an attractive and charming appearance is essential for a woman to navigate the world and that her reputation is based upon these opinions. blanche relies heavily on the image she projetcs to others. she constantly bathes, puts on perfume and avoids the ‘naked light’, wanting to seem ‘clean’ as she is metaphorically unclean due to he promiscuous past. this ‘illusion’ may be defense mechanisms against the brutal truths she cant face, her hunger to preserve her youth and beauty mirrors the idea of the southern belle and the ‘perfect woman’ in the eyes of a man. Blanche’s attempts to maintain a façade of gentility and purity ultimately clash with the raw, brutal reality represented by Stanley Kowalski, who not only exposes but confirms the fragility of her mindset and how she is stuck in the past preserving her beauty. this ultimately leads her reputation to diminish as the play progresses and uncovers her fragile personality and how ‘There isn’t a thing but imagination! And lies and conceit and tricks’, Stanley’s exposure of Blanche’s illusions is a turning point in the play, leading to her ultimate breakdown. This quote highlights the conflict between Blanche’s fragile world of illusions and the harsh reality that Stanley represents. her reputation seems to differ in the real world and her imagination, blanche seems to have alluded herself into believing she is young and beautiful which stems her promiscuous reputation which haunts her throughout her life.
paragraph 2:
By remarrying beneath her social status, the Duchess challenges the conventional reputation of a noblewoman. Her actions put her at odds with her brothers, who are more concerned with preserving their family’s social standing.
“I am Duchess of Malfi still.”- powerful declaration
“The witchcraft lies in her rank blood.”- highlights his obsession with the purity of their noble bloodline. The term “rank” here suggests both nobility and a sense of corruption or impurity. The phrase “witchcraft” implies that Ferdinand views the Duchess’s independence and sexuality as something unnatural and malevolent. This reflects the play’s exploration of misogyny and the control men seek to exert over women’s bodies and choices. Ferdinand’s use of the term reveals his deep-seated fear and hatred of female autonomy. he seems to define her reputation.
The phrase “witchcraft” implies that Ferdinand views the Duchess’s independence and sexuality as something unnatural and malevolent. This reflects the play’s exploration of misogyny and the control men seek to exert over women’s bodies and choices. Ferdinand’s use of the term reveals his deep-seated fear and hatred of female autonomy. (link to reputation)
“I account this world a tedious theatre, For I do play a part in’t ‘gainst my will.”-The phrase “I do play a part in’t ‘gainst my will” highlights the Duchess’s lack of agency and autonomy. She feels that she is compelled to play a role that is not of her choosing, reflecting her struggle against the oppressive forces around her, including her brothers and societal norms.The quote can be seen as a critique of the rigid social roles and expectations that constrain individuals, particularly women. The Duchess’s lament underscores the limitations placed on her freedom and individuality by a patriarchal society.
critic: “The Duchess, not her brothers, stands for ordinary humanity, love and the continuity of life through children.” - ribner
paragraph 3:
both text show how reputation leads to tragedy and and downfall. the duchess loses her life and blanche loses her sanity
