Streetcar and Malfi Essay Plans Flashcards
Violence Paragraphs
- Violence and sexuality linked
- Women suffer at hands of violent males
- Masculine rage ends in violence
Violence and sexuality linked
[He picks up her inert figure and carrier her to the bed]’
(Ferdinand) ‘[Gives her a poniard]’
‘[Talk to me … or my imagination will carry me to see her in the shameful act of sin’
Women suffer at hands of violent males
‘[She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow]’
‘[Dead man’s hand]’
‘[They strangle her (Duchess]’
Masculine rage ends in violence
(Mitch ‘[Tears the paper lantern off the lightbulb]’
(Stanley) ‘[Crosses to the small white radio and snatches it off the table]’
‘I would have their bodies burnt in a coal pit with the ventilation stopped’
Madness Paragraphs
- Light imagery motif of inner turmoil
- Foreshadowing lunacy
- Insensitivity to madness
Light imagery motif of inner turmoil
‘[Her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light]’
(Mitch) ‘[Turns on the light]’
‘What follows me?’ / ‘Tis your shadow’ (F)
‘Prays you gently neither torch nor taper shine in your chamber’ (F)
Foreshadowing lunacy
‘Because - as you must have noticed - I’m - not very well…’
‘The howling of a wolf is music to thee’ (F)
‘Oh let us howl some heavy note, some deadly dogged howl’ (Madmen)
Insensitivity to madness
‘Some canary-bird, huh!’ (S)
‘Regarded as not just different but downright loco - nuts’ (S)
‘Presented him with several sorts of madmen, which … forced him to laugh’ = Anti-masque
Power Paragraphs
- Women marginalised by masculine power
- Cardinal and Stanley abuse their positions for corruption
- Light imagery motif of being powerless against insanity
Women marginalised by masculine power
‘[Red-stained package from the butcher’s]’ / ‘[He heaves the package at her]’
‘[Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh]’
‘[She’s a young widow. I would not have her marry again]’
Cardinal and Stanley abuse their positions for corruption
‘[He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed]’
‘He and his brother are lies plum-trees that grow crooked over standing pools’
‘I pray thee kiss me’
Femininity Paragraphs
- Males with feminine traits
- Females embracing sexuality
- Women seen as feminine are dominated by males
Males with feminine traits
‘I gotta sick mother’ (M)
‘Hurry back and we’ll fix you a sugar-tit’
‘I’m all yours’ (A)
Females embracing sexuality
‘Even the management of the Flamingo … requested (Blanche) to turn in her room key - for permanently!’
‘Diamonds are of the most value, they say, that have passed through most jewellers’ hands’
‘Lusty widow’ (F)
Symbolism Paragraphs
- Light imagery symbolises inner turmoil
- Sound used to convey tension
- Setting symbolises approaching trouble
Sound used to convey tension
‘[The varsouviana is heard, its music rising with sinister rapidity]’ (B speaking of boy she loves)
‘[Varsouviana is filtered into a weird distortion, accompanied by the cries and noises of the jungle]’
‘Thou art a dead thing’ / ‘Never see her more’ (Echo (of Duchess?))
Setting symbolises approaching trouble
‘[Elysian Fields]’ = final resting place of heroic
‘[New Orleans]’ = reference to context, New World vs Old World
‘[At Court]’ = much corruption (context)
Rome = place of religion (where C has affair = corruption)
Guilt / Innocence Paragraphs
- Light imagery shows madness arising from guilt
- Admirable characters show poor morals
- Stella and Bosola do bad things and try, too late, to repent
Admirable characters show poor morals
‘[Fumbling to embrace her]: What I been missing all summer]’
(Mitch) ‘Tears the paper lantern off the lightbulb’
‘I would wish you, at such time as you are non-resident with your husband, my mistress’ (Delio)
Stella and Bosola do bad things and try, too late, to repent
‘What have I done to my sister? Oh, God, what have I done to my sister?’
‘[She sobs with inhuman abandon]’
‘I stand like one that hath taken a sweet and golden dream: I am angry with myself now I wake’ (B)
‘I’ll seek thee out, and all my care shall be to put thee into safety’ (B)
Gender Paragraphs
- Male dominance marginalises women
- Males showing feminine traits
- Women showing masculine traits
Family Paragraphs
- Abandonment of family in pursuit of love
- Duchess finds love, Stella finds toxicity
- Both plays end with male heir
Abandonment of family in pursuit of love
‘You left! I stayed and struggled!’ (B to S)
‘I couldn’t believe her story and go on living with Stanley’
‘I’ll never marry’ (D to brothers)
‘[She puts a ring upon her finger]’
Duchess finds love, Stella finds toxicity
‘[Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh]’
‘She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow]’
‘She stains the time past, lights the time to come’ (A about D)
‘I’m all yours’
Both plays end with male heir
‘[Eunice descends to Stella and places the child in her arms. It is wrapped in a pale blue blanket]’
‘Let us make noble use of this great ruin; and join all our force to establish this young hopeful gentleman in’s mother’s right’
Women Paragraphs
- Male dominance marginalises women
- Women voice their sexuality but are criticised for it
- Women show masculine traits
Women show masculine traits
‘Sit down’ (B to Mitch)
‘[She precedes him into the room]’
‘[She puts her ring upon his finger]’
‘I have fixed it already’ (Duchess)
Masculinity Paragraphs
- Male dominance marginalises women
- Males showing feminine traits
- Women showing masculine traits
