AO4 - Malfi and Streetcar Connections

links between contexts (for introductions)

Malfi - early 17th century, late Renaissance (approx 1612)

Streetcar - mid 20th century, post World War II (1947)

• both Webster and Williams were writing in societies on the cusp of change and so their plays probe into the anxieties of transitional zeitgeists

general similarities

• both plays have female protagonists the audience have empathy for

• both plays were written by male playwrights

• both plays are set in patriarchal societies

• both plays have moments of optimism, opportunity for growth and change

• in both plays, the protagonists are marginalised in the worlds that they live in

similarities - exposition

• in both plays, male voices are heard first, especially in Malfi

• both plays acknowledge the possibility of corruption (offer glimpses of hope amisdt decay and corruption

• Bosola, like Mitch, is influenced by immoral characters around him

similarities - inciting incident

• Streetcar - in scene 2, Williams presents the conflicts between two opposing ‘worlds’ symbolised by Blanche/Belle Reve and Stanley/the apartment in New Orleans

• Ferdinand’s control over his men in Scene 2 ‘take fire when I give fire, that is laugh when I laugh’ highlights Stanley’s similarly controlling nature in Scene 3 - The Poker Night

general differences

• both plays have different stagecraft - originally Streetcar would’ve had more lighting, sound effects and music (technology) than Malfi

• both plays are influenced by different genres of tragedy - Malfi is classified as a Revenge tragedy which includes blood and gore shown on stage, whereas Streetcar is a Domestic tragedy in which violence is much more unseen

• Streetcar is set in a working class world, whereas Malfi is set among the aristocracy, however both have class conflicts

• some male characters are very different e.g. Stanley who is possessive, predatory, violent and Antonio who is gentle, calm, loving (Antonio is aligned with goodness whilst Stanley is presented as power hungry)

differences - exposition

differences - inciting incident

• Antonio’s view of the Duchess directly contrasts with Stanley’s view of women, Antonio admires her power and is utterly respectful ‘she stains the time past, and lights the time to come’ whereas Stanley objectifies and demeans women ‘sizes women up…with sexual classifications’