Links between The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire

Oppression of women - joint point

In both plays women are controlled by men and an example of this is control of finance and inheritance.

Oppression of women - DOM

The brothers object to her sister being married and state that she should remain a "lusty widow" as Ferdinand hoped to "have gained an infinite mass of treasure" if she was to die.

Oppression of women - SCND

when the Dubdois plantation was lost Stanley states the importance of the inheritance as the Napoleonic code states that "what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband". - he feels he has the right to rifle and "jerk" through his sis in law's personal belongings and demand to know personal finances. Stanley is in charge of the money and doesn't give her ''a regular allowance'' but ''likes to pay the bills himself''

Deceit - joint point 1.female

In both plays female protagonist are forced to live a lie because the lives the chose to lead could not be accepted in their societies.

Deceit - joint point 2.male

In both plays the male characters uses their power and control over women to deceive and trick them.

Deceit- DOM 1.female

The Duchess and Antonio marry in secret (clandestine marriage) because her brothers forbid her to marry again this is because they desire the "infinite mass of treasure" they would inherit if she did not marry again. The marriage in question would cause conflict because Antonio, the Duchess' "steward", is of much lower class. However the pair are marrying for love as she asks hiM to "raise your self " because his "roof is built too low".

Deceit- DOM Ferdinand

Ferdinand "gives her the dead mans hand" (SD)

Allows her to think the wax works are kids and Antonio - Psychological torture. Trying to drive her mad.

Deceit - ASND 1.Blanche

Blanche tries to conceal her age and past to maintain her reputation and southern belle identity.

Blanche conceals her age, inconstant past as a prostitute at the "flamingo hotel" and a seducer of a school boy to protect her reputation.

She claims thatch "misrepresents things" and doesn't "tell the truth " as she tells what " ought to be the truth" because that protects her reputation.

Deceit - ASND 2.Stan

"sister blanche" bought her a "little birthday remembrance" which is a ticket back to "Laurel" on the" greyhound". psychological torture

Animalistic Men

in both plays there is animalistic imagery used to describe the violent and cruel men.

Animalistic Men SCND

"Stella" - throws his head back like a bay hound. he bellows his wife name.

BAYHOUND - rough violent but tamable dog

Animalistic Men DOM

"lycanthropia " - thinks he is a wolf. Says his hair grows on the "inside" Caught leaving graveyards

Having dug up body parts

he is wild violent predatory but unnamable. - shows severity.

Marriage - joint point

the marriages displayed are unusual because of their class difference. one is based on love, tenderness and respect and the other one violent, lust and passion.

Marriage - ASCND

"them coloured lights"

"I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it."

"there is things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark which make everything else seem unimportant"

- tempestuous violent and passion

- sex is the strongest bond

Marriage - DOM

"And may our sweet affections, like the spheres, be still in motion.

she proposes to him

-tenderness, equality and relaxed banter.

-respect

Light and Dark

in both plays the use light and dark to highlight the true nature of the characters

Light and Dark - ASND

image of blanch "unbuttoning" her blouse in front of the porters. She is left stood in her "pink brassiere and white skirt" as "the light comes through the portieres"

-flirty

-expression of sexuality

-embarrsising for sister

Light and Dark - DOM

ferdinads use of shadows of dead children and Antonio behind a traverse

-used to shock duchess = cruel

- dramatic irony for audience = wax

Darkness - joint point

darkness is used to conceal information from the characters

Darkness- ASND

"paper lantern" "I can't stand a naked light bulb"

-direct light to conceal real age

Darkness -DOM

"I will never see thee more " therefore stage in darkness and conceals dead mans hand.

Ferdinand "gives her the dead mans hand" (SD)

- dramatic irony she can't see its not his audience has its cruel.

bird imagery - joint point

both use bird imagery to illustrate aspect of the characters

bird imagery - SCND

stanley - sd - "a richly featured male birds amongst hens" "gaudy seed bearer" .. impression of strutting and puffing chest ect.

-masculinity

bird imagery - DOM

slightly different because...

cardinal metaphor of himself as a falconer who controls Julia - taken of "melancholy perch" "bore you on my fist "

-control man in charge owning a woman

or

Ferdinand metaphor "eagle" flying alone - deadly and dangerous

-

Deceit femalecharacters

Duchess weaves web of lies- deceives bros about marriage, pretends Antonio has mismanaged finances .....tells Borsolo truth....... pretends going on pilgrimage

Blanche- age, reputation,why she is in New Orleans, dead husband, Shep Huntley

Class - overarching point

Female protagonists marry someone of lower class which causes conflict with their siblings

Class - DOM

Duchess - "raise your self " because his "roof is built too low". proxemics/levels

Cardinal - tell DOM not to let attractive qualities ''sway your high blood.''

Ferdinand - her children will have ''infected blood'' as she has married someone from a lower social class.

''Your Jacobean philosophy - The Great Chain of Being. When social order is confused, chaos ensues.

Class - ASCND

Stanley refers to Stella and Blanche's privileged background -"I pulled you down off them columns and how you loved it."

Blanche ''please don't get up'' ''polack'' derogatory term - ethnic origins make her better superior.

Stella - influenced by Blanche (deep rooted values from her past surfacing ) North/South divide