WOMEN quotes - Malfi & Streetcar

‘I am Duchess of Malfi still.’

Characterised as strong & brave, standing up to her brothers, even in the face of death.

End-focus reflects her continued influence after death.

AO5 - Gemma Arteton saw this as the Duchess giving in to the power of the brothers.

‘I sent for you. Sit down. Take ink and pen to write’

Repeated imperatives and clear tone of voice.

Depicts her power and dominance over Antonio through the unusual gender roles in their relationship. Assertive and powerful personality places her above Antonio!

AO3 - In the Jacobean era, gender roles were extremely prominent with archetypal ideas around masculinity and femininity, expecting women to be soft, weak and sensitive.

‘Why should only I of all the other princes of the world be cased up like a holy relic.’

Diction Choices and symbol

Reflect her masculine view of herself as she claims male power, challenging the patriarchal world she is trapped within.

Rejects the idealised view of women only being objects of admiration.

AO3: Jacobean belief that women were owned by their male relatives and therefore powerless to their own lives.

AO4: ‘soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings.’

‘Soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings’

Diction choices & imagery of stereotypically feminine .

Depicts Blanche’s desire to appeal to the male gaze as she is playing into female stereotypes and her Southern Belle persona.

AO4: ‘cased up like a holy relic’ - Blanche gives in to societal expectations, whereas the Duchess does not.

‘She is daintily dressed in a white suit with a fluffy bodice.’

Costume has connotations of fragility, innocence and also femininity.

Links them together, characterising Blanche as vulnerable and weak, however also underestimated as she uses her femininity and societal expectations of women to hide her real intentions and personality.

AO3 - Women in this era of change in New Orleans were restricted to old stereotypes and expectations of them to be passive, weak and innocent.

‘A sister damned […] grown a notorious strumpet!’

Ferdinand

Crude, callous imagery highlighting his disdain for his sister’s love and sexuality.

AO3: Jacobean men feared widows due to their experience and knowledge in marriage, and ultimate freedom out of it!