Critics and Themes in DoM and Streetcar: A Comparative Analysis (Hugo)

What does Bradbrook say about the Duchess's face?

It awakens Ferdinand to what he has done.

What does P.B. Murray claim about the spirit of the Duchess?

It cannot be killed.

What is D.C. Gunby's view on Antonio without the Duchess?

He is aimless and apathetic.

How does Rabkin describe the Duchess's marriage to Antonio?

It is wilful and irresponsible.

What does Oakes suggest about the Duchess at the end of the play?

She negates her relationship with Antonio and becomes the woman caved in stone that Ferdinand wants.

What does C. Hart say about the brothers in the Duchess?

They have 'motiveless malignity' born in delight of malice itself.

What is T. Bogard's perspective on the ultimate tragedy in Webster's world?

It is the presence of evil and decay which drags all mankind to death.

What does L. Bliss argue about the Duchess's pursuit of happiness?

She seeks private happiness at the expense of public stability.

What does Ribner say about Ferdinand's descent?

He maps the 'Complete descent of man into beast'.

Why does Pearson believe the Duchess dies?

So that the significance of her death can be explored.

What does Cecil state about evil in the Duchess?

It is in its 'most extreme form' and far more powerful than good.

What does C.W.E. Bigsby say about Williams' depiction in Streetcar?

He depicts 'the romantic in an unromantic world'.

What does Bigsby note about Blanche's character?

The values she stands for are presented as flawed.

What does Williams say about truth and reality in his works?

They are organic things represented through transformation.

What does Williams risk in his portrayal of the misfit?

Sentimentalising the misfit who cannot adjust to new materialism.

How does Streetcar carry moral seriousness?

It possesses an aesthetic sensitivity.

What form does Williams claim to write in?

Poetic tragedy with a surrealist influence.

What does Williams suggest about survival in his work?

It is a basic theme, highlighting those who master their fate.

What does the future represented by Stella's child signify?

It is compromised, denying consolation.

What role does Stella play between Blanche and Stanley?

She acts as the fulcrum between two vital forces.

What does Tynan say about Blanche's removal from the play?

It signifies a loss of part of civilization.

How do Blanche and Stanley function in the play?

They become antiphonal figures in a choric exchange of ideas.

What does Elia Kazan say about Stella's role?

She becomes the field of battle between Stanley and Blanche.

What does Victoria Elliot state about light in relation to Blanche?

Clear light is the antithesis of the fantasy world she tries to maintain.

What does McGlinn say about Stella's choices?

Her refusal to accept Blanche's story is a commitment to self-preservation.

What does T.P. Adler say about the plantation in the play?

It symbolizes the past, while Stanley and Stella's baby represents the future.

How does L. Kronenberger describe Blanche's lies?

She lies to the world because she must lie to herself.

What does Templeton argue about Blanche's responsibility?

She is just as responsible for her fall as the Old South is for its demise.

What does the anonymous critic say about Streetcar?

It uses illusions to express truth.

What theme does Streetcar reveal about human sexuality?

It is seen as destroying rather than creating.

What does the context of the Duchess reveal about Italy?

It is used as the center of Catholicism.

How does Antonio's speech reflect King James' views?

It mirrors his thoughts on corrupt men preferred for their vices.

What role does the corrupt court play in the Duchess?

It serves as a backdrop for revenge tragedy.

What does the Duchess represent in terms of contemporary attitudes to marriage?

She is a progressive force challenging old-fashioned values.

What does Streetcar map out in terms of societal change?

It maps out industrialization following the war.

How does Streetcar utilize stage effects?

It uses effects similar to those in cinema.

What genre does Streetcar belong to?

Naturalistic, 'drawing-room-theatre' tragedy.