Streetcar and Malfi Essay Plans

Question 1

Violence Paragraphs

Answer 1

• Violence and sexuality linked
• Women suffer at hands of violent males
• Masculine rage ends in violence

Question 2

Violence and sexuality linked

Answer 2

[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’

Question 3

Women suffer at hands of violent males

Answer 3

‘[She backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow]’

‘[Dead man’s hand]’

‘[They strangle her (Duchess]’

Question 4

Masculine rage ends in violence

Answer 4

(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’

Question 5

Madness Paragraphs

Answer 5

• Light imagery motif of inner turmoil
• Foreshadowing lunacy
• Insensitivity to madness

Question 6

Light imagery motif of inner turmoil

Answer 6

‘[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)

Question 7

Foreshadowing lunacy

Answer 7

‘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)

Question 8

Insensitivity to madness

Answer 8

‘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

Question 9

Power Paragraphs

Answer 9

• Women marginalised by masculine power
• Cardinal and Stanley abuse their positions for corruption
• Light imagery motif of being powerless against insanity

Question 10

Women marginalised by masculine power

Answer 10

‘[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]’

Question 11

Cardinal and Stanley abuse their positions for corruption

Answer 11

‘[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’

Question 12

Femininity Paragraphs

Answer 12

• Males with feminine traits
• Females embracing sexuality
• Women seen as feminine are dominated by males

Question 13

Males with feminine traits

Answer 13

‘I gotta sick mother’ (M)

‘Hurry back and we’ll fix you a sugar-tit’

‘I’m all yours’ (A)

Question 14

Females embracing sexuality

Answer 14

‘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)

Question 15

Symbolism Paragraphs

Answer 15

• Light imagery symbolises inner turmoil
• Sound used to convey tension
• Setting symbolises approaching trouble

Question 16

Sound used to convey tension

Answer 16

‘[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?))

Question 17

Setting symbolises approaching trouble

Answer 17

‘[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)

Question 18

Guilt / Innocence Paragraphs

Answer 18

• Light imagery shows madness arising from guilt
• Admirable characters show poor morals
• Stella and Bosola do bad things and try, too late, to repent

Question 19

Admirable characters show poor morals

Answer 19

‘[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)

Question 20

Stella and Bosola do bad things and try, too late, to repent

Answer 20

‘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)

Question 21

Gender Paragraphs

Answer 21

• Male dominance marginalises women
• Males showing feminine traits
• Women showing masculine traits

Question 22

Family Paragraphs

Answer 22

• Abandonment of family in pursuit of love
• Duchess finds love, Stella finds toxicity
• Both plays end with male heir

Question 23

Abandonment of family in pursuit of love

Answer 23

‘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]’

Question 24

Duchess finds love, Stella finds toxicity

Answer 24

‘[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’

Question 25

Both plays end with male heir

Answer 25

‘[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’

Question 26

Women Paragraphs

Answer 26

• Male dominance marginalises women
• Women voice their sexuality but are criticised for it
• Women show masculine traits

Question 27

Women show masculine traits

Answer 27

‘Sit down’ (B to Mitch)

‘[She precedes him into the room]’

‘[She puts her ring upon his finger]’

‘I have fixed it already’ (Duchess)

Question 28

Masculinity Paragraphs

Answer 28

• Male dominance marginalises women
• Males showing feminine traits
• Women showing masculine traits