Exam (elaborations)
The Duchess of Malfi Dignity & Flaws Essay
Comparative essay on dignity and flaws throughout the text.
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'Despite their apparent flaws, it is the dignity of the female protagonists that ensure theirdramatic dominance.'
Using all the resources for A03 and A05, please write an introduction and ONE paragraph in
response.
In ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘The Duchess of Malfi’, both Webster and Williams
portray the female characters as flawed, but yet full of dignity, which highlights their
importance on stage. Both Blanche and the Duchess are presented to be dominant through
their strong assurance of their female sexuality which in turn, asserts their independence over
the male figures of both plays, and places them at the forefront of the drama. Equally,
through Webster and Williams emphasis on the flaws of Blanche and the Duchess, the
audience is made to empathise and have pity upon them, which further reiterates their
dominance on stage. Moreover, in both plays, the deception conjured by the Duchess and
Blanche in terms of their sexual activities, which would have been seen in both societies of
16th century Italian courts and 20th century New Orleans, as their hamartia, shows both female
protagonists to take back their sexual power to uphold their dignity.
Webster and Williams portray both female protagonists to be dominant on stage due to their
self-assurance of their own sexuality which in turn, asserts their independence over the male
figures of both plays, and places them at the forefront of the drama. Both protagonists are
oppressed due to their sexuality, which is seen through Ferdinand titling the Duchess as a
“strumpet” and as a “lusty widow” which is similarly mirrored with Stanley saying “I’d get
ideas about you” to Blanche referring to her overly sexual nature. As both women transgress
society’s notions of women in a patriarchal society, they both are presented as flawed, but yet
attempt to defend themselves to ensure their dignity is upheld. This is exhibited when the
Duchess states that she has “not gone about this to create/Any new world or custom” which
shows the Duchess’s independence as she attempts to regain full control on her sexuality as
she chooses who she marries. Webster evokes pity from the audience on the Duchess as she
is also presented to be “imprisoned by incest” [Billington] which further heightens the drama
on stage. In ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Williams similarly evokes sympathy on Blanche as
she admits that she had “to be seductive – put on soft colours, the colours of butterfly wings,
and glow” which presents to the audience the pressures which she has faced in order for her
survival in society, and shows her independent nature which reinforces her dignity.
Moreover, the male attitudes on female sexuality which ruins women is shown when Mitch
claims Blanche is “not clean enough”. Bubb argues Mitch’s relationship with Blanche
“represents hope”, however, his sexual attitudes towards Blanche show that women are
always doomed to demonisation and rendered powerless due to their sexual activity in the
eyes of the patriarchal society. Both female protagonists are ruined by their sexuality as
women and appear to be flawed as a result, but both attempt to regain this power and control
in order to gain back their dignity, which as a result, ensures their dramatic dominance.
FEMALE SEXUALITY paragraph:
Malfi - "I have not gone about this to create/Any new world or custom". shows the Duchess
independence, full control on her sexuality cause she chooses who she marries
Female sexuality: Streetcar - "Have got to be subductive - put on soft colours, the colours of
butterfly wings, and glow... YOU've got to be soft and attractive - And I-i'm fading now!".
Independence Heldback by society, expectations of having a partner before a certain age.
PITY paragraph:
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