Practice Essay Questions

“Both The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire ultimately suggest that female virtue is impossible in patriarchal societies.” To what extent do you agree with this view?

Compare how Webster and Williams use dramatic techniques to present confinement in The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire.

“In both plays, male characters are more complex and interesting than female characters.” Discuss this view with reference to The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Explore the significance of death and endings in The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire.

Compare how Webster and Williams explore the relationship between appearance and reality in The Duchess of Malfi and A Streetcar Named Desire.