Intertextuality and the context of reception:

Transcription

1 Lesson plan Resources Resource A Pictures of brothers Resorce B Bible story: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) Resource C The White Devil extracts Resource D The White Devil film clip Blank paper (for venn diagrams) Learning objectives To understand the story of Cain and Abel To apply a religious interpretation to The White Devil Starter activity brothers and conflicts (response to visual stimulus) View the images of brothers [Resource A]. These could be projected using a data projector, printed out, or printed and cut up for individual/paired responses. Ask: What is the common theme with these pictures? (brothers in conflict; brothers and betrayals) What has happened with each pair of brothers? What betrayals do we find most shocking and why? What other examples of brothers in conflict can we think of? Consider why the idea of one brother betraying another so grips the public imagination, and inspires so much fiction. Why is one brother s betrayal of another so powerful? Introduction reading and responding to the Cain and Abel story Read Genesis 4: 1-16 [Resource B] and establish understanding of the story (e.g. by bullet-pointing or quickly story-boarding the events, or getting four volunteers to act out the story - narrator, God, Cain, Abel). What is our response to the story? Why did Cain kill Abel? Why is this story so foundational? (first murder in the Bible, very influential e.g. one of Shakespeare s most used stories) Teach the key word: fratricide. Main activity 1 reading and making connections Recap knowledge of Flamineo and Marcello and their relationship. Why is conflict inevitable between the characters? Read The White Devil extracts [Resource C] and watch The White Devil film clip [Resource D] How does Webster make the fratricide so shocking? (E.g. suddenness of the event, the omen with the crucifix, Flamineo s casual attitude, the links to the Bible story.) What connections can we make between the Bible story and The White Devil? What are the similarities and differences? (For example: similarities = brothers, sudden murder, murderers get sent away as punishment differences = motivations for murder, Marcello seems to provoke Flamineo, extra details given e.g. broken crucifix, etc.) Thinking time then feed back initial ideas. Main activity 2 Venn diagrams Teacher models putting ideas of similarities and differences into a venn diagram (i.e. the distinctive details of the Genesis account in one circle, the distinctive details of the White Devil story in another circle and shared details where the circles overlap) Page 1 of 9

2 Students complete this (which could be done in pairs or groups, perhaps using A3/sugar paper which can be displayed for revision) Students annotate around the outside of the venn diagram, suggesting why there is overlap / distinctiveness. For example: Webster keeps some details the same to make the parallel clear and therefore to shock the audience and to condemn Flamineo other parts he changes perhaps for thematic reasons (e.g. implicating Marcello, since few characters are presented as completely innocent in The White Devil corrupt society theme using Zanche as provocation links to theme of illicit relationships, social class divide, and the black/white issue, etc.) Plenary reflections Class discussion: How and why does Webster use the Cain and Abel story in The White Devil? What does this religious interpretation show us about: 1) The origins of the fratricide theme? 2) The character of Flamineo? 3) The relationship between Flamineo and Marcello? 4) The kind of society Webster presents? 5) Webster s messages and warnings? 6) Jacobean use of - and familiarity with - Bible stories? 7) The on-going use / impact of the Cain and Abel story? You may also wish to look ahead to Vittoria s letter in Act 5, Scene 6, where she (prophetically?) writes: I give that portion to thee and no other/ Which Cain groaned under having slain his brother. In the final scene of the play, this is a sort of divine judgement upon Flamineo for his fratricide. Homework suggestions Page 2 of 9 Either: An essay analysing the impact of the fratricide on the Jacobean audience. Further research on - and annotation of - these scenes using notes from the Cross Reference website ( it.info/textguide/the-white- Devil/32/2215; it.info/textguide/the-white- Devil/32/2216)

3 Resources Resource A Images of brothers Scar and Mufasa (The Lion King) Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher (Oasis) Page 3 of 9

4 Ryan Giggs and Rhodri Giggs Grant Mitchell and Phil Mitchell (Eastenders) Page 4 of 9

5 Steve and Andy McDonald (Coronation Street) Ed Miliband and David Miliband King Hamlet and King Claudius (Hamlet) Page 5 of 9

6 Resource B Genesis 4 1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Page 6 of 9

7 Resource C The White Devil Act 5, Scene 1, Scene 2, 1 John 3: For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Flam. You're a boy, a fool, Be guardian to your hound; Marc. And, for you, I'll whip This folly from you. Flam. Are you choleric? I'll purge it with rhubarb. Hort. Oh, your brother! Flam. Hang him, He wrongs me most, that ought t' offend me least: I do suspect my mother play'd foul play, When she conceiv'd thee. Marc. Now, by all my hopes, Like the two slaughter'd sons of Oedipus, The very flames of our affection Shall turn two ways. Those words I'll make thee answer With thy heart-blood. Flam. Do, like the geese in the progress; You know where you shall find me. Marc. Very good. [Exit Flamineo]. And thou be'st a noble friend, bear him my sword, And bid him fit the length on't. Hort. Sir, I shall. Page 7 of 9

8 Act 5 scene 2 Enter Marcello and Cornelia Corn. I hear a whispering all about the court, You are to fight: who is your opposite? What is the quarrel? Marc. 'Tis an idle rumour. Corn. Will you dissemble? sure you do not well To fright me thus: you never look thus pale, But when you are most angry. I do charge you, Upon my blessing--nay, I 'll call the duke, And he shall school you. Marc. Publish not a fear, Which would convert to laughter: 'tis not so. Was not this crucifix my father's? Corn. Yes. Marc. I have heard you say, giving my brother suck He took the crucifix between his hands, [Enter Flamineo] And broke a limb off. Corn. Yes, but 'tis mended. Flam. I have brought your weapon back. [Flamineo runs Marcello through]. Corn. Ha! Oh, my horror! Marc. You have brought it home, indeed. Corn. Help! Oh, he's murder'd! Flam. Do you turn your gall up? I 'll to sanctuary, And send a surgeon to you. [Exit.] Marc. Oh, mother, now remember what I told Of breaking of the crucifix! Farewell. There are some sins, which heaven doth duly punish In a whole family. This it is to rise By all dishonest means!. [Dies.] Corn. Oh, my perpetual sorrow!. Enter Brachiano, all armed, save the beaver, with Flamineo and others Brach. Was this your handiwork? Flam. It was my misfortune. Page 8 of 9

9 Brach. Flamineo. Flam. Brach. Go, bear the body to Cornelia's lodging: I will not grant your pardon. No? Only a lease of your life; and that shall last But for one day: thou shalt be forc'd each evening To renew it, or be hang'd. Genesis 4: And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Resource D - Act-5,-scene-2 Page 9 of 9