Act 2 Scene 1 Flashcards
How does Bosola bully Castruccio?
“you have a reasonable good face for’t already and your nightcap expresses your ears sufficient largely.” - he’s a bully and says he looks like a Donkey.
What does Castruccio mean in italian?
Castrated.
How does Bosola bully the old woman?
“Why, from your scurvy face-physic!… whereas before she looked like a nutmeg-grater, after she resembled an abortive hedgehog”
What does Bosola say he would rather do than kiss a woman?
“I would rather eat a dead pigeon taken from the soles of the feet of one sick of the plague than kiss one of you fasting”
Does Bosola hate women? How do we know?
Arguably yes, “I do wonder you do not loathe yourselves” - he wonders how they cannot hate themselves as well.
What does Bosola say that insinuates that the Duchess is pregnant? Is he oblivious?
He says “contrary to our italian fashion, wears a loose-bodied gown” - she’s wearing looser clothes to hide her baby bump but Bosola doesn’t realise this.
How does Bosola do this scene in the RSC version?
He talks directly to the audience.
In the RSC version, what does Antonio do when the Duchess walks in and what does this show?
He takes off his hat. As her husband, he shouldn’t have to but because they’re keeping it hidden, he does in order to appear below the Duchess.
What does the Duchess tell Antonio to do as a result of him taking his hat off?
“Put on your hat first” - she tells him to put his hat back on.
What does Bosola gift the Duchess?
“I have bought some apricots”
What does Bosola say, and how, when he sees the Duchess eating the apricots?
“[aside] how greedily she eats them” - he addresses the audience directly. It emphasises dramatic irony.
What do apricots symbolise?
They were known to induce childbirth. In this case, it may be an indication of promiscuity.
What happens to the Duchess when she eats the apricots?
“this green fruit and my stomach are not friends. How they swell me” - she got ill from the apricots. probably induced labour.
What does Bosola say in response to the Duchess exclaiming how the apricots make her ‘swell’? How is it ironic?
“[aside] nay, you are much to swelled already” - this is ironic because she is PHYSICALLY swollen because she is pregnant.
What does the Duchess say to Antonio that also has a double meaning? What is it?
“I fear I am undone” - it can mean poisoned but also in labour and undone in the sense of socially. She is ruined.
How does the Duchess giving birth so quickly after the wedding link to Webster’s own life?
Webster and his wife got married and 2 months later, she gave birth.
