Act 3 Scene 1 Flashcards
When does this scene take place?
Years after Ferdinand and the Cardinal find out. “my most beloved Delio! Oh, you have been a stranger long at court!”
What else do we find out about the Duchess?
Antonio tells us that “She hath had two children more: a son and daughter”
Why is Antonio worried about Ferdinand’s presence? What does this foreshadow?
“He is so quiet that he seems to sleep the tempest out as dormice do in winter.” - foreshadows the quiet before the storm.
What does Antonio tell us that the public are saying about the Duchess?
“The common rabble do directly say she is a strumpet.”
Why is Antonio not worried about people finding out about them?
“For other obligation of love or marriage between her and me, they never dream of.” - It’s very unexpected. They won’t get caught on suspicion
When the Duchess is talking to Ferdinand, what does she say that highlights the dramatic irony?
The duchess says to Ferdinand that “when [she] finds a husband, [she] will marry for your honour” - the ironic part is that she is already married. She thinks Ferdinand doesn’t know but we know that he actually DOES know.
How does Ferdinand also highlight the dramatic irony of this scene?
“Say that it were true… my fixed love would strongly excuse, extenuate - nay, deny - faults were they apparent in you.” - He says that even if the gossip was true, he would forgive her because he loves her so much. We know he’s maliciously lying to her.
How does Ferdinand actually show that he blames the Duchess for everything?
When talking to Bosola, he says “Can your faith give way to think there’s power in potions or in charms to make us love whether we will or no?” - argues that the Duchess consciously chose to pick a husband to marry/love/have relations with
How can we infer that the Ferdinand has negative plans for the Duchess?
B: “What do you intend to do?”
F: “Can you guess?”
B: “No”
F: “Do not ask then. He that can compass me and know my drifts” - only those that understand Ferdinand can predict what he’s going to do
