Bosola Flashcards
“would be lecherous, covetous, or proud, bloody, or envious, as any man “
- perception of Bosola as a morally corrupted and ambitious individual
- referring to the seven deadly sins,
- Antonio’s statement highlights the degree of moral decay that is pervasive in the world around them, which contrasts with the more virtuous, though tragically doomed, Duchess.
Like moths in cloth do hurt of wearing
- bosola’s inaction will cause harm - damage until the destruction is irreversible.
- looks are deceivingly insignificant in comparison with his nature
- imagery of moths suggests something seemingly harmless, yet capable of great destruction, a reflection of Bosola’s character arc.
crows, pies and caterpillars
- crows are associated with death, decay, and omens in literature, image of crows to describe the morally corrupt people in power
- Bosola’s speech, pies may symbolize opportunism and greed. The magpie’s obsession with material wealth could be a reflection of the court’s obsession with power and status
- parasitic imagery - only the parasitic flourish in this a moral world the ruthless and deceiving survive, although bosola criticises this he is willing to sacrifice all morality for hierarchy and power
Whose throat must I cut?
Cynical, cold-blooded ruthlessness, pragmatism - devoid of moral qualms regarding murder, Bosola, knowingly and willingly able to do evil for gain, immorality
a very quant invisible devil in flesh
-This description emphasizes his moral corruption
-Throughout the play, Bosola operates in the shadows, often serving as a spy or manipulator, rather than as a visible agent of action.
- capacity from evil and immorality
man stands amaz’d to see his deformity, in any other creature but himsel
man morally blind, It speaks to the human tendency to externalize flaws and view them as separate from oneself, self-centred view of the world
rotten and dead but we delight to hide it in our tissues
- They evoke images of decay, decomposition, and corruption - inner putrefaction can’t be hidden by inner beauty
- representing the superficial, external layer that people present to the world
- deception is intrinsic to human nature, hide ourselves, This metaphor aligns with the play’s broader theme of appearance versus reality.
- While he critiques the society around him for hiding its moral decay, he, too, is complicit in the deception.
- Bosola’s statement is deeply cynical and speaks to his disillusionment with the society around him.
“Search the heads of the greatest rivers of the world, you shall find them but bubbles of water”
- Bosola is using these rivers as a metaphor for the greatest sources of power, such as kings, rulers, or those who hold political authority.
- humans are all humans, this opposes the view hierarchies and class structure,
- the ‘divine right of kings’ of king James I (quasi-absolutist belief/sense of royal power that characterised his rule)
- bubbles - transient and fragile,
“An honest statesman to a prince is like cedar planted by a spring
- the symbiotic relationship between nobles/aristocrats and courtiers
- The “spring” symbolizes the source of guidance, and the cedar symbolizes the integrity and wisdom that the statesman brings to the prince.
- princes in the play, are morally corrupt and self-serving, using their power to control others and maintain their own dominance.
- Ironic tone in the context of the play, as Bosola’s idealized vision of political integrity is contradicted by the ruthless realities of the world he inhabits.
Do these lice drop off now
- parasitic imagery depict the ruthless and fickle nature of court allegiance,
- portrays the idea that status and fame is ephemeral
A politicians is a devils quilted anvi
- bosala is reveling in his role as the malcontent
- politics as a morally bankrupt system.
- power is inherently corrupting, leading to the creation of individuals who are morally broken and driven by selfish,
“blackbirds fatten best in hard weather, why not I, in these dog days”
- harsh political environment of the court. This reflects the moral decay in the play, where ambition often leads to betrayal.
- Bosola’s resentment toward the corrupt aristocracy. Despite his intelligence and capability, he remains an outsider, desperate for recognition.
- His disillusionment with the corrupt world fuels his bitterness and sense of injustice.
“this great fellow were able to possess the greatest devil and make him worse”
- The Cardinal represents the deep-seated corruption within the Catholic Church and the aristocracy. . His power does not bring wisdom or virtue but rather intensifies his cruelty and manipulation.
- amplifies his wickedness
- the Cardinal’s evil is controlled and insidious. His calm exterior masks a ruthless ambition that drives him to orchestrate the Duchess’s downfall.
melancholy churchman
- Cardinal is supposed to be a religious figure, yet his “melancholy” is not one of spiritual contemplation but of calculated ambition
- He embodies the qualities of a Machiavellian ruler—cold, detached, and manipulative. His “melancholy” signals his detachment from emotion and morality, making him an efficient yet heartless schemer.
This foul melancholy will poison all his goodness
- This quote foreshadows how Bosola, in his desperation to gain power and recognition,
- Melancholy in the Renaissance was associated with deep introspection but also with moral decay and bitterness.
- (his resentment and cynicism) will ultimately destroy any goodness within him.)
“Wish me good speed for I’m going into a wilderness where I shall find no path no friendly clew”
- The Duchess asserts her own right to love and choose her husband, directly disobeying her brothers’ oppressive control.
- Her metaphor of the “wilderness” suggests the isolation
- ## fate versus free will. Despite her determination, she ultimately cannot escape the consequences of her defiance against her brothers.
if you hear the common people curse you be sure you are taken for one of the prime night-caps”
- if the lower classes hate or complain about someone, it usually means that person holds significant power or influence
- He implies that the nobility and high-ranking officials are not respected but rather despised by the people because of their corruption and oppressive rule.
- This line showcases Bosola’s sharp wit and bitter outlook on society. He has been exploited and mistreated by those in power, and his dialogue often reflects his disillusionment with the corruption of the ruling elite.
“do you not weep? Other sins only speak; murder shrieks out. The element of water moistens the earth but blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens”
- Bosola’s own shift in conscience—while he has been complicit in evil acts, he now starts to see their true horror.
- suggests that most sins can be hidden, confessed,
- murder is an uncontrollable force that haunts the guilty.
- murder is an offense against divine justice, foreshadows Bosola’s own redemption arc
- Bosola’s turning point, marking his recognition of the horror of his actions.
“the office of justice is perverted quite when one thief hangs another”
- Ferdinand’s volatile reaction to Duchess’s death and harsh treatment towards Bosola
- Justice has been completely corrupted,
- corruption breeds further corruption, charge of justice are themselves morally corrupt, and the law becomes a tool of oppression,
- He is disillusioned with the system and begins to question his own role in perpetuating its corruption.
“Your brother and yourself are worthy men! You have a pair of hearts are hollow graves, Rotten, and rotting others”
- ironic, as Bosola is mocking the brothers’ sense of self-importance and honor.
- symbol of death, represents the brothers’ spiritual decay.
- Lack of humanity, contagious perversive nature of their corruption
- broader theme of hypocrisy in the play.
“I perceive death, now I am well awake, best gift is they can give or I can take”
- a moment of clarity that comes along with her death
- full awareness of her fate, realizing that death is inevitable - achieved a kind of emotional awakening,
- death as a release from the suffering and injustice she has endured, ultimate peace
- stoicism, suggests a sense of agency
“oh sacred innocence that sweetly sleeps on turtles feathers while a guilty conscience is a black register”
- “Sacred innocence” refers to the Duchess, whose virtue remains untarnished despite her suffering.
- “Turtles’ feathers” suggests an image of gentle, peaceful rest, associated with purity and divine protection.
- This foreshadows Bosola’s transformation—he begins as a cynical figure but gradually realizes the weight of his crimes, leading him to seek vengeance against the Cardinal and Ferdinand
- “black register” suggests a kind of moral record-keeping, reinforcing the idea that sins will not go unpunished.Even though earthly justice fails, divine justice present
“the weakest arm is strong enough that strikes with the sword of justice”
- “sword of justice” is a powerful metaphor for righteous vengeance. It suggests that justice is an unstoppable force.
- emphasizes the righteousness of avenging the innocent. Bosola, who once acted as a tool of corruption, now sees himself as an agent of justice
- Bosola’s newfound moral purpose, as he prepares to confront and punish the corrupt figures.
“my Laurel is all withered”
- laurel wreath has been a classical symbol of victory, success, and glory,
- Her fortune and status have faded. Her hopes for peace and happiness are lost.
- The word “withered” evokes decay, death, and inevitability, reinforcing the theme of fate.
“if they would bind me to that lifeless trunk/ and let me freeze to death”
- A metaphor for her own state, as her spirit is being drained by torment.
- bound reinforces confinement and oppression, emphasizing her powerlessness in the physical sense, yet her mental strength remains intact.
- nihilism, despair at her situation and torture
“I am chained to endure all your tyranny”
- refers to her physical captivity, as she is under her brothers’ control.
- Oppression—she is a prisoner of male authority, reflecting the broader theme of patriarchal dominance.
- suggests martyrdom, linking to the idea that she suffers nobly, maintaining her dignity.
pull and pull strongly, put your able strength must pull down heaven upon me”
- cannot destroy her spirit or moral superiority
- she confronts her fate with courage and dignity
- Imperative verbs show that she refuses to be a passive victim. she retains a sense of agency
- acknowledges the executioners’ physical power, but suggests that true strength is moral and spiritual, not brute force.
- Her spiritual elevation—she sees herself as a martyr, believing that death will bring her closer to God and justice.
“the Duchess haunts me”
- He is haunted by his conscience, and the ghost of the Duchess, in a metaphorical sense, is tormenting him.
- She symbolizes moral purity in a corrupt world, and her death is unjust, so in Bosola’s eyes, she has become a symbol of his own moral failure.
“tis very like my wife’s voice”
- reinforcing the emotional connection he still has with the Duchess. His words reflect longing and loss.
- both recognition and confusion, as he is uncertain whether the voice is real or imagined.
- echo serves as a warning from beyond the grave, foreshadowing Antonio’s imminent death - Antonio’s tragic fate is inevitable.
“how they fortify themselves with my ruin”
- Cardinal and Ferdinand are using her ruin to reinforce their power,
- Underminude any ideas of a familial bond, and contrast her weakness and their growing power emphasising their tyranny and corruption.
- how rulers maintain authority by destroying threats rather than ruling justly.
- ruthless, machiavellian world of malfi
