Context Flashcards
What historical context contributed to negative images and stereotypes of Italy for the English in the 16th century?
The violent, fractured history of the 16th century created many negative stereotypes due to catholic invasion and rome
Who is often perceived as a stage villain rather than a political theorist in the context of 16th century Italy?
Machiavelli.
Machiavelli is often associated with subversive practices of power.
What was one significant foreign threat to England during the 16th century?
The menace of Catholic invasion.
Rome was considered the heart of this threat.
How did negative stereotypes of Italy serve political purposes in England?
They defined ‘English’ manners and virtues and were used against King James I.
This highlighted the corruption perceived in his Anglo-Scots court.
In Webster’s sources, what is the name of the Duchess’s twin brother?
Carlo.
Webster may have changed this name to ‘Ferdinand’ for its connection to the Aragonese King Ferdinand who was notorious at the time for his bloody enforcement of catholicism
Why might Webster have changed the name from Carlo to Ferdinand?
Because it connects with the Aragonese King Ferdinand, known for enforcing the Catholic faith violently.
This highlights the historical context of religious enforcement during that era.
Revenge tragedies were a (what is the quote?)
” a symptom of a society in transition, where traditional forms of authority and the nature of law were being questioned”
How does the structure of DOM differ from other revenge tragedies and why is this?
[the protagonist is supposed to die in the 5th; however, the Duchess dies in the 4th act - this allows a focus on the effects of her death, space for revenge]. There is a sense in which revenge results in dramatic justice - and ultimately, in the purging of the corrupt society.
What are the characteristics of a normal jacobean revenge tragedy and how does DOM differ?
> It’s a tradition of Elizabethan revenge tragedy to show madness, horror, and melodrama.
Webster deviated from traditional supernatural elements instead opting for experiences rooted in a sense of realism: ‘Presented me a face folded in sorrow’, 5.3 - echo in the ruins. Webster also focuses on the psychological and moral implications of revenge and power.
What was the status of widows in the jacboean time?
> Widows had legal authority over their persons and property. Widows were free to remarry or to remain single - Ferdinand restricting her, her freedom never existed. Misogynistic views rooted in religion, cast women as morally weaker and prone to sin - autonomy a threat. D’s downfall highlights rigidity of patriarchy, autonomy incompatible with a corrupt, male-dominated world.
What are some facts about James 1 rule?
> James I’s reign was often criticized for being extravagant and indulgent - fears of monarchs wielding power for personal gain. Corrupt leaders poison the society they govern - reflect broader fears about political instability.
Why did webster use italy as a setting?
. Italy as the setting allows Webster to explore political corruption at a safe distance. Italy -sdecadence, intrigue, and corruption, Machiavelli
What were some causes for political unease during the webster’s time writting the DOM?
Growing unease in Webster’s society about spies particularly in the wake of the Gunpowder Plot (1605).
What was Helen Mirren’s feminist reading of DOM?
Helen Mirren - It is essentially a feminist play about a woman who is fighting for her autonomy. Renaissance dynastic marriage served to objectify the woman.
In a society that limits women’s options to those of wife or mother there is a talent to suffering nobly (and quietly) becomes the only means by which a woman can be viewed as “heroic”
What is the duchess marriage symbolic of?
Her outright rejection of the requirement of a legal sanction for her marriage from the church transferred the authorization and supremacy from the state to herself
How does the duchess challenge gender binaries?
The Duchess combines traditionally masculine traits - political authority with compassion and maternal love, challenging gender binaries.
What does the Duchess’s brother’s use as a reason for confining her?
The Duchess’s virtuous rule vs corruption of her brothers. Her brothers use her political status as a pretext to challenge her private life
The Cardinal’s ______ authority and Ferdinand’s _______ dominance symbolize societal systems that restrict women’s power
a. religious
b. familial
What was the change in economic system?
> Contemporary anxieties about the shift from a feudal to a cash economy. The feudal system of master and servant worked on a basis of mutual obligation.
Where does ferdinand’s incestous desire stem form?
Incestuous male desire stems from a selfish and possessive impulse, resulting in vengeful acts of violence against their sisters. The controlling nature behind Ferdinand’s rhetoric implies that he sees his sister as an idolized object that he must own. His incestuous fixation on the Duchess reflects a deeper societal anxiety about controlling women’s sexuality.
What is the cause for ferdinands madness?
Ferdinand’s = Guilt + psychological consequences of his moral corruption, loss of humanity, and moral degeneration, divine punishment for sin. Madness was an excess of black bile, sin inevitably leads to punishment, whether earthly or divine.
How is religion presented?
Religion is presented through the corruption of the Catholic Church - Cardinals epitomize the moral corruption of the Catholic clergy. James I was protestant. The Church of Rome was often associated with corruption, excess, and tyranny.
What does the corruption of the cardinal parallel?
The corruption in the Church parallels the moral decay in society, suggesting that when religious leaders are corrupt, it infects the entire social structure.
What is a psychoanalytic view of ferdinand?
> Ferdinand’s behaviour can be understood as driven by repressed incestuous desires. Ferdinand’s violent jealousy and irrational fixation on his sister’s sexuality suggest an unconscious attraction that he cannot reconcile.
Ferdinand’s eventual descent into madness could symbolize the failure of the ego to mediate between his id (his primal desires) and super-ego.
What is a fmeinist reading of duchess?
> Duchess’s dignity in the face of persecution highlights the strength and resilience of women against systemic oppression.
The suppression of the Duchess’s voice through her strangulation can be interpreted as symbolic of how patriarchal systems silence women who challenge them. However, Webster doesn’t allow the Duchess to be a victim of patriarchal silencing. Her voice literally echoes after she dies and even Bosola admits she ‘haunts’ him
What is a fmeinist reading of julia and cariola?
> Feminist critics argue that Julia’s inability to assert control over her relationships reflects the broader societal oppression of women, who were often denied agency over their own lives and bodies.
The method of Julia’s death can be interpreted as symbolic of the exploitation of religion to control women
While Cariola lacks the same outward agency as the Duchess, her role as a witness to the Duchess’s defiance can be seen as a form of quiet resistance.
How does D’s marriage challenge social hierarchy?
D’s marriage is a direct challenge to the rigid class hierarchies of the time. Her marriage is viewed as a betrayal of noble blood. This reflects beliefs in the sanctity of class distinctions, where unions across classes were seen as destabilizing and unnatural.
How does c and f present class behaviours?
The brothers embody the aristocracy’s tendencies to preserve power and status. Their control over the Duchess is driven by their desire to maintain the family’s noble reputation
How is Antonio trapped in class?
> Antonio is a sympathetic character, suggesting that love can transcend class boundaries. However, his lack of agency in the face of the brothers’ power reinforces the notion that social hierarchies remain insurmountable.
Existential reading
The Duchess’s stoic acceptance of death can be interpreted as an assertion of existential freedom. Her defiance of her brothers and her calm response to her fate suggests a refusal to let external forces define her sense of self.
Does D allign with tragic conventions
Tragedy: The Duchess lacks the moral weakness that the Greek philosopher had claimed the tragic protagonist must possess. She is brave, intelligent and vivacious, embracing physical love and desire in a fulfilled and healthy wa
Dumb show?
Act 3, Scene 4: The setting is a shrine, normally associated with private and peaceful rituals. The exact opposite occurs – we watch the cardinal transform himself from a priest to a soldier. The stark contrast between private and public, family and individual, violence and peace is revealed vividly to the audience. First, by removing the use of words, emphasis is placed on gestures and bodily movements
