Death And Morality

Question 1

‘Dispoiled of innocence of faith, of bliss’

Answer 1

Due to disobedience, A and E actions result in fall of humanity + newfound fear and anger resulting in death of innocence

Question 2

‘Keep the odds of knowledge in my power without co-partner’

Answer 2

Eve goes against adams wishes, after gaining permission further disobeys, greed is result of her hamartia

Question 3

‘Defaced, deflowered and now to death devote’

Answer 3

Satans disobedient to his goals, captured by her beauty, he realises disobedience and has urge to cause death

Question 4

‘But for your brothers? Do not think of them’

Answer 4

Duchess marries in secret therefore disobeying rules of brothers, causes F to condemn her to death

Question 5

‘Death of young wolves is never to be pitied’

Answer 5

C and F disobedient to Gods commandments and kill many

Question 6

AO5

Answer 6

T. S Eliot- Webster is a ‘dramatic genius directed towards chaos through death’

Question 7

AO5

Answer 7

Websters world is ‘entirely Calvinistic’

Question 8

AO3

Answer 8

Julia is a courtesan - proves websters approach to the failures of the female gender

Question 9

AO4

Answer 9

The Duchess like Eve shows hubris in her ignorance towards God. Her aim to persuade their marriage without holy ceremony is disobedient

Question 10

‘And knew not eating death’

Answer 10

Eve’s use of reason results in her fatal actions and death. Prelapsarian, she understands the disobedience in her actions but is naïve to the true consequences that will follow.

Question 11

‘Began to cast lascivious eyes’

Answer 11

Eve although in doubt, shows little fear whilst actually committing her crime. Their lustful actions that follow mean that they are so ‘intoxicated’ and are unfearful in the moment.

Question 12

A05

Answer 12

‘Milton tells us that death is not a curse but a comforter, not the gift of Satan but the gift of God’

Question 13

‘I am quick with child’ and ‘I am contracted to a young gentleman’

Answer 13

Juxtaposes Duchess, cariola is fearful of death, try’s to escape murder

Question 14

‘How tedious is a guilty conscience’

Answer 14

The Cardinal acknowledge the fate of his death and for this reason is not fearful. He is tired of feeling bad for killing Julia, and knows he is doomed.

Question 15

A05

Answer 15

Irving Ribner- ‘the play is a dramatic symbol of moral confusion, link to Paradise Lost

Question 16

‘What is faith, love virtue unassayed alone ‘

Answer 16

Eve is ambitious in her aim to prove herself to Adam, wants to show him she’s capable of venturing out alone. This is shown as her speeches become shorter and shorter, enforcing a sense of short temper.

Question 17

‘Go for thy stay not free’

Answer 17

In a way, Adam is ambition and keen to please Eve, and so lets her venture off alone, in fear that if she stayed she would be unhappy.

Question 18

AO5

Answer 18

C.S Lewis- Adam ‘uxoriousness’ is the cause of the fall

Question 19

‘Lusty widow’ and ‘I raise it higher’

Answer 19

Antonio knew before marrying the Duchess that he was not at the same level as her. It is his ambition to proceed in the marriage that ultimately leads to his death.
The Duchess has the ambition to marry Antonio, knowing full well he can never be accepted by the court and will never reach her level. Her ambition is to continue their marriage and even try to raise him up.

Question 20

‘Such weddings may more properly be said to be executed than celebrated’.

Answer 20

Ferdinand and The Cardinal show male ambition in the occurrence of female submission. They use threats against her wishes of marriage, in the ambitious hope that she will obey them. Later they even torture her in the ambition of maintaining control over her fear.

Question 21

A05

Answer 21

Clifford Leech- ‘the play is blurred in its total meaning’