!! DoM Masterdeck Flashcards
Duchess - Antonio
Raise
“my hand to help you.. raise”
Eve raises Adam w/ the fruit; ‘Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe’
She raises Antonio literally and metaphorically to her own social status. Her role reversal of genders. Like PL they both eventually fall
Antonio
Brothers..?
“but for your brothers?”
‘and Eden were no Eden thus exposed’ Eve wants to be tested, A fears S+G
Antonio is timid and less fearless than the Duchess is, she disregards her brother’s influence on her actions - independent.
Duchess - Bosola
Charon’s boat
“Charon’s boat serve to convey all o’er the dismal lake”
‘found a path.. from Hell to that new world’ A+E have let Death to Earth
She knows her death is coming and that she is doomed. Bosola is Charon leading her to death and the underworld. Link to Paradise Lost Satan leading Eve to her death.
Antonio
French Court
“the court is like a fountain… pure silver drops”
D: ‘his thoughts, his looks, words, actions all infect’ - Satan&Brothers
Antonio prefers the French court and describes as free and flowing, corruption of the court. an insinuation that Malfi is like the English court.
Cardinal - Julia
Curiosity
“Thy curiousity hath undone thee” - Cardinal to Julia
‘into her heart too easy entrance won’ Both fall to mens flattery? (S&C)
uses the bible to poison her, reflects his poisonous personality, corruption, Link to Paradise lost, The was once a figure of purity now corruption. Like satan was once an angel now evil.
Ferdinand - Duchess
Infected
“infected blood”
‘bent on mans destruction’; S desire to purge A
About how her upper-class blood is mixing with that of a member of the court.
Ferdinand
Young Wolves
“the death of young wolves is never to be pitied”
‘for only in destroying I find ease’ S wants to destroy unworthy A
Ferdinand in the children’s deaths animalistic portrayal of them showing their infected blood and that they deserved to die. Distances himself from them doesn’t want his pureblood near them. Foreshadows his wolf disease.
Cardinal - Ferdinand (Antonio)
Nature
“his nature is too honest for such a business” - Cardinal
Eve’s naivety S ‘far from deciet or guile’
Ferdinand suggests Antonio to spy on the Duchess but this is what cardinal says - foreshadows him not lasting until the end as he is too innocent. This is said by the brothers when they are considering who to hire as their goon. It shows that Antonio’s good character is so honest that even the bad characters of Ferdinand and the Cardinal recognise it. The vague allusion to ‘such business’ emphasises the shadiness of what the brothers are doing.
Cardinal
Honest
“if only you could be honest” - Cardinal
Satan ‘made intricate seem straight’ purposeful liar and deciever
Incredibly hypocritical, what right does he have to tell others to be honest when he is the most corrupt.
Duchess - Antonio
Flesh and Blood
“This is flesh and blood sir, Tis not the figure cut in alabaster kneeling before my husbands tomb?”
A-E ‘flesh of flesh, bone of my bone… mine shall never be parted’
Wants to break away from the expectations of being a widow, there is a difference between what she is as a human and her role in the court which is insubstantial and mourning.humanises herself. Women have little free will, due to oppression. She is not a figure, not untouchable or free of making mistakes. She is human.
What type of character is the Duchess?
I am…
Patronymic in nature as well as name - always noble “I am Duchess of Malfi still”
Declaring her power and right, strong female character
a name that is based on the given name (= the name given at birth) of someone’s father or one of their father’s ancestors
Bosola
Plum Trees
‘He and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools: they are rich, and o’erladen with fruit’ -Bosola act1, scene1
S ‘mediated guile’ his thoughts, ‘his looks, words, actions all infect’
Simile to describe the corruption of Ferdinand and the Cardinal, they are ‘crooked’ and bent in corruption. They have too much money and power ‘o’erladen’ and only give this out to people comfortable in foul, corrupt surroundings ‘standing pools’.
Bosola
Feed on them
‘None but crows, pies and caterpillars feed on them’ -Bosola act1, scene 1
‘Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe’ A eat so E not punished alone
Grotesque imagery, rotting imagery. Shows how people in the court are sycophantic to them ‘feed on them’ in the hopes of gaining more money/power.
Ferdinand
Laugh
‘Laugh when I laugh’ -Ferdinand act1, scene1
God link, one ‘author’ and ruler of Earth
Ferdinand has an ultimate power over people, higher status
Antonio (Cardinal)
Tongues
‘He speaks with others’ tongues’ -Antonio, act1, scene 1
Satan link ‘made intricate seem straight’
The Cardinal is manipulative of others.
Antonio (Cardinal)
Spider
‘The law to him is like a foul black cobweb to a spider’ -Antonio, act1, scene1
Satan ‘revenge… itself recoils, let it’ (doesnt care abt consequences)
The Cardinal is above the law
Antonio (Duchess)
Sweet look
‘She throws upon a man so sweet a look’ -Antonio, act1,scene1
Eve’s ‘graceful innocence’
Innocence of female beauty, showing how the Duchess is perceived as dainty and feminine despite being the most powerful in the court.
Duchess - Ferdinand
Marry
‘I’ll never marry’ -Duchess, act1,scene1
Eve’s ‘my firm faith and love can by his fraud be shaken or seduced’
‘Adam, misthought of her thee so dear?’ - Eve says she wont fall to Satan
Ironic, the Duchess defiantly does marry, contradictory to how she acts later in the play with Antonio
Cardinal
Marriage
‘The marriage night is the entrance into some prison’ -Cardinal, act1,scene1
opposite to A+E, ‘mine never shall be parted’
Misogyny, the Cardinal sees marriage as negative even though he really shouldn’t have an opinion on it given that he can never marry. Ironic as the Duchess is already imprisoned to the brothers and only in marriage finds happiness
Duchess - Antonio
Sit Down
‘I sent for you. Sit down’ -Duchess, act1,scene1
Eve orders Adam ‘let us divide our labours’ & convinces to eat fruit
‘equal joy as equal love’ - Eve choosing to make Adam equal to her
Duchess has the ultimate power over Antonio as she can order him around, reversal of gender roles as normally during this period it was men who ordered around women.
Duchess - Antonio
Ring
(She puts her ring upon his finger)
Eve shows Adam the fruit, ‘thou therefore also taste… equal joy’
Duchess has the power over Antonio, as she is effectively proposing to him.
Duchess - Antonio
Woo
‘We are forced to woo because one dare woo us’ -Duchess, act1,scene1
Women in power forced to be weaker to men. Eve proactive but sub to Adam
Duchess criticising her position within society, and recognising the fact that her status is far superior to Antonio’s meaning their marriage is out of the norms of a typical marriage of the time, and is therefore they are forced into a clandestine marriage. She is oppressed not only because of her social status but because of her gender. She is unattainable, constrained and somewhat dehumanised. No free will. as well as showing the Duchess from early on as a character who is not afraid to get what she wants and defy the normal womanly boundaries
Duchess - Antonio
P V d P
french word?
‘Per verba de presenti’ -Duchess, act1, scene1
unlike A+E who are destined to be together - Satans perspective?
Duchess and Antonio legally married by word, had to be kept clandestine due to society looking down on the class difference between the Duchess and Antonio. Potentially could be Webster alluding to his legal background?
Bosola
Scurvy
‘Why from your scurvy face physique’ -Bosola, act2,scene1
opposite to Satans flattery ‘Empress of this fair world’
Bosola commenting on how women are deceitful because their appearances are false. Overt misogyny
Bosola - Duchess
Apricots
‘I have bought some apricots’ -Bosola, act2,scene1
B-D: ‘How greedily she eats them!’
E ‘greedily she engored’, ‘she knew not eating death’
Apricots at the time were perceived to induce labour, Bosola suspicious of the Duchess being pregnant, so trying to prove it using the apricots. Shows male suspicion of women, and perhaps an Edenic echo, it is ‘Adam’ who offered ‘Eve’ the forbidden fruit.
Bosola
Grafting
‘Tis a pretty art, this grafting’ -Bosola, act2,scene1
theme of class and societal rules
Bosola referencing how the Duchess’ and Antonio’s baby will be the product of two different fruit but of the same tree. Subtly hinting at the illegitimacy of the Duchess and Antonio.
Bosola, Antonio
Dark Lantern/ horoscope
(Enter Bosola with a dark lantern)
(Enter Antonio with a horoscope)
Satan vs Adam,
Shows the contradiction between Bosola and Antonio. Bosola’s dark lantern represents his cynicism, and the fact he’s so untrusting he’s still trying to prove the Duchess gave birth. Antonio’s horoscope represents optimism, but also his deceptiveness, as he’s pretending to find the missing jewels.
Cardinal with Julia
(Enter Cardinal with Julia) -act2. Sceme4
Woman trying to raise her position of power through her sexuality, Eve
Cardinal and Julia having a clandestine affair, ironic because the Cardinal is supposed to be heavily dedicated to religion given his position within the church, shows the corruption of the Cardinal and by extension the Church. Critics compare the apathy and coldness of Julia and the Cardinal’s liaison to the passion of the Duchess’ and Antonio’s.
Cardinal
Galileo the Florentine
‘We had need go borrow that fantastic glass invented by Galileo the Florentine to view another spacious world I’th’moon’ -Cardinal, act2, scene 4
distrust of women, root being Eve’s fall
The Cardinal saying that in order to find an honest, straight women you would need to use Galileo’s glass (modern reference to the revolutionary renaissance scientists. Bosola implying that women are duplicitous and devious.
Cardinal
Tame Elephants
‘thou was watched like a tame elephant’ -Cardinal, act2,scene4
dislike of women, root is Eve’s fall
Animal imagery, likening women to animals, simply piece of anti-feminism.
Cardinal
Cuckold
‘You cannot make me cuckold’ -Cardinal, act2,scene4
fear of female sexuality & power over men ‘ovecome with female charm’
Ironic, because he’s not married.
Cardinal
Royal Blood
‘Shall our royal blood, the royal blood of Aragon and Castille be thus attainted’ -Cardinal, act2,scene5
Satan ‘man of clay’ feels Adam isnt good enough to be God’s favourite
Cardinal showing his disapproval of the Duchess’s and Antonio’s baby not being pure royal blood. Webster alluding to his legal background using legal language such as ‘attainted’.
Cardinal
Purge
‘To purge infected blood’ -Cardinal,act2,scene5
Satan wanting to purge Adam and Eve, ‘only in destroying I find ease’
Cardinal again showing his snobbery over his royal blood, and the new baby’s lack of royal blood.
Ferdinand
Sin
‘My imagination will carry me to see her in the shameful act of sin’ -Ferdinand, act2, scene5
Adam’s lustful thoughts of Eve, did he sin before the fall?
Ferdinand revealing the fact he’s having incestuous thoughts about having sex with his sister, very sinful of him. Also he’s condemning his sister for having sex, as she’s not longer ‘pure & virginal’ in his eyes, therefore he’s no longer in control of her/ has power over her, as she has sexual freedom. He brands his sister as a prostitute as she has besmirched the family name by losing her virginity.
Ferdinand
Burnt
‘I would have their bodies burnt in a coal pit…’ -Ferdinand, act2,scene5
Satan wanting to destroy A+E
Ferdinand showing his discontent for his sister’s actions by using extreme violent language.
Bosola
Two politicians rotten bladders
‘I would sooner swim… on two politicians’ rotten bladders… than depend on so changeable a prince’s favour’ -Bosola, act3, scene2
Satan challenging hierarchy ‘Satan involved in a rising mist’
Bosola heavily criticising the political state of the court of Mafli, perhaps Webster’s way of showing his discontent at the current political scape of England by using the foreign setting of Italy to create distance from the country he’s criticising.
Pilgrim (Cardinal)
his own weight…
‘His own weight will bring him sooner to th’bottom’ -Pilgrim 1, act3, scene4
A+E eat fruit, Satan ‘revenge.. recoils’
The Cardinal’s plight of revenge will be his own undoing, foreshadowing
Duchess
Starve
‘The church enjoins fasting: I’ll starve myself to death’ -Duchess, act 4, scene1
opposite to eating, punishment for eating fruit
The Duchess is still virtuous even in her despair. Virtuous act of fasting for religion is subverted into the act of suicide, which the church was strongly against.
Bosola - Duchess
Stars
‘Look you, the stars shine still’ -Bosola, act4,scene1
unlike ‘Earth felt the wound’ when E ate apple, D not as bad?
Bosola proving how powerless the Duchess is, as she cannot change the course of fate, and now that is all that will determine her future.
Bosola - Ferdinand (Duchess)
Own Shape
‘Must I see her again? … Never in mine own shape’ -Bosola, act4, scene1
‘subtlest beast of all the field’ Satan also disguises himself
Bosola now reflective (possibly even regretting) his actions and his responsibility in the Duchess’ eventual fate.
Duchess
Robin redbrest, Nightingale
‘the robin redbreast and the nightingale never live long in cages’ -Duchess, act4,scene2
feminine names, women are entrapped by men
Slightly ironic, Duchess tried to live peacefully in freedom but despite that she is still now caged.
Duchess - Ferdinand
I am…
‘I am Duchess of Malfi still’ -Duchess, act4, scene 2
“the serpent me beguiled and I did eat.” women are strong
Duchess still has some power, identity and a sense of self. Shows her resilience/resolve as she’s still standing despite her current situation. Here, the Duchess is asserting her remaining dignity and power despite being in captivity by her brothers because of her illicit marriage to Antonio. Perhaps it is also a reminder to herself of her status and to maintain her dignity. Worth noting that her title as ‘Duchess of Malfi’ is the legacy from her old marriage, she is resourceful in knowing what will keep her afloat/the place of women means she has to resort to using an old title/she is holding onto a remnant of a time when she was not in all the trouble she is now in
Duchess - Cariola
my little boy
‘I pray thee look after thou giv’st my little boy’ -Duchess, act4,scene2
E’s punishment in birth but must be maternal
Duchess’ last words to Cariola. Shows her maternal instincts, and how family is still a priority, even though she’s about to be killed. Shows the expectations of women at the time, must be very maternal.
Duchess
Cut with Diamonds
‘What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut with diamonds… or to be shot to death with pearls?’ -Duchess,act4. Scene2
‘the serpent me beguiled and I did eat’ blunt and straight to the point
Duchess showing her indifference to her method of death, sees death as a reward, kneeling to get to heaven. Also she’s disowning her wealth, status and power, with the hope she will enter heaven more ‘pure’.
mentions of diamonds again
Duchess (Borthers)
Heaven gates
‘Heaven gates are not so highly arched as Princes’ palaces’ -Duchess, act4,scene2
Unlike E who wishes to raise herself ‘by venturing higher than my lot’
‘Prince of Darkness’ - Satan
Duchess doesn’t believe she’s above religion/heaven, shows how she’s grounded unlike her brothers.
Cariola
Child
‘I am quick with child’ -Cariola, act4,scene2
‘She bites and scratches’ -Executioner, act4, scene2
A blames E ‘this woman.. she gave me the tree and I did eat’
A ‘That from her hand I could suspect no ill’
Cariola not as graceful in the face of death, and gives the excuse of being pregnant in order to try escape her death.
Bosola - Ferdinand
Ancient truth
‘You have bloodily approved the ancient truth’ -Bosola, act4,scene2
Responisbiity and punishment
Old testament reference, Ferdinand has killed his sibling.
Ferdinand - Bosola
Villain
‘You are a villain’ -Ferdinand, act4,scene2
A blaming E ‘this woman.. she gave me the tree and I did eat’
Ferdinand putting the blame on Bosola for what has happened even though it’s his fault, trying to find a scape-goat for his behaviour.
Cardinal
By my appointment
‘By my appointment the great Duchess of Malfi and two of her young children… were strangled’ -Cardinal, act5,scene2
E admits her faults ‘The serpect beguiled me and I did eat’
Cardinal admits that he killed the Duchess, showing his true Machiavellian side, which leads to him killing Julia because he told the truth about having the Duchess killed. His honesty leads to dishonesty and murder.
Echo
Accent
‘deadly accent’ -Echo, act5, scene3
Eve suggests suicide, defying expectations to escape Gods control?
The Duchess has come back as an echo to haunt people (perhaps exacting her revenge). The female protagonist of this play hasn’t been silenced by the patriarchy of male command (being killed by her brothers), showing the Duchess’ rebellion against patriarchal control, she is defying her brothers expectations of women even in death.
Ferdinand
Quiet Death
‘Strangling is a very quiet death’ -Ferdinand, act5, scene4
Guilt, A +E want to committ ‘so death shall be decieved his glut’
Ironic because at the end of the play all the men are silenced and have nothing to say, as they all murder each other.
Bosola
Tennis balls
‘We are merely the stars’ tennis balls, struck and banded’ -Bosola, act5, scene4
critisism of God, simply puppets in his play (all knowing + free will)
Bosola feels he’s simply a victim of fate, reference to how fate has had a presiding influence over the course of events in the play.
Bosola (Cardinal)
Th’hammer
‘I have this Cardinal in the forge already, now I’ll bring him to th’hammer’ -Bosola, act5,scene4
Jesus punishing A+E ‘both Judge and Saviour sent’
Bosola planning on killing the Cardinal, exacting his revenge, after being in his service for so long.
Cardinal
Book , A5 S5
(Enter Cardinal with a book), act5, scene5
A+E pleading though the havent acted faithfully
‘smooth ,easy, innoffensive down to hell’ - how easy it is to sin
Ironic because in the final act the Cardinal is trying to act religiously even though he’s not lived religiously.
Cardinal
Conscience, Rake
‘How tedious is a guilty conscience’ -Cardinal act5,scene5
- “methinks I see a thing, armed with a rake”
A’s concenience ‘O miserable of happy!’ ‘why am I mocked with death’
Cardinal suddenly feeling guilty for everything he’s done, and now paranoid about going to hell. The Cardinal says this when he is thinking over his own fate and damnation. It is blackly comic, as well as revealing the Cardinal’s previous character as being one which did not feel guilt and thus showing that he has undergone a certain amount of transformation as a character throughout the play.
Cardinal
Mercy
‘Oh mercy’ -Cardinal, act5,scene5
‘this woman’ Equally A offers a weak argument and blames Eve
Cardinal giving Bosola a pathetic debate for reason he shouldn’t kill him. Shows how Cardinal was in reality always weaker than the Duchess, as he’s trying to prevent death but the Duchess accepted it.
Bosola
Best Service
‘The last part of my life hath done me best service’ -Bosola, act 5,scene5
only from breaking from the GCoB has B succeeded, unlike A+E
In Almeida theatre production of this play, this is the last line said, and then a scene of everyone massacring each other.
Ferdinand
Diamonds
‘Like diamonds we are cut with our own dust’ -Ferdinand, act5, scene5
Ambition, Satan & Eve ‘by vent’ring higher than my lot’
Similar to the Duchess’s ‘shot to death with pearls’. Shows how the siblings’ wealth ultimately led to their demise. These are Ferdinand’s last lines in the play and they highlight the main themes of it. Ironic in that the Duchess previously referred to herself as a diamond and was mocked by Ferdinand and now he is referring to himself as one in a negative capacity. It is perhaps Webster saying that life is what you make of it and your own fate is in your hands, as well as highlighting two of the reasons why Ferdinand himself ‘fell’ –> ‘blood’ and ‘lust’
Bosola
Gloomy
‘Oh this gloomy world’ -Bosola, act5,scene5
‘Earth felt the wound’ ‘new world where Satan now prevails’
Bosola is still incredibly pessimistic about the world and society, although perhaps now he has reason to view things in this way.
Delio
Beyond Death
Nobody…
‘Integrity of life is fame’s best friend which nobly beyond death, shall crown the end’ -Delio, act5, scene5
‘her seed should be revenged on the serpent’ Jesus will die for humanity
This is the ending couplet of the play spoken by Delio. The idea of ‘crown’ in the end incites the idea of heaven and reinforces the message that Antonio and the Duchess are good and will have a good afterlife. It also perhaps refers to the noble inheritance their son will have and hints that Delio will make sure it happens, especially as he talks about the importance of ‘integrity’. It highlights the importance of ‘integrity’ and this therefore is perhaps webster telling us what he wants us to take away from the play as it is the final line.
Duchess - Ferdinand
Jewellers hands
D: ‘Diamonds are of most value, They say, that have past through the most jewellers hands.’
F: ‘whores by that rule are precious’
opposite to christian purity culture, unlike E’s ‘graceful innocence’
This is a conversation between the Duchess and Ferdinand in which Ferdinand is telling the Duchess not to marry again as ‘they are most luxurious will wed twice’. The idea is that women should not be with a lot of men and it brings early in the play the idea that Ferdinand is obsessed with the sexuality of his sister, as well as his need to control her. It also seems that the Duchess is already defying the gender roles assigned to her, perhaps setting up for later in the play when she further defies both her womanly roles and her brothers’ wishes.
Duchess - Ferdinand
Honour
‘When I choose a husband, I will marry for your honour.’
E takes the blame. women must make up for mens faults
‘Adam more and more percieveving his fallen condition heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists and at length appeases him’
She tells Ferdinand she will marry for political source, as was common for women at the time. Women used as tools in politics and could not marry out of their rank. This is a lie as she has already married. Role of women.
Antonio - Duchess
Farewell
“Best of my life, farewell”
Love between A & E “Certain in his resolution… to die”
This line is spoken by Antonio when he goes into exile with his son to the Duchess. It is loaded with pathos as it shows the great love that exists between him and the Duchess, as well as being (unbeknownst to them although it seems likely) the last time they ever see each other.
Ferdinand - Bosola
Bedchamber
“A false key into her bedchamber”
Men’s ownership of women; ‘God set thee (Adam) above her’
Ferdinand is asking Bosola if he has managed to secure him a way into the Duchesses room so that he can force her to confess to what he believes, that she has had bastard children. The extent of the invasion of privacy shown here is testament to both Ferdinand’s obsession with the Duchess as well as the gross misconduct of the Duchess as a woman and thus the extent to which Ferdinand must go to try and rescue/check on her reputation. The word ‘bedchamber’ is perhaps Webster alluding to Ferdinand’s perverted sexual interest in his sister, and the word ‘false’ reminds the reader of the theme of illusions
Duchess - Cariola (Antonio)
Masks
“Unjust actions should wear these masks, not we”
A&E are at the mercy of God just as D is at the mercy fo her Brothers
The Duchess is talking to Cariola here about how she feels that her and Antonio should not have to hide their relationship, this comes after Ferdinand questions the Duchess about what he has heard about her reputation. The word ‘unjust’ reminds the audience of the different stances the Duchess and her brothers have on her relationship, the Duchess sees her marriage as right because they are not living out of wedlock and they are in love, Ferdinand sees the relationship as wrong because she did not ask, he told her not too, Antonio is below her, his own sexual interest in her… The idea that they should have to wear masks is also somewhat metatheatrical and creates the idea that the Duchess and Antonio have to stage their own little play in order to avoid being caught by her brothers
Duchess - Bosola
Gold and Sugar
“thou wrap thy poison pills in gold and sugar?”
E & S ‘not deceived, But fondly overcome with female charm’
appearence vs reality ; “No enemy of mankind’
The Duchess is here talking to Bosola and referring to how he betrayed her confidence by working for Ferdinand and the Cardinal. The idea is that he had an outer facade of beauty and sweetness which underneath was poison i.e. it signalled death for the Duchess. The fact that it is a question is perhaps the Duchess imploring Bosola and Webster hinting that her character is somewhat naive, but it could also be bold because she asks him outright and addresses his betrayal without walking on eggshells.
Duchess - Bosola (Antonio)
Deep Valley
“There is no deep valley but near some great hill”
A+E suggest suicide but commit to following God, Miltons intent
The Duchess says this to Bosola, referencing the idea that there is no sorrow but near great joy and vice versa. It shows a certain insight for the character of the Duchess, as well as reminding the audience that, despite all the sorrow she is going through now, she has had a good life with Antonio and implies that she does not regret any of her actions. This is emphasised by the use of the word ‘great’
Pilgrim (Cardinal)
Cruel
“Yet the cardinal bears himself much too cruel”
Questioning the hierarchy - S & E: ‘I grow mature in knowledge’
This is spoken by a pilgrim during the masque of the Cardinal’s getting ready for battle about the fact that he has banished the Duchess and Antonio. The fact that it is said by someone who is not directly involved in the tragedy shows the extent of the cruelty of the Cardinal, as well as offering an outside perspective that perhaps reminds the audience that the whole thing takes place in the closed-off arena of the Jacobean court.
Bosola (Brothers)
Horse-leech
“like a horse-leech till I were full”
Satans betrayal of God, Romantic view - tragic hero
This is Bosola describing his relationship with Ferdinand and the Cardinal. It paints the picture of Bosola as being somewhat parasitic and fits him into the typical Jacobean mode of the malcontent, as well as showing the importance of things like wealth and power in their society. It also is perhaps Webster foreshadowing Bosola’s later betrayal of the Duchess because it shows his priorities are not loyalty but personal gain, and therefore also sets up the contrast with Bosola’s final change of heart.
Antonio - Duchess
Ambition
“Ambition is a great man’s madness”
S & E’s madness, ‘by vent’ring higher than my lot’
This is one of the protestations made by Antonio concerning the proposal of the Duchess to him in Act 1 Scene 1. It shows Antonio’s humility in making sure that he does not overstep his societal ranking (Jacobean society) but is also perhaps a reflection on the body politic in that the madness/rottenness is meant to filter down from the top of the chain and Antonio does not wish to be a part of that. Introduces the theme of madness and is perhaps foreshadowing of Ferdinand’s own madness
Ferdinand (Duchess)
Witchcraft
“The witchcraft lies in her rank blood”
women are inherently evil ‘O Eve in Evil hour’
Ferdinand says this about his sister. He is accusing her of being a witch because of her disobedience and having children out of wedlock, showing how women who did this in Jacobean times were instantly damned by society. The emphasis on her ‘blood’ could both be a reference to Ferdinand’s preoccupation with preserving their bloodline (by having her marry Count Malateste) and also his weird perversion towards her because of the intimate nature of the claim, he seems to have an obsession with her body, even the ‘rank’ parts of it
Cardinal
Confidence in Prayer
“I would pray now, but the devil takes away my heart for having any confidence in prayer”
‘of innocence.. now soiled and stained’ A&E will never be innocent again
The Cardinal says this, which is ironic as he who has a high station within the church (being papal legate) does not have confidence in prayer and now realises that his actions have led to his damnation. It shows that the Cardinal recognises his sin as being so great that he is beyond salvation and is perhaps illustrative of the corruption Webster is trying to show us existed in the church and more broadly in the court in Jacobean times
Casrdinal - Julia
Secret Deed
“Why, imagine I have committed Some secret deed which I desire the world may never hear of”
Eve ‘to undergo with me one guilt, one crime if any be’
links to Eve eating the fruit, not convinced her actions are a crime until shes punishes paralelling Cardinal not caring until he must face consequences
