Duchess 2:2

Question 1

‘There’s no question but her…’

Answer 1

‘There’s no question but her tetchiness and most vulturous eating of the apricots are apparent signs of breeding now!’ - Bosola

Question 2

‘I am in…’

Answer 2

‘I am in haste, sir.’ - Old Lady to Bosola
- he ignores this and makes misogynistic comments about women and the Duchess - even when the Old Lady says ‘Nay! Pray, let me go -‘
- in some editions the Old Lady is named as the midwife (hence her hurry)

Question 3

‘There was a young waiting…’
‘Nay…’

Answer 3

‘There was a young waiting-woman had a monstrous desire to see the glass-house -‘ - Bosola
‘Nay! Pray, let me go -‘ - Old Lady
- ‘glass house’ is a workshop for blowing glass (he uses glass blowing as an innuendo in his next comments
- the Old Lady is more forceful in this scene, interrupting bosola and saying more of what she thinks

Question 4

‘And it was only to know what…’

Answer 4

‘And it was only to know what strange instrument it was should swell up a glass to the fashion of a woman’s belly.’ - Bosola
- trying to make it clear that he knows about the Duchess
- likening the ‘instrument’ to a penis

Question 5

‘I will hear no…’

Answer 5

‘I will hear no more of the glass-house! You are still abusing women!’ - Old Lady
- she is showing more agency in this scene

Question 6

‘The orange tree bears…’

Answer 6

‘The orange tree bears ripe and green fruit and blossoms altogether’ - Bosola
- comparing a ‘tree’ offering ‘fruit and blossoms’ to a woman offering ‘entertainment’

Question 7

‘some of you give…’

Answer 7

‘some of you give entertainment for pure love - but more, for more precious reward.’ - Bosola
- clear misogyny

Question 8

‘The lusty spring…’

Answer 8

‘The lusty spring smells well, but drooping autumn tastes well.’ - Bosola
- trying to flatter the Old Lady

Question 9

‘If we have the same golden showers that…

Answer 9

‘If we have the same golden showers that rained in the time of Jupiter the Thunderer, you have the same Danaes still to hold up their laps to receive them.’ - Bosola
- Jupiter impregnated Danaes by visiting her in a shower of gold (implying that women have always given ‘entertainment’ for ‘precious reward’)

Question 10

‘how to make a many…’

Answer 10

‘how to make a many lines meet in once centre.’ - Bosola
- multiple men attracted to the same female’s parts

Question 11

‘Go, go! Give your foster…’

Answer 11

‘Go, go! Give your foster daughters good counsel.’ - Bosola
- ‘foster daughters’ can refer to the pregnant woman that a midwife looks after or to prostitutes for whom the Old Lady acts as a bawd

Question 12

‘Tell them that the devil takes…’

Answer 12

‘Tell them that the devil takes delight to hang at a woman’s girdle like a false rusty watch, that she cannot discern how the time passes.’ - Bosola
- association of reproduction and the devil (women’s susceptibility to his tricks - misogyny)
- ‘girdle’ refers to underwear
- ‘cannot discern how the time passes’ implies a sense of naivety or the ability to be misled

Question 13

‘Shut up the court…’
‘Shut up the posterns…’

Answer 13

‘Shut up the court gates.’ - Antonio
‘Shut up the posterns presently and call/ All the officers o’th’court.’ - Antonio
- takes a more assertive role, much more in control than last time we saw him
- he also doesn’t reply to the questions that he is asked (‘Why, sir? What’s the danger?’)
- ‘presently’ is used twice by antonio and shows his assertiveness, equally the ‘instantly’ given in reply to him by Grisolan shows A’s power over others

Question 14

‘Oh, gentlemen o’th’…’

Answer 14

‘Oh, gentlemen o’th’court, the foulest treason!’ - 1 Servant

Question 15

‘[Aside] If that these…’

Answer 15

‘[Aside] If that these apricots should be poisoned now without my knowledge?’ - Bosola
- on the back foot now whereas Antonio has been shown to be on the front foot, giving orders

Question 16

‘There was taken even now a…’
‘With a pistol…’

Answer 16

‘There was taken even now a Switzer in the Duchess’s bedchamber.’ - 1 Servant
‘With a pistol in his great codpiece!’ - 1 S
- there was a guard in her room with a “pistol”
- a ‘codpiece’ was worn over the crotch

Question 17

how does Bosola seem when he is talking with the servants about the Duchess while she is in labour?

Answer 17

he seems very comfortable (‘Ha, ha, ha!’) which shows his ability to talk to all classes of people, he could perhaps even be considered more comfortable here than when talking to Antonio, the Duchess, or Ferdinand

Question 18

‘There was a cunning…’

Answer 18

‘There was a cunning traitor! Who would have searched his codpiece?’ - 2 Servant

Question 19

‘True - if he had kept out of the ladies’…’

Answer 19

‘True - if he had kept out of the ladies’ chambers - and all the moulds of his buttons were leaden bullets.’ - 1 Servant
- wouldn’t have been searched if he had avoided the ladies

Question 20

‘Oh, wicked…’
‘‘Twas a…’

Answer 20

‘Oh, wicked cannibal! A firelock in’s codpiece?’ - 2 Servant
‘‘Twas a French plot, upon my life!’ - 1 S
- ‘firelock’ refers to the burning sensation caused by the French pox (syphilis)

Question 21

‘We have lost much plate…’

Answer 21

‘We have lost much plate, you know; and but this evening/ Jewels to the value of four thousand ducats/ Are missing in the Duchess’s cabinet.’ - Antonio
- ‘plate’ - tableware, sometimes of silver or gold
- the story has changed a bit

Question 22

'’Tis the Duchess’s pleasure/ Each…’

Answer 22

'’Tis the Duchess’s pleasure/ Each officer be locked into his chamber/ Till the sun-rising, and to send the keys/ Of all their chests and of their outward doors/ Into her bedchamber. She is very sick.’ - Antonio

Question 23

‘She entreats you take’t…’

Answer 23

‘She entreats you take’t not ill. The innocent/ Shall be the more approved by it.’ - Antonio
- do not take the suspicion of all officers negatively, the innocent will be shown to be true

Question 24

‘[Exeunt all but Antonio and Delio]’

Answer 24

• private sphere
• steps back to let Delio take over (performing in front of the others, like Bosola)

Question 25

‘She’s exposed/ Unto…’

Answer 25

‘She’s exposed/ Unto the worst of torture, pain, and fear.’ - Antonio

Question 26

‘How I do play the fool with…’
‘Do not…’

Answer 26

‘How I do play the fool with mine own danger!/ You are this night, dear friend, to post to Rome./ My Life lies in your service.’ - Antonio
‘Do not doubt me.’ - Delio

Question 27

‘Oh, ‘tis far from me - and…’

Answer 27

‘Oh, ‘tis far from me - and yet fear presents me/ Somewhat that looks like danger.’ - Antonio

Question 28

'’Tis but the shadow of your…’

Answer 28

'’Tis but the shadow of your fear, no more./ How superstitiously we mind our evils!’ - Delio
- trying to make light of Antonio’s worries, cheer him up/ counter his feelings

Question 29

‘The throwing down salt or…’

Answer 29

‘The throwing down salt or crossing of a hare,/ Bleeding at nose, the stumbling of a horse/ Or singing of a cricket, are of power/ To daunt whole man in us.’ - Delio
- possibly events to be superstitious of (Antonio bleeds ‘at nose’ in the next scene)

Question 30

‘I wish you all the joys of…’

Answer 30

‘I wish you all the joys of a blessed father/ And, for my faith, lay this unto your breast:/ Old friends, like old swords, still are trusted best.’ - Delio
- positive imagery

Question 31

‘Sir, you are the happy…’

Answer 31

‘Sir, you are the happy father of a son./ Your wife commends him to you.’ - Cariola
- more positive imagery

Question 32

‘Blessed comfort!/ For…’

Answer 32

‘Blessed comfort!/ For heaven’s sake, tend her well. I’ll presently/ Go set a figure for’s nativity.’ - Antonio
- a happy end to the scene but we are aware of bosola - is Antonio able to protect his family?
- ‘go set a figure for’s nativity’ - go get a horoscope cast for him