Duchess 3:5 Flashcards

1
Q

‘Is all our train…’

A

‘Is all our train/ Shrunk to this poor remainder?’ - Duchess
- emphasising their fall and new lack of luxury

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2
Q

‘These poor men,/ Which have got little…’

A

‘These poor men,/ Which have got little in your service, vow/ To take your fortune, but your wiser buntings,/ Now they are fledged, are gone.’ - Antonio
- the men left helping them have little to gain but stay and suffer with her
- the ‘wiser’ servants however have gone/abandoned the Duchess

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3
Q

‘This puts me in mind…’

A

‘This puts me in mind of death.’ - Duchess

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4
Q

‘Right the fashion of…’

A

‘Right the fashion of the world:/ From decayed fortnes, every flatterer shrinks:/ Men cease to build where the foundation sinks.’ - Antonio
- flatterers abandon when someone can no longer benefit them
- critical of the court, reminiscent of Bosola

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5
Q

‘Methought I wore my coronet…’

A

‘Methought I wore my coronet of state/ And on a sudden all the diamonds/ Were changed to pearls.’ - Duchess
- recounting a ‘very strange dream’ she had
- symbolising the loss of rank and status
- a ‘coronet’ is a crown-like ornament

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6
Q

‘My interpretation/ Is you’ll…’

A

‘My interpretation/ Is you’ll weep shortly, for to me the pearls/ Do signify your tears.’ - Antonio

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7
Q

‘The birds that live i’th’field…’

A

‘The birds that live i’th’field/ […] live/ Happier than we, for they may choose their mates’ - Duchess
- emphasises her lack of freedom

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8
Q

‘Thou dost blanch mischief…’

A

‘Thou dost blanch mischief;/ Wouldst make it white. See, see! Like to calm weather/ At sea before a tempest, false hearts speak fair/ To those they intend most mischief.’ - Duchess to Bosola when he says he has a letter from Ferdinand (and speaks positively about him/it)
- hiding true intentions, misleading

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9
Q

‘[Reads] ‘Send Antonio to…’

A

‘[Reads] ‘Send Antonio to me. I want his head in business.’/ A politic equivocation!/ He doth not want your counsel, but your head’ - Duchess (reading Ferdinand’s letter)
- multiple meanings

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10
Q

‘He doth not want your…’

A

‘He doth not want your counsel, but your head -/ That is, he cannot sleep till you be dead.’ - Duchess (about Ferdinand)

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11
Q

‘[Reads] ‘I stand engaged for your…’

A

‘[Reads] ‘I stand engaged for your husband for several debts at Naples. Let not that trouble him. I had rather have his heart than his money.’/ - And I believe so, too!’ - Duchess
- Ferdinand uses the Duchess’ lie
- ‘rather his heart’ - rather have Antonio’s love than payment (OR wants his heart AKA him dead)

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12
Q

‘That he so much distrusts…’

A

‘That he so much distrusts my husbands love,/ He will by no means believe his heart is with him/ Until he sees it.’ - Duchess
- Ferdinand won’t trust Antonio’s loyalty to him until he has physically seen his heart (again alt. meaning of Antonio being dead)

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13
Q

‘Will you reject that noble…’

A

‘Will you reject that noble and free league/ OF amity and love which I present you?’ - Bosola
- clearly suggesting that Ferdinand’s letter is positive, trying to manipulate the Duchess into sending Antonio to him

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14
Q

‘Their league is like that of some…’

A

‘Their league is like that of some politic kings -/ Only to make themselves of strength and power/ To be our after-ruin.’ - Duchess

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15
Q

‘Thus, tell him - I…’

A

Thus, tell him - I will not come.’ - Antonio

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16
Q

‘And what of this…’

A

‘And what of this? [Gestures to the letter]’ - Bosola
- surprise that the Duchess doesn’t believe Ferdinand’s letter

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17
Q

‘My brothers have dispersed…’

A

‘My brothers have dispersed/ Bloodhounds abroad, which, till I hear are muzzled […] I’ll not come at them.’ - Antonio
- the Duchess and Antonio are being hunted

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18
Q

‘This proclaims your breeding…’

A

‘This proclaims your breeding!/ Every small thing draws a base mind to fear’ - Bosola
- quick change from 3:2 where he praised Antonio, clearly all fake
- frustrating at the Duchess and Antonio’s rejection

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19
Q

‘Let us not venture all…’

A

‘Let us not venture all this poor remainder/ In one unlucky bottom.’ - Duchess
- not travel in one group so the don’t all sink

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20
Q

‘Best of my life…’

A

‘Best of my life, farewell. Since we must part,/ Heaven hath a hand in’t’ - Antonio

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21
Q

‘I know not which is…’

A

‘I know not which is best -/ To see you dead or part with you.’ - Duchess

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22
Q

‘Thou art happy that thou hast…’

A

‘Thou art happy that thou hast not understanding/ To know thy misery, for all our wit/ And reading brings us to a truer sense/ Of sorrow.’ - Duchess to her son
- he is lucky to not understand as he doesn’t feel the sorrow that the Duchess does

23
Q

‘In the eternal church, sir…’

A

‘In the eternal church, sir,/ I do hope we shall not part thus.’ - Duchess

24
Q

‘Make patience a noble…’

A

‘Make patience a noble fortitude/ And think not how unkindly we are used:/ ‘Man, like to cassia, is proved best being bruised’.’ - Antonio
- men are proven as virtuous and good when put through tough time

25
Q

‘Must I, like to a slave-born…’

A

‘Must I, like to a slave-born Russian,/ Account it praise to suffer tyranny?’ - Duchess
- take value in/be glad of their torture

26
Q

‘Heaven fashioned us of nothing and…’

A

‘Heaven fashioned us of nothing and we strive/ To bring ourselves to nothing.’ - Antonio
- reference to a poem written by John Donne in 1611

27
Q

‘[To Duchess] If I do never see thee..’

A

‘[To Duchess] If I do never see thee more,/ Be a good mother to your little ones/ And save them from the tiger. Fare you well.’ - Antonio
- sorrowful ending

28
Q

‘Let me look upon you…’

A

‘Let me look upon you once more, for that speech/ Came from a dying father.’ - Duchess

29
Q

‘[They kiss] Your kiss is colder…’

A

‘[They kiss] Your kiss is colder/ Than that I have seen an holy anchorite/ Give to a dead man’s skull.’ - Duchess
- sad parallel to: ‘I’ll stop your mouth’ ‘I must have another’ (3:2)
- ‘dead man’s skull’ - it’s as if he is dead already
- this is the last thing she says to him, she now enters a darker phase in which she has no comfort

30
Q

parallels between 3:5 and 3:2

A
  • the kissing: ‘Your kiss is colder’ vs ‘I’ll stop your mouth’ ‘I must have another’
  • starts domestic but is interrupted by Ferdinand (granted by his letter in 3:5 rather than him physically)
  • tenser more abrupt convo than most of 3:2
31
Q

‘My heart is turned to a heavy…’

A

‘My heart is turned to a heavy lump of lead/ With which I sound my danger. Fare you well.’ - Antonio
- the last words spoken between the couple

32
Q

‘My laurel is…’

A

‘My laurel is all withered.’ - Duchess
- just after Antonio exits
- victorious roman generals were crowned with laurel wreaths, an emblem of good fame - it’s withering was supposedly an omen of death/evil
- her recognising her fate, perhaps acceptance
- could also signal the death of a monarch

33
Q

‘Enter Bosola with a…’

A

‘Enter Bosola with a guard [of soldiers, all wearing vizards]’ - SD
- menacing, threatening, ideas of secrecy/torment

34
Q

‘When Fortune’s wheel is overcharged…’

A

‘When Fortune’s wheel is overcharged with princes,/ The weight makes it move swift. I would have my ruin/ Be sudden.’ - Duchess
- changing, fluctuating fates (high then low and back again)

35
Q

‘You must see your…’

A

‘You must see your husband no more.’ - Bosola
- ironic given their recent farewell
- perhaps implies a sense of the Duchess giving in to what the brothers want

36
Q

‘What devil art thou that…’

A

‘What devil art thou that counterfeits heaven’s thunder?’ - Duchess to Bosola
- huge numbers of soldiers, false power?

37
Q

‘Whether is that note worse that…’

A

‘Whether is that note worse that frights the silly birds/ Out of the corn, or that which doth allure them/ To the nets? You have harkened to the last too much.’ - Bosola
- ‘silly birds’ - defenceless (the Duchess)

38
Q

‘Come - to what…’
‘To…’
‘Whither…’
‘To…’

A

‘Come - to what prison?’ - Duchess
‘To none.’ - Bosola
‘Whither, then?’ - D
‘To your palace.’ - B

39
Q

‘I have heard that Charon’s…’

A

‘I have heard that Charon’s boat serves to convey/ All o’er the dismal lake, but brings none back again.’ - Duchess
- ‘Charon’ (in Greek mythology) was the ferryman of the River Styx in the Underworld
- suggesting that if she goes with Bosola ‘To [her] palace’, she will not return

40
Q

‘Your brothers mean you…’
‘Pity? With such a pity…’

A

‘Your brothers mean you safety and pity.’ - Bosola
‘Pity? With such a pity men preserve alive/ Pheasants and quails when they are not fat enough to be eaten.’ - Duchess
- death still hangs over them (and her)
- will kill these birds when the benefits are greater (likewise with the Duchess?)

41
Q

‘But I intend, since they were…’

A

‘But I intend, since they were born accursed,/ Curses shall be their first language.’ - Duchess (about her kids)

42
Q

‘Forget this base…’
‘Were I a…’

A

‘Forget this base, low fellow -‘ - Bosola
‘Were I a man,/ I’d beat that counterfeit face into thy other!’ - Duchess
- her physical limitations
- expression of her love and protectiveness

43
Q

‘Man is most happy when’s…’
‘A barren…’

A

‘Man is most happy when’s own actions/ Be arguments and examples of his virtue.’ - Duchess
‘A barren, beggerly virtue.’ - Bosola

44
Q

‘Why art thou so bold…’

A

‘Why art thou so bold/ To mix thyself with our high state of floods,/ Being no eminent courtier’ - the dog-fish
(the Duchess’ parable)

45
Q

‘Our value can never be truly…’

A

‘Our value can never be truly known/ Till in the fisher’s basket we be shown./ I’th’market, then, my price may be the higher,/ Even when I am nearest to the cook and fire’ - Salmon
(The Duchess’ parable)
- value isn’t always obvious
- reference to Antonio’s judgement in the afterlife

46
Q

'’Men are oft valued…’

A

'’Men are oft valued high, when th’are most wretched.’’ - Duchess
- value isn’t always what is seems eg. the Duchess’ brothers are valued due to their class

47
Q

‘There’s no deep…’

A

‘There’s no deep valley, but near some great hill.’ - Duchess

48
Q

the Duchess’ parable at the end of 3:5

A
  • a ‘salmon’ and ‘dog-fish’
  • theme of social class: the salmon is lowly when travelling from river to ocean but may be valued more at market
  • ‘Why art thou so bold/ To mix thyself with our high state of floods,/ Being no eminent courtier’ - the dog-fish
  • ‘Our value can never be truly known/ Till in the fisher’s basket we be shown./ I’th’market, then, my price may be the higher,/ Even when I am nearest to the cook and fire’ - Salmon
  • '’Men are oft valued high, when th’are most wretched.’’
  • value is not always what it seems eg. Ferdinand and the Cardinal being valued due to their class
49
Q

‘The Duchess mars the end of a lovely and terrible..’

A

‘The Duchess mars the end of a lovely and terrible scene with a would-be funny moral tale […] there is a sort of pathetic suitability in the Duchess, half broken with sorrow, almost unconsciously babbling childish tales to her enemy’ - Rupert Brooke (1916)
- the parallel to Ferdinand

50
Q

The Duchess’ parable ‘implies that good…’

A

The Duchess’ parable ‘implies that good fame cannot be discerned til death’ - Muriel Bradbrook, 1980

51
Q

‘Her clear insult to Bosola in implying that…’

A

‘Her clear insult to Bosola in implying that he is a mere dogfish with temporary power […] os her last wry joke before the darkness of Act 4’ - Kathleen McLuskie, 1985

52
Q

‘though offered as a defence of Antonio’s low…’

A

‘though offered as a defence of Antonio’s low birth [this parable] looks forward to her own death as the master day by which her life will be judged’ - Michael Niell (1997)
> explains her composure ahead of her death
> her and Antonio will be valued more in heaven

53
Q

possible reasons for the Duchess’ parable at the end of 3:5?

A
  • to send a message about social class and bring Bosola back down to earth
  • to comfort her children who are still present for this part of the scene
  • to criticise society’s emphasis on class and therefore on the valuing of her corrupt brothers