Duchess of Malfi Flashcards
Give a quote from Bosola to highlight the corruption at his court
“Places in the court are like beds in the hospital where this man’s head lies at that man’s foot, and so lower, and lower”
Give a quote from Bosola to highlight his malcontent
“Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather, why not I, in these dog days?”
Not reaping the rewards for his labour
More like an animal than part of society - birds always migrating = no stability
Give a quote to show the brother’s corruption
“he and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools”
Give a quote from Antonio to highlight his love of the Duchess
“She stains the time past, lights the time to come”
Reference to both past and future - she envelops his life
Stains = negative or eclipse rest of history, optimism and light
How does Clifford’s leach’s production in 1968 present the Duchess
A highly sexed widow in accordance with the brother’s stereotypes
The play is seeking to dicredit……………….attitudes to women by putting them in the mouths of the least……………….characters
Misogynistic
Appealing
“The misery of us that are born……, We are forced to……because none dare woo us”
Great
Woo
Give Aristotle’s Unities of Time and Place
Aristotle declared that a play showed follow these rules
Unity of ACtion - a play should have one action that it follows with minimal subplots
Unity of Time - The action of a play should not occur over a period of more than 24h
Unity of Place - A play should exist in a single physical place and should not attempt to compress geography
Give a quote from Bosola that shames the Dutchess after the apricots
“Her…vulturous eating of the apricots, are apparent signs of breeding”
Fists appearance of Cardinal - what is frequently repeated in his lines
“Thank me….kiss me….like a tame elephant….thank me…thank me”
What is Ferninad’s reaction to finding out about the Duchess
“I could kill her now…heaven doth revenge”
When is metatheatre used an what is the effect
“It were within this half-hour”
Adds a sense of realism and validity tot he plays message - trying to convey a point
Give the first sign of Bosola’s truing morals
“What do you intend to do”
Questioning, different from Ferdinand
In the dumb show of the banishment - what is significant of the Cardinal dressing out of his religious dress into armour
Illustrates the conflict within the play
Undermines the validity of his religious purity - easily able to remove his religious identity when it pleases him - corrupt + ruthless
What is a dumb show
Dialogue of pilgrims frame what we see -ct like a Greek chorus
No individual identity, sceptical observers of the political and family conflict
How does Droomgoles production in 2014 (Gemma Aretoin) present the pilgrims
Pilgrims stand above, looking down upon the Duchess - act as a reflection fo society’s disapproval of her immoral deeds
Give a quote from the Duchess that emphasises her desire for freedom after captured
“The birds that live i’th’field”
What is significant about ‘Give her a dead man’s hand”
Brutality of the hand amplifies the sense of tragedy for the duchess
Makes her more reliant upon Ferdinand perhaps
Give another quote that cements Bosola’s morality as being inherently good
“Why do you do this…go no further in your cruelty”
Give a quote from the Duchess reflecting upon her imminent end
“The robin redbreast and the nightingale/Never live long in cages
Give some analysis on the madmen
Represents corruption in court as used same actors as Ferdinand’s sycophants
Madman chained together - chain of being - no individuality
Madmen are people of previous high status “Doctors…lawyers” - no space for intelligence in court
Give the quote form the Duchess that epitomises her identity and power
“I am Duchess of Malfi still”
How does Celia Daliveder’s production present the Duchess’ death
As a ‘female christ’ - kneels closer to God
Martyrs herself - sacrificial
“Must pull down heaven upon me”
Give evidence of Ferdinand’s change of heart after Duchess’ death
“Mine eyes dazzle. She died young…She and I were twins”
The Duchess is associated with…….., Ferdinand with……………both spiritual and actual: he insists on visiting her in darkness and later speaks of his cruel……….eyes
Light
Darkness
Sore
“Mine eyes dazzle”
What is Fernandes response to Bolodal carrying out the killing of the Duchess
Twists the blame “I’ll give thee a pardon for this murder”
Bosola cries ta the end - increased sympathy
How does Antionio perceive the brothers
Massively underestimates their cruelty and brutality to his cost of his life
Amplifies his inherently good nature and purity
Who plays the doctor in the Almedia production
The Duchess - her presence and influence lives on
Give a quote from the Cardinal that makes Julia appear like a possession/ disposable
“I am weary of her and by any means would be quit of”
Give some analysis form Julia dying from a poisoned bible
Epitomises the corruption of the Cardinal’s religious beliefs, and Catholicism
Julia kissed it to please the Cardinal - shows she is malleable, has no own authority/individuality
Give a quite from Bosola at the end which shows his love and regret the Duchess
“Thy heartbreak quickly: thy fair Duchess”
In the final scene, what is there a semantic field of in the Cardinal’s speech
Hell - “Hell…hell…fire…burn”
How does the Cardinal react in response to his own death
“Help! Our Gaurd!
Cowardly, vulnerable - rely on others for protection
Deep contrast to the Duchess’ accepting and noble death
How might some view the Duchess
The Duchess’ death is the catalyst fr the bloodshed that follows - it’s her own doings that cause the downfall of those around her
How does the 2014 globe production and the Alemdia differ in their ending
2014 = dance on stage with all characters - traditional, slightly undermines the strength of the message about female empowerment
Almedia = Glass box at the back of the stage woth the dead woman lined up
