Isabella Flashcards
Isabella with her brother Francisco talking of Bracciano’s affair
Absolves Bracciano of responsibility - his affair is the result of the poison that is the beauty of women - Isabella is as misogynistic as Flamineo here but rhyming couplet makes misogyny and thus maintenance of patriarchy moral
Women as animalistic with base sexual desires - spider
Reflects notion that females are m susceptible to devil’s charm
‘shall charm his poison, force it to obeying and keep him chaste from an infected straying’
Isabella resolving to pretend it is her jealousy that has torn Bracciano and her apart
Paradoxical - Isab. lying (sinful) in order to adhere to social rules that she must do her duty as a good wife to uphold the family lineage and reputation
‘Author’ - noble women were not authors - were literate but writing was man’s job so patriarchy could be maintained - Isab. is transgressive at same time
‘I will make myself the author of your cursed vow’
Isabella resolving to pretend it is her jealousy that has torn Bracciano and her apart
Isaac. follows transgression (author) up by saying this
Foreshadows her change to a ‘bad woman’ - polarised
Isab. blames V - society dictates she must blame the other woman’s sinfulness, not husband’s = demonising V and takes on role as demonised woman at same time - irony
‘If only I were a man’
‘dig the strumpet’s eyes out’
Isabella when Francisco and Monticelso come back in and Isabella has resolved to take the blame
Isab. echoes B’s words - presents how B has allowed Isab. to seem as if she has patriarchal power - this turns her into a ‘bad woman’ and M+F consequently turn against her
Appearance v reality - men appear virtuous but control society and therefore are basis of sinfulness - B
‘henceforth I’ll never lie with you by this, this wedding ring’
Isabella after Monticelso and Francisco have turned against her
Half rhyme of the rhyming couplet before Isab. leaves - presents broken nature of her marriage and love for B and twisted nature of her duty
Scene transgresses ordinary structure expected - continues after rhyming couplet that should be at the end to symbolise a sense of immorality but poisoning of Isab. discussed after = extreme level of machiavellian sinfulness
Aside - appearance v reality does not apply - private sphere
‘unkindness do thy office, poor heart break, those are the killing griefs which dare not speak’
