Lies and deceit

Question 1

“I’ll never marry” 1,1

Answer 1

• direct and forceful.

- decieving her brothers who don’t want her to marry.

Question 2

“Please let me entreat the provisorship of your horse”

Answer 2

• The Duchess believes that Bosola takes care of her horse, but is not aware that he is Ferdinand’s spy in reality.
• pivotal moment as the Duchess is going to lose everything due to Bosola

Question 3

“We had need go borrow that fantastic glass invented by Galileo the Florentine to view another spacious world i’th’moon”

Answer 3

• The Cardinal’s having an affair with Julia = not very religious = Webster saying something?
• Ironic because Galileo was condemned by the church.

Question 4

“Were I a man I’d beat that counterfeit face into thy other” 3,5

Answer 4

• The Duchess says this to Bosola, who is hiding behind a mask
• Duchess is aware of the limitations of her gender
• echos Beatrice from Much Ado about Nothing; ‘Oh that I were a man I would eat his heart in the marketplace’
• shows D’s vehemence

Question 5

“And here’s another pitfall that’s strewed o’er with roses: mark it, ’tis a cunning one”

Answer 5

• Here, it is clear that the Duchess sees through Ferdinand’s expressions of amity and friendship, and mentions to the audience that she is aware that Ferdinand wants to deceive her.

She describes his trap as ‘strewed o’er with roses’ (ie. beautiful on the surface) but this is only concealing danger.

Question 6

“There was taken even now a Switzer in the Duchess’ bedchamber” 2,2

Answer 6

• duplicity of the Jacobean court is reflected through the court of Malfi, which is full of scandals, rumours and lies

Question 7

“I must now accuse you of such a feigned crime as Tasso calls magnanima mensogna, a noble lie, ‘cause it must shield our honours.”

Answer 7

• Duchess has to accuse Antonio of committing a crime in order to exile him, and ensure the safety of their family.
• Webster comments on the fact that at times you need to lie if you are faced with a system which is fundamentally misogynistic and controlling — moral ambivalence

Question 8

“I will have none: Pray thee, why dost thou wrap thy poisoned pills in gold and sugar?”

Answer 8

• appearance vs reality
• the world looks luxurious but it is dark, sinister and broken
• Webster comments on society and a world in which deceit is predominant, stating that that is a world that is psychologically, politically and socially damaging

Question 9

“Give out that Bosola hath poisoned with these these apricots”

Answer 9

• Delio lies in order to give excuses for the Duchess’ illness which has been caused by her pregnancy
• Webster alludes that sometimes lying may be necessary in order to avoid potential conflict
• link to ‘noble lies’ quotation

Question 10

“As I taste comfort in this friendly speech/so would I find concealment”

Answer 10

• After the Duchess reveals her marriage to Bosola, she begs him to keep it a secret
• Bosola does not do this and tells Ferdinand
• Bosola was motivated by financial compensation which Ferdinand had promised him, and he deceives the Duchess with no hesitation