Malfi Critics

Question 1

William Archer on Bosola

Answer 1

‘human of villains’

Question 2

Orazino Busino

Answer 2

‘in condemnation of the grandeur of the Catholic Church

Question 3

Irving Ribner on the Duchess

Answer 3

‘The Duchess, not her brothers, stands for ordinary humanity, love and the continuity of life through children.’

Question 4

Murray on the Duchess

Answer 4

‘the radiant spirit of the Duchess cannot be killed’

Question 5

Rioder

Answer 5

a cautionary tale for disobedient women.

Question 6

C.Hill

Answer 6

Webster clearly approved of the marriage between the Duchess and Antonio

Question 7

Christopher Hart

Answer 7

The two brothers are not driven by any sense of possessive outrage, however warped, but by a delight in malice itself, a ‘motiveless malignity’

Question 8

William Watson

Answer 8

‘Virtue in this disordered world is merely wasted, honor bears not issue, nobleness dies unto itself.’

Question 9

Cecil

Answer 9

‘The world seen by Webster is incurably corrupt…to be involved in it is to be inescapably involved in evil.’

Question 10

Busino the Cardinal

Answer 10

'’with a harlot on his knee’

Question 11

Painter Antonio

Answer 11

‘one of the wisest and most perfect gentlemen’

Question 12

Painter

Answer 12

‘we ought never to climb higher than our force permiteth.’