Power and Ambition Flashcards
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies TDOM (Point)
Both TDOM and PL look at the ability of ambition to subvert social heirachies and how these societies treat them.
In TDOM, the Duchess’s ambition for highest freedom in love causes her to marry Antonio, her servant, subverting her brother’s patriachal society.
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies TDOM (Evidence)
the most luxurious will wed twice
marriage is an entrance to a prison
her marriage as a ‘great battle’
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies TDOM (AO3)
remniscent of Queen Elizabeth who subverted patriachal beliefs such as getting married and having no children which caused discontent among the British population
remniscent of the Duchess of Suffolk who married her butler named Bertie
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies TDOM (AO5)
Smith says, ‘The danger itself is what attracts the Duchess to this course of action’
Emma Smith in 2009 says, ‘The Duchess is capable of excessive desire.’ -DISAGREE
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies PL (Point)
Similarly, Eve has the ambition to gain more knowledge and in eating the forbidden fruit she subjects the heirachy put in place by God
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies PL (Evidence)
‘from her husband hand she withdrew’
she called the fruit ‘intellectual fruit’
‘adventurous eve’
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies PL (Point)
Women were seen as wanton and suscetible to sexual desires
P1: Ambition to subvert societal heirachies PL (AO5)
Joseph Swetnam, a 17th century critic, said, Eve had an ‘aspiring mind and a wanton will’
Gilbert said, ‘intellectual inferior’
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions TDOM (Point)
Both TDOM and PL highlight some characters gain access power which allows them to control the future.
In TDOM, the Cardinal uses his religious power to act corruptly especially the way he uses Bosola, someone of lower social class.
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions TDOM (Evidence)
this great fellow is able to posess the devil and make him worse
he lays more plots for them was ever imposed on Hercules
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions TDOM (AO3)
Cardinal as ‘cursed example’- embody stereotype of cruel, hypocritical and corrupt Catholics as translated in Martin Luther’s Ninety Five Theses in 1517
Catholic conflicts such as the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and King Charles’ fight against Catholic power in Europe before 1630
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions TDOM (AO5)
‘The Cardinal knows he’s already in hell’- Bradbrook
The Eileen Atkins 1972 production depicts the Cardinal with high prowess through his rich scarlet garments and a gold cross necklace- contrasts between religious garments and his actions
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions PL (Point)
Contrary to some critics, many argue that the God of PL is a tyrant, who like the Cardinal, uses his power to control his creation
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions PL (Evidence)
‘a dismal universal hiss’
‘chewed bitter ashes’
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions PL (AO3)
The God of Christian Ideology is viewed as omnipotent, omniscent being.
Milton’s portrayal of God reflects his view of the monarchy as his belief in freedom of speech often conflicted with Charles I extremely constructive, restraining rule where he limited Parliament’s access to the King and limited the Church in their spendings and services
His critical views on the Divine Right of Kings that James I emphasised ‘Kings are not only God’s lieutenants upon Earth but even by God himself they are called Gods’ (1609)
In Eukonolilates, he rebuttals Basiliks where Milton argues if the King does not portray the attributes of a ‘good King’ then the people have a right to take him down. All monarchs have the potential to become tyrants.
P2: The abuse of power to ruin other characters ambitions PL (AO5)
Park- ‘spiteful magician’
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (Point)
In both PL and TDOM, characters who harbour excess power and ambition led to their hamartia through madness and torment.
In TDOM, Ferdinand’s obsession with his sister’s sexuality and marriage drives him to madness and ultimately death.
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (Evidence)
the howling of a wolf is music, screeching owl- bad omen of death and foreshadows lycanthropia
said he was the world- the one inside
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (AO3)
A damnable life of Peter Stubbe (1590) a very popular pamphlet on werewolves- associated with cannibalism, rape and manic
James I wrote Daemonolgie- he was obsessed with supernatural. He write, lycanthropia comes from ‘super-abundance of melancholy’.
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (AO5)
In the 1972 Eileen Atkins production, Ferdinand is standing at night in dark and hears the Duchess’ voice repeating the ends of his words
Ferdinand has his shirt unbuttoned and is dishevelled
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity PL (Point)
Similarly, in PL, Satan’s obsession in surpassing God’s power leads to his torment and self-inflicted punishment
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (Evidence)
mixed with bestial slime
constrained into a beast
more I see pleasure, more I feel torment within me
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (AO3)
Renaissance trope of malcontent - subversive, dissatisfaction
P3: The ability for power and ambition to drive a character into insanity TDOM (AO5)
Gunsby- ‘In Websters plays, salvation and damnation’ are key.
