Power/Class/Gender

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 2- Antonio makes a good remark about the duchess, part of the extended metaphor surrounding the Duchess and light

Answer 1

She stains the time past, lights the time to come

Question 2

Act 1 Scene 2- Cardinal doesn’t like marriage, how ironic

Answer 2

The marriage night is the entrance into some prison

Question 3

Act 1 Scene 2- Cariola admires the Duchess here, she recognises how being a women in a system of male dominance can drive you mad

Answer 3

It shows a fearful madness I owe her much of pity

Question 4

Act 2 Scene 5- Ferdinand with the incest again, milk isn’t good enough for him he wants blood. Whore is such an awful word methinks.

Answer 4

Tis not your whores milk that shall quench my wild-fire but your whores blood

Question 5

Act 3 Scene 2- What’s holding back the Duchess? She’s a women of course. She acknowledges that she’s doomed but she won’t live or die as a princess…

Answer 5

For know, whether I am doomed to live or die, I can do both like a prince

Question 6

Act 3 Scene 5- Merchants Tale connection incoming! But it’s the Duchess and not Januarie. Her tree is dying…not so fresh now.

Answer 6

My laurel is all withered

Question 7

Act 3 Scene 5- The Duchess and I think the same about men. They hunt for sport and fatten up their prey.

Answer 7

Pity? With such pity men preserve alive pheasants and quails when they are not fat enough to be eaten

Question 8

Act 3 Scene 5- Smoked Salmon is delicious but easier to catch then dogfish (tastier too).

Answer 8

A Salmon as she swam unto the sea met with a dogfish who encounters her

Question 9

Act 3 Scene 5- Duchess is getting philosophical again, this time valleys and lakes are involved- she’s so oppressed.

Answer 9

Bent to all sways of the oppressors will: There’s no deep valley but near some great hill

Question 10

Act 4 Scene 1- Merchant link! Hint: it’s wax again

Answer 10

Than weren’t my picture, fashioned out of wax

Question 11

Act 4 scene 2- Birds….the Duchess proclaims this time that robins and nightingales shouldn’t be in cages

Answer 11

The Robin redbreast and the nightingale never live long in cages

Question 12

Act 4 Scene 2- Her identity is not even known to her, the duchess questions it….

Answer 12

Who am I?

Question 13

Act 4 Scene 2- Confirmation of identity? Not too sure. Validating? Maybe. Maybe not. Come on Duchess we know what you are.

Answer 13

I am the Duchess of Malfi too