Religion Flashcards
Religion taken lightly by duchess until death -
“ill go pray- no, ill go curse”
but when dying “your able strength must pull down heaven upon me” - wants to go to heaven
cariola when dying says “if you kill me now i am damned : i have not been at confession these two years”
similar to Januarie who isn’t really religious as he waits 60 years ( a sixty yeer wifeless man was hee) to get married when marriage is a sacrament.
and hopes may will be his “paradyse terrestre” despite being warned “she may be your purgatorie”
Justinus warns januarie ‘she may be your purgatorie” to januarie who misunderstands religion
Cariola doesn’t allow duchess to be un-religious “i do not like this jesting with religion this feigned pilgrimage”
purgatorie mentioned in MT clearly “she may be your purgatorie” and in medieval christian thinking purgatorie is another realm of the afterlife
but purgatorie in jacobean times would be considered a catholic belief which they hate which is why webster was less obvious with it “tis very much like my wifes voice” the echo of his wife suggesting an afterlife and that duchess isnt completely dead
different ways of marrying - januarie considers marriage a “holy boond”
“marriage is a full greet sacrament”
but Duchess does not marry through the church
- “ i have heard lawyers say , a contract in a chamber per verba de presenti is absaloute marriage”
but antonio is asked what do you think of marriage and he is similar to januarie “i take it as those that deny purgatory”
- A05 - proff.Leonard - in anglican canon law they did nothing wrong and consent constituited as marriage as long as there was a witness
- so marriage this way matters more to jacobean audience than italian
“were there nor heaven nor hell, i should be honest i have long served virtue and never taken wages of her”
-. Referencing heaven and hell and spiritual consequences, he seems to believe that staying in his social status and accepting that virtue and merit do not guarantee benefits are religious obligations.
similar to May perhaps who is of “small degree” and though has not got religious obligations to accept rather her class force her to marry an “oold hoore”
Bosola’s death “it may be pain but no harm for me to die” “mine is another voyage”
Bosola’s belief in a afterlife?
- in 1623 unprinted copy its ‘an other’ as in life after death , heaven or hell,
bosola tries to save the duchess’ soul after she is in despair “there is not between heaven or earth one wisj i stay for after this” - this despair in jacobean audience would be considered a sin
- bosola acts a savior for her soul “come, you must live”
“despair? remember you are a christian”
Unlike January who has no one to save his soul except himself so tries to get married.
“Upon my soule somwhat moste I thynke.”
- i need to think about my soul
so decides to be wedded hastily
Pilgrims used as a way to critique courts for both - give different sides of the story
DOM they gossip about cardinal Ferdinand etc. and act as a catharsis.
cardinal and duchess being critiscised reminds audience of lady arbella stauart and king james
pilgrims in canterbury tales - merchant is one of pilgrims and so is chuacer so they get away with critiquing court
- both authors use religion in a light way pilgrimage is supposed to be a religious practise
cardinal takes religion lightly “go enquire out Delio’s confessor, and see if you can bribe him to reveal it”
January also takes it lightly and tries to manipulate it to how he wants it
“a man may do no syn with his wyf ne hurte himself with his own knife” - doesn’t think he can sin with his wife.
mention of faires - Dr Marian Turner - MT is strange interaction between christianity and clasical myths”
tries to get away with it by using them despite christian figures would have fitted better in ‘garden’
similar to Webster using cardinal a religious figure who is catholic when performing play to jacobean protestant audiences. “ i would pray now but the devil takes away my heart for having confidence in any prayer”
