TDOM - Deception/Women

Question 1

Exacerbated by inferior social status of Antonio and fact Duchess is a widow

Answer 1

Circumstances would be seen as dangerously subversive to religious orthodoxy and social stability

Question 2

Does Webster give direct criticism?

Answer 2

No, but he offers a sympathetic view - stressing corruption brothers.

Question 3

Theme: Love and Lust - Ferdinand’s incest desires/Cardinal’s lust for Julia

Answer 3

Julia involved 4 different men - she is presented as stereotypical subversive female sexuality

Ferdinand - ‘To see her in the shameful act of sin’

Question 4

Sexual appetites left unsatisfied old/impotent husband

Answer 4

Mae with Januarie and Julia with Castruchio (Castration)

Question 5

Duchess’ lust for Antonio - intercourse is not omitted

Answer 5

‘lay a naked sword between us, keep us chaste’

Phallic imagery - flirting - Act 2 Scene 2

Question 6

Theme - Imprisonment

Answer 6

TDOM: ‘the marriage night Is the entrance into some prison’ - moral comment on loss freedom entailed in marriage

TMT: Garden

Question 7

Secrecy carries with it deception

Answer 7

TMT - secret letter turns into deceptive affair.

Question 8

How does deception manifest itself in TDOM?

Answer 8

Disguise, performance and false appearances - poisoned Bible

Bosola disguise as old man at death of Duchess

Question 9

Secrecy Duchess’s relationship forced upon them by who?

Answer 9

Her brothers

Question 10

Theme: Masks - Superficial aspects not accurate representation of true identity.

Answer 10

Mae beautiful yet deceptive (Corrupt)

Bosola uses disguises/true nature concealed from other characters - Bosola disguises himself at death of Duchess as old man.

Question 11

Duchess bewails having to wear…

Answer 11

‘these masks and curtains’

Question 12

Bosola master disguise

Answer 12

Real nature concealed from other characters

Question 13

Cardinal avenges himself through blasphemous poisoning Bible against Julia

Answer 13

Because rather like Eve’s ascendancy over Adam she acquires knowledge (apple) which damns her then him

Question 14

‘I’ll never marry-‘

Answer 14

Duchess herself deceives brothers by making this promise - audience forgives her - dash after some critics suggest because brother interjecting - shows lack power and domineering attributes of brothers over Duchess through the denial of her speech

Question 15

Significance Apricots? ‘- ‘apricocks’

Answer 15

. Apricot was considered a variety of peach that ripened sooner than other peaches - Duchess ripened for marriage earlier other widows - most widows enjoy single life

. Europe - considered aphrodisiacs.

. Used for in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream An inducer of Childbirth

. Sexual innuendo - stuffs in mouth

Question 16

Pears - Damian and May in pear tree

Answer 16

Pear symbol of womb

Pears sacred three goddesses in Roman mythology - Juno (goddess of childbirth, women, marriage), Venus (goddess of love and sexuality) and Pomona (Goddess for fruitful abundance).

Question 17

The Enchanted Pear Tree - Story of Lydia (May) and Pyrrhus (Damian) and Nicostratus (January) by Giovanni Boccaccio

Answer 17

. Nicostratus, an old wealthy patrician, married Lydia, a beautiful young woman. She was unsatisfied sexually.

. Took interest in husband’s servants, Pyrrhus. He would have accepted her invitation but Nicostratus was watchful over Lydia.

. Pyrrhus persuades Nicostratus that pear tree was enchanted and made unreal visions occur. To test the theory Nicostratus climed the tree and saw Lydia and Pyrrhus engaged in intercourse.

. When he climbed down they were ‘seated discretely on the garden bench.’ He blamed the tree for the false vision and had it cut down.

Question 18

What story has Chaucer manipulated in the TMT and how?

Answer 18

The Cherry Tree Carol - introduces motifs lust through deception - lust is one of the seven deadly sins.

Question 19

January deceives of his true reasons for marrying.

Answer 19

‘so wise’

‘ravisshed in traunce’