The Duchess Of Malfi Quotes Scenes And Themes

Question 1

Act 1- Corruption and power- ‘ A princes court…

Answer 1

is like a common fountain’

Question 2

Bosola describes the brothers as ‘plum..

Answer 2

trees’

Question 3

Antonio describes the cardinal as- ‘melancholy…

Answer 3

churchman’

Question 4

Delio about Ferdinand- ‘ The law to him..

Answer 4

is like a foul black cobweb’

Question 5

Ferdinand ‘ laugh…

Answer 5

when I laugh’

Question 6

Bosola about the Cardinal- ‘ possess the greatest…

Answer 6

devil and make him worse’

Question 7

Antonio- ‘ There judicious king…

Answer 7

begins at home’

Question 8

Female agency- Duchess- ‘ Diamonds are of the most…

Answer 8

value they say that have passed through most jewellers hands’

Question 9

Ferdinand- ‘ I would not…

Answer 9

have her marry again’

Question 10

Cardinal- ‘ The marriage night…

Answer 10

is the entrance into some prison’

Question 11

Antonio- ‘ Ambition madam..

Answer 11

is a great man’s madness’

Question 12

Ferdinand- ‘ You are a widow..

Answer 12

you know already what man is’

Question 13

‘Lusty…

Answer 13

widow’

Question 14

Act 2- deception ‘ who’s..

Answer 14

there’

Question 15

Bosola- nature of male power ‘ I look no..

Answer 15

higher than I can reach’

Question 16

Bosola- apricots ‘ how greedily..

Answer 16

she eats them’

Question 17

Antonio danger of relationship- ‘ How do I play the fool..

Answer 17

with mine own danger’

Question 18

Ferdinands wish of the duchess’ death- ‘ whores milk..

Answer 18

whores blood’

Question 19

Antonio’s nosebleed foreshadows death ‘ drowned..

Answer 19

in blood’

Question 20

Phallic symbol and danger of relationship- Bosola and servant ‘ A Switzer with a great pistol…

Answer 20

in his cod piece’

Question 21

The horoscope- foreshadows ‘ violent..

Answer 21

life’ for the baby

Question 22

Ferdinands rage- ‘ I can be..

Answer 22

angry without this rupture’

Question 23

Act 3- reminder of corruption- Antonio to delio- ‘ You have been…

Answer 23

a stranger long at court’

Question 24

Ferdinand about the gossip of the duchess- ‘ she is..

Answer 24

a strumpet’

Question 25

The duchess- female agency- ‘ I will marry…

Answer 25

for your honour’

Question 26

Ferdinand enraged by the duchess- ‘ the witchcraft lies..

Answer 26

in her rank blood’

Question 27

Carioca to Antonio- When you lie with my lady..

Answer 27

do you rise so early’

Question 28

Ferdinand to The duchess- double meaning- undress or a disgrace..

Answer 28

‘Undone’

Question 29

Ferdinand speech- ‘ were I..

Answer 29

her husband’

Question 30

Act 4- stoicism- Bosola- ‘ she welcomes the…

Answer 30

end of misery’

Question 31

Ferdinand- ‘ You were..

Answer 31

too much in the light’

Question 32

‘Let her have…

Answer 32

light enough’

Question 33

Duchess- ‘ I account this world…

Answer 33

a tedious theatre’

Question 34

Ferdinand- ‘ to bring her…

Answer 34

to despair’

Question 35

Bosola to Ferdinand- ‘go no further..

Answer 35

in your cruelty’

Question 36

Ferdinand- sexual desires- ‘ Damn, that..

Answer 36

body of hers’

Question 37

Duchess to Bosola- ‘ I am Duchess..

Answer 37

of Malfi still’

Question 38

Duchess- links to the royal court- ‘The greatest torture souls feel in hell…

Answer 38

that they must live and cannot die’

Question 39

Act 5- Deceit and lies of the cardinal- ‘ I must…

Answer 39

feign somewhat’

Question 40

The evil cardinal- Machiavellion- ‘ This fellow doth breed..

Answer 40

basilisks in his eyes’

Question 41

Bosola- ‘ The last part of…

Answer 41

my life hath done me best service’

Question 42

Ferdinand- ‘ whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust…

Answer 42

like diamonds we are cut with our own dust’

Question 43

Antonio about the cardinal- ‘ draw the poison…

Answer 43

out of him’

Question 44

Delio to Antonio- ‘ I’ll second you…

Answer 44

in all danger’

Question 45

Ferdinand- lycanthropy- ‘he..

Answer 45

howled fearfully’

Question 46

Julia lustful over Bosola- ‘ what an excellent…

Answer 46

shape hath that fellow’

Question 47

Cardinal about Ferdinand-‘ look to my brother…

Answer 47

he gave us these large wounds’

Question 48

Bosola last words- ‘ let worthy minds never…

Answer 48

stagger in distrust to suffer death’