Overview OF DUCHESS:
1.1 Antonio notes the corruption of the Italian court, introduced to the characters of the Malfi siblings. The Duchess shows her bodily desires by proposing to
Antonio.
2.1 9 months has passed: Bosola thinks the Duchess may be pregnant and gives her “apricocks” to try and reveal her secret.
2.2 Bosola shames the old lady due to her lack of sexuality, Antonio pretends the Duchess’ jewels have been stolen and demands that everyone stays in their
rooms.
2.3 Bosola and Antonio meet, Antonio accidentally drops a note saying the Duchess has given birth.
2.4 introduced to the Cardinal’s affair with Julia: Julia a foil to the Duchess
2.5 Ferdinand exclaims his hatred for the Duchess, his overt desire to control her sexuality, incestuous ideas, the Cardinal tries to calm him
3.1 the Duchess now has 3 children, Ferdinand tries to marry her to Malateste
3.2 Duchess’ sexual control over Antonio, focus on vanity, Ferdinand enters her chamber, she reveals she is married, Ferdinand is irrational, her princely
comparisons, Bosola convinces the Duchess to feign a pilgrimage
3.3 descriptions of Bosola, Cardinal and Ferdinand
3.4 Antonio and The Duchess present themselves to the throne, pilgrims discussion
3.5 The Duchess demands that Antonio takes their eldest away to try and save himself. The Duchess uses the salmon metaphor
4.1 Ferdinand torments the Duchess with cruel threats and he wants to get revenge on her for marrying Antonio.
4.2 The Duchess and Cariola are both murdered: contrast in their deaths and reversal of natural tragedy: disruption in the court, Ferdinand’s madness
5.1 Antonio is naïve, Antonio’s land is taken away from him
5.2 Ferdinand madness: lycanthropia, The Cardinal kills Julia after revealing he killed the Duchess and two of her children, Julia and Bosola kissed
5.3 Antonio’s stupidity: he hears the echo of the Duchess but doesn’t respond as she asks him
5.4 Bosola reveals to Antonio that the Duchess and her children are murdered, he responds in a defeatist way
5.5 The Cardinal feels guilty: Bosola, Cardinal and Ferdinand all kill each other, Antonio dies
, Duchess LOVE/LUST
Ferdinand HEIRACHY
Cardinal GENDER
Antonio DECEIT AND
Bosola CORRUPTION
Julia REVENGE AND HATRED
Cariola FREE WILL
WILDNESS Vs
CULTIVATION
Act 1: GOOD Vs EVIL
Scene MALFI quotes EXPLANATION CRITICS and CONTEXT THEMES/
CHARACTERS
1.1 1.1 “quits first his royal palace of flatt’ring sycophants” James I’s Machiavellian rule: Lucky: the cardinal is a DECEIT AND
“is like a common fountain whence should flow Pure silver appearance of honesty and "cruel and abusive man" CORRUPTION:
drops…some cursed example poison’t near the head” moral values, but in reality sycophancy
“death and diseases through the whole land spread” his court with rife with Christopher Hart: The two
corruption and sycophancy brothers are not driven by
“the only court gall” due to his favouritism any sense of possessive
“he rails at those things which he wants” outrage, however warped,
“would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud, bloody or Tantalus: classical allusion: but by a delight in malice
envious, as any man if he had the means to do so” he was condemned to itself, a motiveless
“I fell into the galleys in your service” perpetual thirst and hunger malignity even against
by being kept up to his neck their own flesh and blood.
About the cardinal: “he is a melancholy churchman” in a lack overhanging with
“a thousand such political monsters” fruit , but unable to drink or Belton: singularly
“instead of coming to it by the primitive decency of the eat. A proverbial figure of unpleasant and impatient
church, he did bestow bribes so largely and so imprudently disappointment and
as if he would have carried it away without heaven’s frustration
knowledge”
“for the devil speaks in them” FOUR HUMOURS: Ferdinand
“with all your divinity, do but direct me the way to it” has an excess of yellow bile:
fire, passion, he is
“he and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked unpredictable and emotional:
over standing pools; they are rich and o’erladen, stagnant foreshadowing
with fruit, but none but crows, pies and caterpillars feed on
1.1 Antonio notes the corruption of the Italian court, introduced to the characters of the Malfi siblings. The Duchess shows her bodily desires by proposing to
Antonio.
2.1 9 months has passed: Bosola thinks the Duchess may be pregnant and gives her “apricocks” to try and reveal her secret.
2.2 Bosola shames the old lady due to her lack of sexuality, Antonio pretends the Duchess’ jewels have been stolen and demands that everyone stays in their
rooms.
2.3 Bosola and Antonio meet, Antonio accidentally drops a note saying the Duchess has given birth.
2.4 introduced to the Cardinal’s affair with Julia: Julia a foil to the Duchess
2.5 Ferdinand exclaims his hatred for the Duchess, his overt desire to control her sexuality, incestuous ideas, the Cardinal tries to calm him
3.1 the Duchess now has 3 children, Ferdinand tries to marry her to Malateste
3.2 Duchess’ sexual control over Antonio, focus on vanity, Ferdinand enters her chamber, she reveals she is married, Ferdinand is irrational, her princely
comparisons, Bosola convinces the Duchess to feign a pilgrimage
3.3 descriptions of Bosola, Cardinal and Ferdinand
3.4 Antonio and The Duchess present themselves to the throne, pilgrims discussion
3.5 The Duchess demands that Antonio takes their eldest away to try and save himself. The Duchess uses the salmon metaphor
4.1 Ferdinand torments the Duchess with cruel threats and he wants to get revenge on her for marrying Antonio.
4.2 The Duchess and Cariola are both murdered: contrast in their deaths and reversal of natural tragedy: disruption in the court, Ferdinand’s madness
5.1 Antonio is naïve, Antonio’s land is taken away from him
5.2 Ferdinand madness: lycanthropia, The Cardinal kills Julia after revealing he killed the Duchess and two of her children, Julia and Bosola kissed
5.3 Antonio’s stupidity: he hears the echo of the Duchess but doesn’t respond as she asks him
5.4 Bosola reveals to Antonio that the Duchess and her children are murdered, he responds in a defeatist way
5.5 The Cardinal feels guilty: Bosola, Cardinal and Ferdinand all kill each other, Antonio dies
, Duchess LOVE/LUST
Ferdinand HEIRACHY
Cardinal GENDER
Antonio DECEIT AND
Bosola CORRUPTION
Julia REVENGE AND HATRED
Cariola FREE WILL
WILDNESS Vs
CULTIVATION
Act 1: GOOD Vs EVIL
Scene MALFI quotes EXPLANATION CRITICS and CONTEXT THEMES/
CHARACTERS
1.1 1.1 “quits first his royal palace of flatt’ring sycophants” James I’s Machiavellian rule: Lucky: the cardinal is a DECEIT AND
“is like a common fountain whence should flow Pure silver appearance of honesty and "cruel and abusive man" CORRUPTION:
drops…some cursed example poison’t near the head” moral values, but in reality sycophancy
“death and diseases through the whole land spread” his court with rife with Christopher Hart: The two
corruption and sycophancy brothers are not driven by
“the only court gall” due to his favouritism any sense of possessive
“he rails at those things which he wants” outrage, however warped,
“would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud, bloody or Tantalus: classical allusion: but by a delight in malice
envious, as any man if he had the means to do so” he was condemned to itself, a motiveless
“I fell into the galleys in your service” perpetual thirst and hunger malignity even against
by being kept up to his neck their own flesh and blood.
About the cardinal: “he is a melancholy churchman” in a lack overhanging with
“a thousand such political monsters” fruit , but unable to drink or Belton: singularly
“instead of coming to it by the primitive decency of the eat. A proverbial figure of unpleasant and impatient
church, he did bestow bribes so largely and so imprudently disappointment and
as if he would have carried it away without heaven’s frustration
knowledge”
“for the devil speaks in them” FOUR HUMOURS: Ferdinand
“with all your divinity, do but direct me the way to it” has an excess of yellow bile:
fire, passion, he is
“he and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked unpredictable and emotional:
over standing pools; they are rich and o’erladen, stagnant foreshadowing
with fruit, but none but crows, pies and caterpillars feed on
