Key Quotes – ‘The Duchess of Malfi’
Themes/Analysis Quote
Religion, moral corruption – irony as Bosola – ‘This great fellow were able to possess the greatest
the Cardinal is Catholic devil, and make him worse’
Deception – speaking falsely, Antonio – ‘He speaks with others’ tongues, and hears men’s
Ferdinand is made of others suits with others’ ears’
Love, marriage – each appreciating Duchess – ‘Complete’, Antonio – ‘Noble virtue’, ‘In heaven’,
their partner ‘Indeed I thank you; I look young for your sake’
Marriage, hierarchy – Duchess
Duchess – ‘the marriage night is the entrance into some prison’
foreshadowing her fall
Marriage, status, power – Cardinal Cardinal – ‘No, nor any think without the addition, honour, saw
stopping Duchess, his power your high blood’
Power, gender, death – Duchess Duchess – ‘come, violent death’, ‘I am the Duchess of Malfi
accepting death still’
Corruption, power, hierarchy – Antonio – ‘Poison’t near the head, death and disease spread
Brothers/corrupt power spreads through the land
Bosola – ‘He and his brother, are like plum trees that grow
Corruption, power, hierarchy –
crooked over standing pools; they are rich, and o’erladen with
Brothers rich and attract badness
fruit’
Gender, sex – Duchess arguing Duchess – ‘Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have
marrying again is ok pass’d through most jewellers’ hands’
Gender, sex – Ferdinand saying
Ferdinand – ‘Whores by that rule, are precious’
marrying again is sinful
Gender, power – Duchess portrayed Duchess – ‘As me in some great battles… so I, through frights
as masculine/powerful and threat’nings, will assay this dangerous venture’
Morality, humanity, sin – even
Bosola – ‘Sometimes the devil doth preach’
though he knows its wrong, desire
Ambition, weakness, humanity –
Antonio – ‘Ambition, madam, is a great man’s madness’
ambition causing downfall
Weakness, humanity – we cause our Ferdinand – ‘Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like
own ends diamonds we are cut with our own dust’
Status, hierarchy, morality – placing
Bosola – ‘I am your creature’
duty above morality
Humanity, morality, weakness – Delio – ‘How superstitiously we mend our evils? Superstition
comment on human weakness daunts whole man in us’
29
Themes/Analysis Quote
Religion, moral corruption – irony as Bosola – ‘This great fellow were able to possess the greatest
the Cardinal is Catholic devil, and make him worse’
Deception – speaking falsely, Antonio – ‘He speaks with others’ tongues, and hears men’s
Ferdinand is made of others suits with others’ ears’
Love, marriage – each appreciating Duchess – ‘Complete’, Antonio – ‘Noble virtue’, ‘In heaven’,
their partner ‘Indeed I thank you; I look young for your sake’
Marriage, hierarchy – Duchess
Duchess – ‘the marriage night is the entrance into some prison’
foreshadowing her fall
Marriage, status, power – Cardinal Cardinal – ‘No, nor any think without the addition, honour, saw
stopping Duchess, his power your high blood’
Power, gender, death – Duchess Duchess – ‘come, violent death’, ‘I am the Duchess of Malfi
accepting death still’
Corruption, power, hierarchy – Antonio – ‘Poison’t near the head, death and disease spread
Brothers/corrupt power spreads through the land
Bosola – ‘He and his brother, are like plum trees that grow
Corruption, power, hierarchy –
crooked over standing pools; they are rich, and o’erladen with
Brothers rich and attract badness
fruit’
Gender, sex – Duchess arguing Duchess – ‘Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have
marrying again is ok pass’d through most jewellers’ hands’
Gender, sex – Ferdinand saying
Ferdinand – ‘Whores by that rule, are precious’
marrying again is sinful
Gender, power – Duchess portrayed Duchess – ‘As me in some great battles… so I, through frights
as masculine/powerful and threat’nings, will assay this dangerous venture’
Morality, humanity, sin – even
Bosola – ‘Sometimes the devil doth preach’
though he knows its wrong, desire
Ambition, weakness, humanity –
Antonio – ‘Ambition, madam, is a great man’s madness’
ambition causing downfall
Weakness, humanity – we cause our Ferdinand – ‘Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like
own ends diamonds we are cut with our own dust’
Status, hierarchy, morality – placing
Bosola – ‘I am your creature’
duty above morality
Humanity, morality, weakness – Delio – ‘How superstitiously we mend our evils? Superstition
comment on human weakness daunts whole man in us’
29
