The Duchess of Malfi Quotes
The Duchess
Act 1, Scene 3
“Diamonds are of most value, that have pass’d through most jeweller's hands” = More
experience is of more value, also compares herself to a diamond = precious and rare, yet also
strong and unmalleable.
“This speech between you both was studies, it came so roundly off” = Accusing her brothers of
rehearsing their speech to her advising her not to remarry.
“I wink’d and chose a husband” = Taking control of her own life - defiance.
“Raise yourself; Or, if you please, my hand to help you so” (Antonio) = Sign of respect. The
Duchess demonstrates role reversal as she offers to help Antonio. Raises him to her status.
“Your brothers?...do not think of them” = Defiant but also naive.
Act 3, Scene 2
“You are lord of mis-rule” = Antonio only has power within privacy. Symbolism of his
disempowered status within the public.
Act 3, Scene 3
“Whether i am doom’d to live or die, i can do both like a prince” = She is aware of the
patriarchy/male dominance and asserts her political position. Says she can do exactly what men
do and keeps her dignity and nobility. Elizabeth 1 speech comparison, “I may have the body of a
weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”.
“(To Ferdinand) I have not gone about this to create any new world or custom” = She did not
remarry in order to rebel, she just wanted to marry someone who she chose and loved.
“I must now accuse you” = Duchess plans to falsely accuse and banish Antonio so that they are
safe from Ferdiand and Cardinal.
“This good one that you speak of is my husband” (To Bosola) = She reveals the truth, not
knowing that Bosola is the one that has betrayed her.
Act 3, Scene 5
“The birds that live i’ th’ field…Happier than we; for they may choose their mates” = She is
jealous of the birds as they are free and welcome to choose who they want to be with, unlike
her. She wishes for freedom and hates how she is confined/trapped by society/patriarchy. Links
with her saying “caged relic”
“He doth not want your counsel, but your head” = She sees through her brother, she is
intelligent. However, Antonio is naive.
“Your kiss is colder” = Foreshadows their deaths.
“I have heard that Charon’s boat serves to convey all o’er The dismal lake, but brings none back
again” = Charon is the ferryman in Greek mythology who takes people to the underworld. The
Duchess knows that Bosola is her ferryman taking her to her death.
Act 4, Scene 1
“You violate a sacrament o' th' church, Shall make you howl in hell for 't.” = Proleptic irony
(meaning to foreshadow something later in the play) as Ferdinand develops lycanthropy.
“Sacrament” - Ferdinand is damning the Church because her marriage to Antonio is legitimate.
Revenge through religion.
, “Portia, ill new kindle thy coals again” = After she sees Antonio and her childs wax figures and
believes them to be dead, she wishes to die. She refers to Brutus’ wife who was believed that
upon her husbands treason and death, she committed suicide by swallowing hot coals. Links
also to “not between heaven and earth one wish i stay after this”.
“I account this world a tedious theatre, For I do play a part in 't 'gainst my will.” = Metatheatrical
device as she breaks the fourth wall. She does not want to live anymore, and shows her love for
Antonio and her children. Comparison of life to the theatre. Similar to Shakespeare's Macbeth
when he says “struts his hour upon the stage”.
“I am full of daggers” = Metaphor shows her violent thoughts and moments of insanity.
“Let them, like tyrants, Never be remembered but for the ill they have done” = Imagery of
tyranny, she curses her brothers and those like them. Hypocrisy of those in Church and higher
status’.
“It is some mercy when men kill with speed” = The Duchess wishes for a quick death - she is
facing it and not showing fear - dignity and admirable.
Act 4, Scene 2
“The robin-red-breast and the nightingale Never live long in cages” = Imagery of birds to say
she couldn't survive in confinement.
“I am Duchess of Malfi still” = She shows her nobility and keeps her dignity even in death -
respectable/admirable. Her presence will still be felt even after her death.
“Knowing to meet such excellent company in th’ other world” = She thinks she is joining Antonio
and her children in the afterlife, showing no fear.
“Tell my brothers…best gift is they can give or i can take” = This will anger her brothers as they
believe they are punishing her, she is defiant even in death.
“Antonio!” = She wakes momentarily and thinks of Antonio - her unconditional love for him.
Antonio
Act 1, Scene 1
“Flattering sycophants” = A suck-up. He admires the French court for its absence of corruption,
in contrast to the Malfi court.
“Common fountain…some curs’d example poison’t near the head, Death and diseases spread
through the whole land spread”. = Metaphor for corruption at the head of the court, affects and
corrupts the rest of the state.
“Bosola, The only court-gall…Indeed, he rails as those things which he wants” = Bosola claims
to critisise the Court, but actually wants to be part of it himself
Act 1, Scene 2
“She throws up on a man so sweet a look that it were able to raise one to a galliard that lay in
dead palsy” = Her glance is so sweet it could make a man who has been paralysed by illness
break into a dance.
“Let all sweet ladies break their flatt’ring glasses, And dress themselves in her” = Encouraging
women to not look into the mirror but look at The Duchess to learn how to act.
“Some such flashes superficially hang on him…he is a melancholy churchman” (Cardinal) = His
facade and the reality of his deep corruption (interior vs exterior)He is a man of the Church and
The Duchess
Act 1, Scene 3
“Diamonds are of most value, that have pass’d through most jeweller's hands” = More
experience is of more value, also compares herself to a diamond = precious and rare, yet also
strong and unmalleable.
“This speech between you both was studies, it came so roundly off” = Accusing her brothers of
rehearsing their speech to her advising her not to remarry.
“I wink’d and chose a husband” = Taking control of her own life - defiance.
“Raise yourself; Or, if you please, my hand to help you so” (Antonio) = Sign of respect. The
Duchess demonstrates role reversal as she offers to help Antonio. Raises him to her status.
“Your brothers?...do not think of them” = Defiant but also naive.
Act 3, Scene 2
“You are lord of mis-rule” = Antonio only has power within privacy. Symbolism of his
disempowered status within the public.
Act 3, Scene 3
“Whether i am doom’d to live or die, i can do both like a prince” = She is aware of the
patriarchy/male dominance and asserts her political position. Says she can do exactly what men
do and keeps her dignity and nobility. Elizabeth 1 speech comparison, “I may have the body of a
weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”.
“(To Ferdinand) I have not gone about this to create any new world or custom” = She did not
remarry in order to rebel, she just wanted to marry someone who she chose and loved.
“I must now accuse you” = Duchess plans to falsely accuse and banish Antonio so that they are
safe from Ferdiand and Cardinal.
“This good one that you speak of is my husband” (To Bosola) = She reveals the truth, not
knowing that Bosola is the one that has betrayed her.
Act 3, Scene 5
“The birds that live i’ th’ field…Happier than we; for they may choose their mates” = She is
jealous of the birds as they are free and welcome to choose who they want to be with, unlike
her. She wishes for freedom and hates how she is confined/trapped by society/patriarchy. Links
with her saying “caged relic”
“He doth not want your counsel, but your head” = She sees through her brother, she is
intelligent. However, Antonio is naive.
“Your kiss is colder” = Foreshadows their deaths.
“I have heard that Charon’s boat serves to convey all o’er The dismal lake, but brings none back
again” = Charon is the ferryman in Greek mythology who takes people to the underworld. The
Duchess knows that Bosola is her ferryman taking her to her death.
Act 4, Scene 1
“You violate a sacrament o' th' church, Shall make you howl in hell for 't.” = Proleptic irony
(meaning to foreshadow something later in the play) as Ferdinand develops lycanthropy.
“Sacrament” - Ferdinand is damning the Church because her marriage to Antonio is legitimate.
Revenge through religion.
, “Portia, ill new kindle thy coals again” = After she sees Antonio and her childs wax figures and
believes them to be dead, she wishes to die. She refers to Brutus’ wife who was believed that
upon her husbands treason and death, she committed suicide by swallowing hot coals. Links
also to “not between heaven and earth one wish i stay after this”.
“I account this world a tedious theatre, For I do play a part in 't 'gainst my will.” = Metatheatrical
device as she breaks the fourth wall. She does not want to live anymore, and shows her love for
Antonio and her children. Comparison of life to the theatre. Similar to Shakespeare's Macbeth
when he says “struts his hour upon the stage”.
“I am full of daggers” = Metaphor shows her violent thoughts and moments of insanity.
“Let them, like tyrants, Never be remembered but for the ill they have done” = Imagery of
tyranny, she curses her brothers and those like them. Hypocrisy of those in Church and higher
status’.
“It is some mercy when men kill with speed” = The Duchess wishes for a quick death - she is
facing it and not showing fear - dignity and admirable.
Act 4, Scene 2
“The robin-red-breast and the nightingale Never live long in cages” = Imagery of birds to say
she couldn't survive in confinement.
“I am Duchess of Malfi still” = She shows her nobility and keeps her dignity even in death -
respectable/admirable. Her presence will still be felt even after her death.
“Knowing to meet such excellent company in th’ other world” = She thinks she is joining Antonio
and her children in the afterlife, showing no fear.
“Tell my brothers…best gift is they can give or i can take” = This will anger her brothers as they
believe they are punishing her, she is defiant even in death.
“Antonio!” = She wakes momentarily and thinks of Antonio - her unconditional love for him.
Antonio
Act 1, Scene 1
“Flattering sycophants” = A suck-up. He admires the French court for its absence of corruption,
in contrast to the Malfi court.
“Common fountain…some curs’d example poison’t near the head, Death and diseases spread
through the whole land spread”. = Metaphor for corruption at the head of the court, affects and
corrupts the rest of the state.
“Bosola, The only court-gall…Indeed, he rails as those things which he wants” = Bosola claims
to critisise the Court, but actually wants to be part of it himself
Act 1, Scene 2
“She throws up on a man so sweet a look that it were able to raise one to a galliard that lay in
dead palsy” = Her glance is so sweet it could make a man who has been paralysed by illness
break into a dance.
“Let all sweet ladies break their flatt’ring glasses, And dress themselves in her” = Encouraging
women to not look into the mirror but look at The Duchess to learn how to act.
“Some such flashes superficially hang on him…he is a melancholy churchman” (Cardinal) = His
facade and the reality of his deep corruption (interior vs exterior)He is a man of the Church and
