Some Points and Key Quotes to Consider in "The Duchess of Malfi" Act 1
“The Duchess of Malfi” Some Points and Key Quotes
to Consider in Act 1
Society
The Duchess Of Malfi married below her rank with
Antonio, who is a clever man and servant but not an aristocrat. A04-
Jacobean England was ruled by your position in society and people married
within their own rank.
A01 Terminology: "A princes
court Is like a common fountain, whence should flow Pure silver drops in
general; but if't chance Some cursed example poison 't near the head, Death,
and diseased through the whole land spread" Antonio, Act 1
Scene 1
A01 Terminology: "places in the court
are but like beds in a hospital, where this man's head lies at that man's foot,
and so lower, and lower" Bosola Act 1 Scene 1
Consider a remark to the Duke Ferdinand, about
fighting his own battle: "It is fitting a soldier arise to be a
prince, but not necessary a prince descend to be a
captain" Castruccio Act 1 Scene 1 - underpins how
the wrongdoing against society is in the hands of The Duchess, rather than
Antonio.
A01 Terminology about Ferdinand's manipulating
of the law: "Then the law to him is like a foul black cobweb to a
spider: he makes it his dwelling, and a prison to entangle those shall feed him" Delio Act
1 Scene 1
"She's a young widow, I would not have her
marry again", Ferdinand Act 1 Scene 1
"Place and riches are oft bribes of shame", Bosola
Act 1 Scene 1
"Some weddings may more properly be said to be
executed, than celebrated", Ferdinand Act 1 Scene 1
"My father's poniard... I'd be loath to see it
look rusty 'cause twas his", Ferdinand Act 1 Scene 1
"Trade in poison", Cariola Act 1
Scene 1 on protecting her secret
Women
Women are represented differently throughout the
play, but not as equals, in keeping with the context of the time (A04).
Biggest clue towards the attitudes towards women is that The Duchess is not
identified by name, but by title.
In Act 1 Scene 1 Castruccio
talks about how his wife cannot be in company of someone for fear of him
filling "her too full of the wrinkle" portraying her
to be vain.
"What cannot a neat knave with a smooth tale
make a woman believe?" Ferdinand to the Duchess, making her appear
naïve and weak willed, Act 1 Scene 1
Religion
Religion was a topical subject of
the Jacobean era, and “The Duchess of Malfi” is very political in this sense.
The feud between the Catholic church and Church of England at the time the text
was written saw the Catholic church being presented in a corrupt way, with the
character of The Cardinal representative of the Catholic faith.
"Melancholy churchman"
"He should have been Pope; but instead of
coming to it by the primitive decency of the church, he did bestow bribes so
largely, and so impudently, as if he would have carried it away without heavens
knowledge", Antonio Act 1 Scene 1
"The devil speaks in them" Antonio about the
Cardinal's words
Incestuous
There is a suggested incestuous desire, by
Ferdinand, for his sister, The Duchess. This is one of the reasons suggested as
a motive towards his revenge against the Duchess and Antonio, he is
jealous.
A clue to this is when Antonio describes
Ferdinand as "a most perverse" in Act 1
Scene 1
Sex/Infidelity/Seduction
Antonio about the Duchess "She throws upon a
man so sweet a look", In Act 1 Scene 1
A01 Terminology: "Diamonds are of most
value, they say, that have passed through most jeweller’s hands" Duchess
Act 1 Scene 1 on marriage
"Lusty widow" Ferdinand to
Duchess, Act 1 Scene 1
"I winked and chose a husband," Duchess
Act 1 Scene 1
Light and Dark
"She stains the past, lights the time to
come." Antonio
about the Duchess Act 1 Scene 1
"Your darkest actions...your privat'st
thoughts will come to light", Ferdinand Act 1 Scene 1
"Privately be married under the eaves of
night," Cardinal Act 1 Scene 1
Death
"Whose throat must I cut?" Bosola
Act 1 Scene 1
Comments
Post a Comment