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“I look no higher than I can reach” - Bosola
“Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather, why not I, in these dog days”
Implies while Bosola seeks advancement
Recognises he is limited.
Contrast w/ Antonio whose advancement is not limited due to Duchess’ favour
Shows ambitious nature and desire to thrive despite social status
“Is like a common fountain", whence should flow Pure silver drops in general. “- Antonio
Expresses how corruption in the govt/court will spread to the common people
“For places in the court are but like beds in the hospital, where this man’s head lies at that man’s foot, and so lower and lower”
“like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools”
Imagery of sickness + hospitals
Reference to polluted hierarchy
“Let old wives report I winked and chose a husband”- Duchess
Duchess shows some defiance.
Autonomy over relationship
“Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have passed through the most jewellers”
Mocking + sly tone, implies that to be sexually experienced is valuable
‘The misery of us that are born great: we are forced to woo because none dare woo us”- Duchess
Implies due to high status she is forced to undertake traditionally male role
“Lord of the ascendant”- Bosola
Description of Antonio’s rising status
“A notorious strumpet”- Ferdinand
Suggests Duchess is unchaste
“Shall our blood… be attainted”- Cardinal
Refers to their lineage + noble blood as stained/tainted.
“My imagination will carry me to see her in the shameful act of sin… with some strong-thighed bargeman”- Ferdinand
Preoccupation with sister can be interpreted as incestuous
Creates perverse/generalised images of men she related with to all be of low statuses.
“The common rabble do directly say she is a strumpet”- Antonio
Court awash with rumours that the Duchess is a wh*re
Opinion of common people important in maintaining reputation.
“Whether I am doomed to live, or die, I can do both like a prince”- Duchess
When discovered by Ferdinand, Duchess responds to assert political power + noble blood over feminine sexuality.
Recognises fate is not in her own hands
“Your shears do come untimely now to clip the bird’s wings that’s already flown”- Duchess
Views herself as free from brother’s control as she is already marries; rejection of patriarchal power/control.
“The birds… live happier than we for they may choose their mates”- Duchess
Observes that despite nobility, animals are more free than her; can love who they choose.
“Go no further in your cruelty”- Bosola
Crisis of Bosola’s intentions; genuine plea to stop torture.
Asks for Christian penance over cruelty
“Damn her, that body of hers”- Ferdinand
Expresses obsession with the Duchess’ physical form
“I am the Duchess of Malfi still”- Duchess
Duchess’ defiance of brothers and society
Refusal to give up/give in to them.
Of noble title, demands the respect due to her; powerful
“Giv’st my little boy some syrup for his cold”- Duchess
One of the last images of the Duchess presented is one of motherhood and humility.
“Cover her face: mine eyes dazzle”- Ferdinand
Sorrow at seeing the reality of his sister’s death changes from anger at the Duchess to anger at Bosola for killing her.
“Where were these penitent fountains while she was living?”-Bosola
Bosola’s lack of remorse and repentance resulted in corruption of the state and the Duchess’ death.
“My hope of reconciliation to the Aragonian brethren”- Antonio
Hopes to reconcile with the Cardinal and Ferdinand
Contrasts violent approaches
Naive?; more feminine? Link w/ Januarie.
“A very pestilent disease, my lord, they call lycanthropia”- Doctor
Lycanthropy features in tragedies
Ferdinand’s madness can be seen as a manifestation of his conscious and corruption.
“The fellow doth breed basilisks in’s eyes”- Bosola
Basilisks: deadly glare, venom
Repeated as one of corruption
Cardinal revealed as source/head of corruption
Ideas of religion/corruption
“I will swear you to’t upon this book… kiss it”- Cardinal
Pervasion of religious authority
Demonstrates corruption + abuse of role
Weaponisation of religion
“I’ll join with thee in a most just revenge”- Bosola
Potential justification of revenge
Bosola draws strength from the concept of a just revenge
Webster undermines revenge as futile and flawed
“We are merely the stars’ tennis balls, struck and banded which way to please them”- Bosola
Laments the strange and seemingly random movings of fate
Sees humans as merely pawns of uncaring forces
Nihilistic; also mirrors himself- Bosola is a pawn to the brothers; idea of waste central to tragedy.
“Let my son fly the court of princes”- Antonio
Dying request that his son be saved from the corruption and sin of court life.
OR… request that his son will inherit the crown (what about the Duchess’ first son though…?); corruption takes on a new generation.
Similar to Duchess in dying focus on children.
“Hold, and I will faithfully divide revenues with thee.”- Cardinal
Cardinal bargains w/ Bosola for his life.
Used to a mercenary approach to life and power of his status.
“Whether we fall by ambition, blood of lust, like diamonds we are cut by our own dust.”- Ferdinand
Like diamonds are dut with other diamonds, men kill men.
Ferdinand has been killed by Bosola
Link to Duchess’ identity ad a ‘diamond’
“Integrity of life is fame’s best friend”- Delio
Final words of play
Suggests it is the Duchess who will be remembered above the others as she died with dignity.
