OCR English Literature, Paper 1 - AO5 for Duchess of Malfi

2010 Charing Cross

Ferdinand cuddles the Duchess when she dies - like a doll

1995 London Production

- Duchess slaps Ferdinand when he enters her bedroom
- threatens him with her own dagger

1971 Royal Court Production

The madmen killed the Duchess - denying her a noble death

New Players Theatre, 2010

Travelling circus in the 1930s. Strangled her with ribbons.

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 2014

- Ferdinand lays a trembling hand on the Duchess' dead thigh.
- Lit by wax candles.

1995 Greenwich Production

When being strangled, the Duchess' arms are held out as if she is in fact being crucified.

2018 RSC Production (Spirit..)

- The Duchess' spirit remains on stage the rest of the play. (Maintanence of status throughout.)

Dromgoole 2014 Production

Ferdinand dry humps the bed to re-enact the Duchess with "some strong-thighed bargeman."

P.B Murray (The Duchess...)

The radiant spirit of the Duchess cannot be killed.

Muriel Bradbrook (The sight...)

"The sight of [The Duchess'] face awakens Ferdinand to what he has done."

Muriel Bradbrook (The Cardinal...)

"The Cardinal knows already that he is in Hell."

R.S Smith

"The tragedy of a virtuous woman who achieves heroism through her death."

Muriel Bradbrook (Julia is...)

"Julia is the foil to the Duchess...who takes a man when she feels the impulse."

Theodora A. Jankowski

"By keeping her body natural divorced from her body politic...she opens herself up to accusation as a *****."