English a level - the duchess of malfi

quotes and moments

quote by Antonio from act 1 scene 1 about corruption in court

“A prince’s court is like a common fountain… some cursed example poison’t near the head, death and diseases through the whole land spread”

quote from Bosola describing himself in act 1 scene 1

“Blackbirds fatten best in hard weather - why not I, in these dog days"?”

quote from Bosola describing the Cardinal in act 1 scene 1

“this great fellow were able to posses the greatest devil and make him worse”

2 quotes from act 1 scene 2 from Antonio describing the Duchess

“sweet countenance”

“noble virtue”

2 quotes from Bosola about corruption during his discussion with Ferdinand as he is tempted to become a spy in act 1 scene 2

“these curse gifts would make you a corrupter, me an impudent traitor”

“my corruption grew out of horse dung - I am your creature”

3 quotes from Bosola referencing the devil as he is tempted to spy in act 1 scene 2

“a very quaint invisible devil in the flesh - an intelligencer”

“thus the devil candies all sins”

“sometimes the devil doth preach”

3 quotes from the Duchess persuading Antonio to marry her in act 1 scene 2

“sir, be confident”

“awake, awake man!”

“[kisses him]”

2 quotes from A2S1 revealing the Duchess’ pregnancy

“Nay, you are too much swelled already”

“I fear i am undone”

2 quotes from Antonio addressed to Bosola showing Antonio to be a hero in A2S3

“Saucy slave! I’ll pull thee up by the roots!”

“you are an impudent snake indeed”

3 quotes from Ferdinand after he hears about the Duchess’ pregnancy in A2S5

“a sister damned!”

“to purge infected blood”

“cursed creature! unequal nature”

quote from Cardinal in A2S5, addressing Ferdinand’s rage at his sister’s pregnancy. how does Ferdinand respond to this?

“there is not in nature a thing that makes man so deformed, so beastly, as doth intemperate anger”

“I could kill her now”

quote from Bosola criticising Ferdinand to his face in A3S2. how does Ferdinand respond?

“grossly flatter yourself.” Ferdinand thanks him for his honesty

4 quotes from Ferdinand as he spies on the Duchess in her bedroom in A3S2

“die then, quickly. virtue, where art thou hid?”

“yes, if I could change eyes with a basilisk”

“thou art undone”

“you have shook hands with Reputation and made him invisible”

quote from Ferdinand describing the Duchess’ damnation to the cardinal in A3S3

her sins will “show like leprosy”

who wrote TDoM and when was it first performed?

John Webster, 1614

what role do the pilgrims play in a3s4

choral, mimicking a Greek chorus which often convey a moral message

quote from the Pilgrims on hubris in act 3 scene 4

“his own weight will bring him sooner to th’bottom [of a well]”

cautionary quote from the Pilgrims at the end of A3S4

“all things do help th’unhappy man to fall.”

3 main symbols in act 3 scene 4

statue of our lady Loretto

Cardinal’s “habit of a soldier"

Duchess’ wedding ring taken off her

quote from A3S5 showing the Duchess avoiding persuasion and manipulation by Ferdinand’s letter

“the devil is not cunning enough to circumvent us in riddles”

quote from Antonio showing the Duchess’ and Antonio’s love as he leaves for the last time, fleeing to Milan in a3s5

“My heart is turned to a heavy lump of lead”

quote from the Duchess in a4s1 calling out Bosola’s deception

“why dost thou wrap thy poison pills in gold and sugar?”

quote from the Duchess in a4s1 foreshadowing Ferdinand’s damnation

“shall make you howl in hell for’t”

quote from a4s1 showing realisation, comparable to book X PL

“lights! - Oh, horrible”

quote from a4s1 showing the Duchess longing for death, comparable to Adam and Eve waiting for death book X PL

“there is not between heaven and earth one wish I stay for after this”

quote satirising the church from Bosola and Duchess in a4s1

“you are a Christian”

“The church enjoys fasting: I’ll starve myself to death”

meta-theatrical quote from the Duchess in a4s1

“I account this world a tedious theatre, for I do play a part in’t against my will”

quote from the duchess about corruption in a4s1

“plagues that make lanes through largest families consume them!”

quote from a4s1 showing Bosola’s change in character

“never in mine own shape. That’s forfeited by my intelligence and this last cruel lie”

quote from Cariola in a4s2 about downfall of morality

“this tyranny I think was never practiced till this hour”

2 quotes about the Duchess’ identity/character in a4s2

“i am Duchess of Malfi still”

“i have so much obedience in my blood”

quote from the duchess portraying her passivity in a4s2

“pull strongly, for your able strength must pull down heaven upon me”

quote from Ferdinand obfuscating the blame from himself a4s2

“cover her face. mine eyes dazzle! she died young.”

Duchess’ 2 last words after her resurrection a4s2

“antonio”

“mercy!”

Opening line act 1 scene 1 from Delio

“You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio”

Quote from Antonio on duty in court in act 1 scene 1

“It is a noble duty to inform them what they ought to foresee”

How does Antonio introduce Bosola in act 1 scene 1

“the only court-gall”

Image given by Bosola in act 1 scene 1 suggesting the court is diseased

“Places in court are but like beds in the hospital”

Quote by Antonio from act 1 scene 1 suggesting Bosola to be melancholic

“This foul melancholy will poison all his goodness”

Quote from A1S2 by Castruccio addressed to Ferdinand

“That realm is never long in quiet where the ruler is a soldier”

The Duchess’ first line (act 1 scene 2)

“To me, sir?”

2 lines from dialogue between Duchess and Ferdinand in act 1 scene 2 showing place of women and marriage

“Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have past through most jewellers’ hands

Whores, by that rule, are precious”

Quote from the Cardinal about consequence from A1S2

“wisdom begins at the nod - remember it!”

2 lines of dialogue between Duchess and Antonio showing his flattery of her in act 1 scene 2

“your beauteous excellence

Beauteous? Indeed, i thank you”

Quote from Antonio about marriage from A1S2, satirising Catholic sacrament/corruption

“That first good deed began in the world after man’s creation - the sacrament of marriage”

Quote from Antonio about temptation as the Duchess seduces him in act 1 scene 2

“There is a saucy and ambitious devil is dancing in this circle”

Quote from Antonio about ambition in act 1 scene 2

“Ambition, madam, is a man’s great madness”

Quote from Delio as the Duchess is undone in A2S1 using the image of enlightenment

“Lights, there! Lights!”

how does Bosola describe the Duchess’ eating of “the apricots” in A2S1

“most vulturous”

quote from Delio on friendship A2S2

“old friends, like old swords, still are trusted best”

2 quotes from Antonio suggesting Bosola to be deceitful in A2S3 (birth chart scene)

“ Bosola: ‘I am Bosola, your friend’

Antonio: ‘Bosola? [aside] this mole does undermine me’”

“traitors are ever confident until they are discovered”

quote from Bosola’s soliloquy at the end of A2S3

“though lust do mask ne’er so strange disguise, she’s of’t found witty, but never wise”

how does the Cardinal address Julia in A2S4

“thou art a witty, false one”

how does the Duchess respond to Bosola’s friendly deception in A3S2?

“I taste comfort in this friendly speech” and she confesses

quote from Bosola in a short soliloquy following the Duchess’ confession in A3S2

“for this act, I am certain to be raised”

quote from Antonio on instability and corruption from A3S5

“every flatterer shrinks; men cease to build where the foundation sinks”

Quote from Bosola from the start of act 4 scene 1 showing the Duchess maintains her dignity

“her silence, methinks, expresseth more than if she spoke”

2 quotes from Bosola imploring Ferdinand to allow the Duchess’ redemption in act 4 scene 1

“go no further in your cruelty”

“furnish her with beads and prayer books”

quote from madman two in act 4 scene 2 (keep in mind that the fools are often saying the truth)

“hell is a mere glass-house, where the devils are continually blowing up women’s souls”

quote from Cariola pleading to live in act 4 scene 2

“If you kill me now I am damned. I have not been at confession this two years”

2 quotes from Ferdinand’s speech in reaction to the Duchess’ death in act 4 scene 2

“why didst thou not pity her?”

“a good actor many times is cursed for playing a villain’s part”

quote from Antonio in A5S1 about strength

“how they fortify themselves with my ruin!”

4 quotes showing Ferdinand’s madness in A5S2

Doctor: “a very pestilent disease”

Doctor: “the difference was a wolf’s skin was hairy on the outside, his on the inside”

Ferdinand: “let it (shadow) not haunt me”

Ferdinand: I have cruel sore eyes”

quote from Ferdinand in A5S2 showing his damnation

“when i go to hell, i mean to carry a bribe”

quote from Bosola on Ferdinand’s damnation in A5S2

“mercy upon me. what a fatal judgement hath fallen upon this Ferdinand”

criticism of the Cardinal by Julia in A5S2

“are you so far in love with sorrow you cannot part”

Quote from the Cardinal as he tries to avoid confession to Julia. what does she respond with once he does confess?

“examine thine own frailty. ‘tis more easy to tie knots than to unloose them”

“you have undone yourself, sir”

quote from the Cardinal ironically making use of the image of rot in A5S2

“I’ll give out she (Julia) died of the plague”

2 quotes from Bosola’s soliloquy A5S2

“I’ll join with thee (Antonio) in most just revenge”

“O penitence (repentance), let me truly taste thy cup, that throws men down, only to raise them up”

2 quotes from Antonio as he visits the Duchess’ grave in A5S3

“this open court, which now lies naked to the injuries of stormy weather”

“My Duchess is asleep now”

quote from Malateste in A5S4 suggesting Ferdinand to be possessed

“‘twas (the storm) nothing but pure kindness in the devil to rock his own child”

2 quotes from the Cardinal suggesting repentance in A5S4

“Oh, my conscience!”

“the devil takes away my heart for having any confidence in prayer”

quote from Bosola on justice in A5S4 before he mistakenly takes Antonio for the Cardinal and kills him

“we know black deeds must be cured with death”

existentialist quote from Antonio as he dies in act 5 scene 4

“in all our quests of greatness… we follow after bubbles blown in th’air. Pleasure of life, what is’t?”

quote from Bosola and quote from the Cardinal in act 5 scene 5 about justice

“when thou kill’dst thy sister thou took’st from Justice her most equal balance and left her naught but her sword”

“Oh, justice!”

quote from Ferdinand right before he dies in act 5 scene 5

“whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust”

existentialist quote from Bosola as he dies in A5S5

“Oh, this gloomy world! In what a shadow or deep pit of darkness doth womanish and fearful mankind live?”

closing quote of the play - said by Delio in act 5 scene 5 - showing the court to be continued in the Duchess’ image

“integrity of life is fame’s best friend, which nobly, beyond death, shall crown the end”

Ferdinand arguing he will be saved in A5S5

“I will vault credit and affect high pleasures beyond death”

quote from Antonio A1S1 describing the French Court

“the work of heaven”