Duchess Flashcards
(70 cards)
1
Q
The Duchess is seen as the light in the dark, amoral world of the court. The duchess is a source of morality and comfort in the court of Malfi. Antonio, who admires the Duchess, presents her as a transformative figure. Webster uses Antonio as a moral commentator, elevating the Duchess in a way that contrasts with her brothers’ sinister perspectives.
A
“she stains the time past, lights the time to come”
2
Q
The removal of the light re-affirms the duchess’s downfall and removes any semblance of hope. It depicts the fact that morality cannot thrive in this Machiavellian rule and shows the tragic heroines descent into death and torture. Ferdinand enforces physical and metaphorical darkness, pushing the Duchess into isolation and despair - darkness is associated with sin and damnation. Ferdinand’s actions suggest his own descent into moral depravity.
A
“Take hence the lights”
3
Q
“she stains the time past, lights the time to come”
A
- The Duchess is seen as the light in the dark, amoral world of the court.
- The duchess is a source of morality and comfort in the court of Malfi.
- Antonio, who admires the Duchess, presents her as a transformative figure.
- Webster uses Antonio as a moral commentator, elevating the Duchess in a way that contrasts with her brothers’ sinister perspectives.
4
Q
“Take hence the lights”
A
- The removal of the light re-affirms the duchess’s downfall and removes any semblance of hope.
- It depicts the fact that morality cannot thrive in this Machiavellian rule and shows the tragic heroines’ descent into death and torture.
- Ferdinand enforces physical and metaphorical darkness, pushing the Duchess into isolation and despair
- darkness is associated with sin and damnation. Ferdinand’s actions suggest his own descent into moral depravity.
5
Q
This portrays the hierarchical values of the court depicting the duchess as an object to be attained. “High blood” refers to noble lineage, Cardinal urges the Duchess to control her desires and emotions, implying that noblewomen must remain chaste and obedient. The Cardinal assumes that the Duchess’s sexuality needs regulation - women must be governed by male authority. His command reveals double standards: noblewoman = virtuous and controlled, while men indulge in their own excesses without consequence.
A
“sway your high blood”
6
Q
woman’s value was often equated with her chastity. The Duchess’s intrinsic value regardless of how many times she marries or who she marries. ‘Diamonds’ - hard, strong, concealed danger ‒> her nature is strong, refuses to conform to the expectations, knows her self worth
A
“Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have passed through most jewellers’ hands”
7
Q
- Ferdinand equates widowhood with uncontrolled lust, suggesting that widows who remarry are immoral and driven by desire rather than virtue - reflects the Jacobean suspicion of female independence.
- Ferdinand’s disgust reveals his obsession with controlling the Duchess’s body and choices - incestuous undertones.
- an attempt to shame her into submission, reinforcing male dominance over women’s autonomy.
A
‘lusty widow’
8
Q
“sway your high blood”
A
- This portrays the hierarchical values of the court depicting the duchess as an object to be attained.
- “High blood” refers to noble lineage, Cardinal urges the Duchess to control her desires and emotions, implying that noblewomen must remain chaste and obedient.
- The Cardinal assumes that the Duchess’s sexuality needs regulation - women must be governed by male authority.
- His command reveals double standards: noblewoman = virtuous and controlled, while men indulge in their own excesses without consequence.
9
Q
“Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have passed through most jewellers’ hands”
A
- woman’s value was often equated with her chastity.
- The Duchess’s intrinsic value regardless of how many times she marries or who she marries.
- ‘Diamonds’ - hard, strong, concealed danger ‒> her nature is strong, refuses to conform to the expectations, knows her self worth
10
Q
‘lusty widow’
A
- Ferdinand equates widowhood with uncontrolled lust, suggesting that widows who remarry are immoral and driven by desire rather than virtue - reflects the Jacobean suspicion of female independence.
- Ferdinand’s disgust reveals his obsession with controlling the Duchess’s body and choices - incestuous undertones.
- an attempt to shame her into submission, reinforcing male dominance over women’s autonomy.
11
Q
- Antonio deifies the Duchess’ as a source of virtue and morality in this Machiavellian world likening her to a saintly figure - more spiritually pure than other women,
- suggests that other women try to imitate her goodness, implying that she is a model of ideal womanhood - ironic ? ~ Duchess does not conform to the submissive, controlled role expected of women. The religious imagery surrounding the Duchess foreshadows her martyr-like death.
A
“are more in heaven than other ladies shrift… dress themselves in her”
12
Q
- Phallic imagery - represents Ferdinand’s authority, aggression, and patriarchal dominance over the Duchess + unhealthy, possibly incestuous fixation on the Duchess’s sexuality.
-‘father’s’ - patriarchal power used to control his sister - The poniard becomes an extension of his repressed and violent desires + allows them to preserve honour
A
poniard
13
Q
- Assertion of Female Agency - the Duchess subverts gender roles by ‘choosing a husband’ and acting on her desires
- The phrase “I winked” suggests deliberate action, implying that she is not naive but has made a conscious, independent decision to remarry.
- refuses to be confined and defies patriarchal beliefs
A
“I winked and choose a husband”
14
Q
- “goodly roof” represents Antonio’s lower social status, reflects her aspiration for equality in love, challenging the rigid class structure of the time.
- The Duchess envisions marriage as a partnership of equals, while her brothers see it as a transaction to maintain family power.
- noble marriages were political transactions, controlled by male relatives. The Duchess, however, chooses for love rather than status, subverting these norms.
A
“This goodly roof of yours is too low built;”
15
Q
“are more in heaven than other ladies shrift… dress themselves in her”
A
- Antonio deifies the Duchess’ as a source of virtue and morality in this Machiavellian world likening her to a saintly figure - more spiritually pure than other women,
- suggests that other women try to imitate her goodness, implying that she is a model of ideal womanhood - ironic ? ~ Duchess does not conform to the submissive, controlled role expected of women. The religious imagery surrounding the Duchess foreshadows her martyr-like death.
16
Q
“I winked and choose a husband”
A
- Assertion of Female Agency - the Duchess subverts gender roles by ‘choosing a husband’ and acting on her desires
- The phrase “I winked” suggests deliberate action, implying that she is not naive but has made a conscious, independent decision to remarry.
- refuses to be confined and defies patriarchal beliefs
17
Q
- “goodly roof” represents Antonio’s lower social status, and reflects her aspiration for equality in love, challenging the rigid class structure of the time.
- The Duchess envisions marriage as a partnership of equals, while her brothers see it as a transaction to maintain family power.
- noble marriages were political transactions, controlled by male relatives. The Duchess, however, chooses for love rather than status, subverting these norms.
A
“This goodly roof of yours is too low built;”
18
Q
- the intensity of the Duchess’s emotions but also to the dangerous consequences that could result from expressing them.
- Her inability to speak plainly about her desires highlights the lack of agency women had in expressing their autonomy. This repression is inextricably linked to the patriarchal control that Ferdinand and the Cardinal exert over her.
- her inability to freely express her love for Antonio contributes to the secrecy that defines her life and sets her up for eventual betrayal and death.
A
“Forced to express our violent passions in riddles and in riddles”
19
Q
“Forced to express our violent passions in riddles and in riddles”
A
- the intensity of the Duchess’s emotions but also to the dangerous consequences that could result from expressing them.
- Her inability to speak plainly about her desires highlights the lack of agency women had in expressing their autonomy. This repression is inextricably linked to the patriarchal control that Ferdinand and the Cardinal exert over her.
- her inability to freely express her love for Antonio contributes to the secrecy that defines her life and sets her up for eventual betrayal and death.
20
Q
- white - colour symbolism - purity and charity
- Duchess rejects this lifeless, sculpted image (alabaster), asserting that she is a living, passionate woman with desires of her own.
- Duchess claims her physicality and emotions
A
“‘This is flesh and blood, sir, ‘Tis not the figure cut in alabaster’”
21
Q
” her stomach seethes “
A
- unsettling image of physical transformation.
- likens her pregnancy to an unnatural or grotesque condition, reflecting Jacobean anxieties about female sexuality and autonomy.
22
Q
- derogatory word for a promiscuous woman, implying that the Duchess is immoral simply because she has exercised her right to love
- Ferdinand’s fury at the Duchess’s supposed sexual transgression suggests an unhealthy preoccupation with her body and relationships.
- expose how patriarchal societies vilify independent women, even when they act with virtue
A
‘notorious strumpet’
23
Q
- Duchess has tainted the aristocratic purity of their family
- her body as something that must be controlled and purified
he sees the Duchess’s marriage and pregnancy as a form of contamination - dehumanising
A
“purge infected blood such as hers”
24
Q
- Scorpions symbolize pain and punishment - he sees her as a transgressor who must be punished.
- lack of hope, darkness - strip her of her identity, agency, and dignity,
A
“find scorpions to string my whips and fix her in a general eclipse”
25
- tragic irony: she and Antonio are enjoying a temporary reprieve, but their doom has already been set in motion by Ferdinand and the Cardinal - inescapable fate
- genuine happiness in the marriage - she is happy in a safe, loving relationship, a state of bliss and calm within the ruthless
When were we so merry"
26
- appetite for liberation from a patriarchal authority. The Duchess aligns herself with the ideals of nobility and heroism. defies patriarchal norms and elevates her status as a tragic hero.
- the consequence of her digressions are inevitable and unavoidable: destiny is no longer in her control
- stoic - asserts independence and autonomy
whether i am doomed to live or die i shall do both like a prince
27
"'This is flesh and blood, sir, 'Tis not the figure cut in alabaster'"
- white - colour symbolism - purity and charity
- Duchess rejects this lifeless, sculpted image (alabaster), asserting that she is a living, passionate woman with desires of her own.
- Duchess claims her physicality and emotions
28
'notorious strumpet'
- derogatory word for a promiscuous woman, implying that the Duchess is immoral simply because she has exercised her right to love
- Ferdinand’s fury at the Duchess’s supposed sexual transgression suggests an unhealthy preoccupation with her body and relationships.
- expose how patriarchal societies vilify independent women, even when they act with virtue
29
"purge infected blood such as hers
- Duchess has tainted the aristocratic purity of their family
- her body as something that must be controlled and purified
he sees the Duchess’s marriage and pregnancy as a form of contamination - dehumanising
30
"find scorpions to string my whips and fix her in a general eclipse"
- Scorpions symbolize pain and punishment - he sees her as a transgressor who must be punished.
- lack of hope, darkness - strip her of her identity, agency, and dignity,
31
When were we so merry"
- tragic irony: she and Antonio are enjoying a temporary reprieve, but their doom has already been set in motion by Ferdinand and the Cardinal - inescapable fate
- genuine happiness in the marriage - she is happy in a safe, loving relationship, a state of bliss and calm within the ruthless
32
whether i am doomed to live or die i shall do both like a prince
- appetite for liberation from a patriarchal authority. The Duchess aligns herself with the ideals of nobility and heroism. defies patriarchal norms and elevates her status as a tragic hero.
- the consequence of her digressions are inevitable and unavoidable: destiny is no longer in her control
- stoic - asserts independence and autonomy
33
- The Duchess suggests Ferdinand is too late to stop her as she is already married and has transgressed and rebelled against the restrictions of society.
- Mythological reference to the scissors used by the Fates to cut a person's life.
- bird imagery - both the freedom the bird has, but its vulnerability in society.
clip the bird's wings that's already flown"
34
- personification of reputation, shows reputation is a restraining factor,
- reputation was closely tied to sexual purity, the Duchess has violated societal expectations, irreparably damaging her status.
You have shook hands with reputation and made him invisible"
35
- confining nature of societal expectations,
- she should be kept sealed away, untouched, and pure, reinforcing the idea that he sees her as an object rather than an autonomous individual.
- The imagery of being "cased up" foreshadows the Duchess’s imprisonment and psychological torture.
"cased up like a holy relic"
36
- a public yet intimate promise, the last intimate scene, invokes pathos through the dramatic irony of the audiences knowledge of this sad parting rather than a banishment, hidden sorrow
"I am all yours"
37
- The Duchess longs for this natural freedom, where love and choice are not dictated by patriarchal authority or political necessity - imprisoned by her status, emphasizes the gender inequality of the time.
- Her reflection on the birds' freedom emphasizes the tragic limitation of her own life. Even though she attempts to live freely and pursue her own desires, her choices will ultimately lead to her imprisonment and death.
"The birds that live i' th' field ... Happier than we; for they may choose their mates,
38
- militaristic image, subverting gender roles - emotional defence, mental fortitude
- a real sense of bosolas admiration, reverence and devotion to the duchess, noble
- tragic irony of the play: the Duchess’s inner strength and resilience cannot prevent the violence and death that await her
- defiant response to the oppression she faces. She is asserting her independence and refusing to be broken by her brothers’ power - human capacity for endurance
"I am armed against misery"
39
- diamonds - pearl - loss of status and power
- The idea of a reversal of fate - wheel of fortune has been reversed - emphasizes how quickly fortunes can change, reinforcing the play’s themes of fate and the instability of human life.
- Diamonds traditionally symbolize strength and prosperity - loss
"on a sudden all the diamonds, Were chang'd to pearls"
40
- Duchess asserts her sanity, Her refusal to accept madness as her fate reinforces her dignity in the face of suffering.
- Ferdinand, who orchestrates her psychological torture, later descends into (lycanthropy), making the Duchess’s statement retrospectively ironic.
- a powerful declaration of resistance, self-control, and tragic dignity. It encapsulates her refusal to be broken by her oppressors.
'I am not mad'
41
The sensationalistic depiction of the madman is a criticism of
authority figures that have become corrupt under the reign of James I.
42
- The use of wild birds to describe the Duchess depicts the rebellious and strong willed nature of the Duchess. - Resigned her fate of death as wild birds don’t live long in cages, she has spent long under the oppressive prisons her brothers have built her - her death is inevitable.
- Even in this moment of despair, the Duchess remains dignified and composed. Rather than breaking down, she reflects philosophically on her fate.
- The duchess dies in act 4 -unconventional for a tragedy facilitating the revenge ark.
The robin redbreast and the nightingale never live long in cages’
43
- Ferdinand feels a sense of regret and remorse for the death of his sister, his anger has dissipated and the truth of her death is forceful - he is momentarily overwhelmed
- Epiphany that his actions have led to the death of the duchess and condemned him to life of guilt.
- The minor sentence depicts the inescapability of her death.
Cover her face. Mine eyes dazzle
44
clip the bird's wings that's already flown"
- The Duchess suggests Ferdinand is too late to stop her as she is already married and has transgressed and rebelled against the restrictions of society.
- Mythological reference to the scissors used by the Fates to cut a person's life.
- bird imagery - both the freedom the bird has, but its vulnerability in society.
45
You have shook hands with reputation and made him invisible
- personification of reputation, shows reputation is a restraining factor,
- reputation was closely tied to sexual purity, the Duchess has violated societal expectations, irreparably damaging her status.
46
"cased up like a holy relic"
- confining nature of societal expectations,
- she should be kept sealed away, untouched, and pure, reinforcing the idea that he sees her as an object rather than an autonomous individual.
- The imagery of being "cased up" foreshadows the Duchess’s imprisonment and psychological torture.
47
"I am all yours"
- a public yet intimate promise, the last intimate scene, invokes pathos through the dramatic irony of the audiences knowledge of this sad parting rather than a banishment, hidden sorrow
48
- The use of wild birds to describe the Duchess depicts the rebellious and strong willed nature of the Duchess. - Resigned her fate of death as wild birds don’t live long in cages, she has spent long under the oppressive prisons her brothers have built her - her death is inevitable.
- Even in this moment of despair, the Duchess remains dignified and composed. Rather than breaking down, she reflects philosophically on her fate.
- The duchess dies in act 4 -unconventional for a tragedy facilitating the revenge ark.
The robin redbreast and the nightingale never live long in cages’
49
"lecherous, covetous, or proud, bloody, or envious"
- listing five deadly sins, moral corruption - prove that religious authority can be used as a façade for personal ambition
-
50
"I would hang on their ears like a horse Leech till I was full then drop off"
- The metaphor of the leech reflects the parasitic relationships within the court, where individuals seek to gain power and wealth at the expense of others.
- survival in the court requires a willingness to be morally flexible.
- His tone is cynical—he sees no room for honour or integrity in his world, only self-interest and exploitation.
51
You have made me stark blind
- suggests that love has an all-consuming, almost blinding power. Overwhelmed by the Duchess’s proposal he momentarily loses clarity.
- The notion of blindness also has a tragic undercurrent.
-The theme of love as blindness recalls figures like Cupid, the god of love, who is often depicted as blindfolded, emphasizing love’s ability to obscure reason and lead to both bliss and destruction.
52
"There is a saucy and ambitious devil is dancing in this circle"
- ring = which symbolizes love, unity, and commitment in marriage
- Duchess could be acknowledging her own desires, which she knows are forbidden yet irresistible.
- The Duchess embraces her own agency and rejects the oppressive control of her brothers.
53
"Ambition, Madam, is a great man's madness ... He's a fool that being a-cold would thrust his hands in the fire to warm them"
- marriage deeply transgressive act given their stark differences in social class
- Antonio’s line reflects the dangers of overreaching one’s place in a rigid social hierarchy.
- fire imagery: repercussions from Ferdinand and cardinal
- cold vs fire: restraint, caution vs passion, desire, or power,
54
Go, go,brag you have left me heartless, mine is in your bosom"
- The heart also symbolizes her trust in him and her complete emotional surrender.
- The bosom, as the place where the heart is kept, is traditionally associated with safety and closeness.
- sense of reverse psychology - attempting to be vulnerable and transparent with antonio - pushing him towards marriage
55
Let me shroud my blushes in your bosom.”
- The word “shroud” suggests a desire to hide or protect her emotions, implying that she feels a mix of love, anticipation, and the awareness of the transgression she is committing.
- shroud - foreshadowing
56
“lights to my chamber O good Antonio I fear I am undone”
- Symbolically, light represents truth, clarity, and security - The Duchess seeks illumination in a world full of secrecy and hidden threats.
- Her use of “good” conveys trust and reliance on Antonio. She instinctively turns to him for support, revealing their deep emotional connection
-
57
"let her have lights enough”
- Light traditionally symbolizes knowledge, truth, and hope, yet here, it is twisted into a cruel instrument of deception and torment - false sense of security?
- Ferdinand’s obsession with darkness and light reflects his own descent into madness.
58
“I've heard that Charon’s boat serves to convey all over the dismal lake but brings none back”
- Duchess acknowledges her own impending doom, foreshadowing her later imprisonment and execution at the hands of her brothers.
- “dismal lake” represents death, suffering, and the unknown.
59
“dead man’s hand”
- The severed hand is a literal and grotesque reminder of death and human fragility
- form of manipulation and cruelty. torments her psychologically,
60
dumb show
- The Shrine of Our Lady of Loretto is a sacred place dedicated to the Virgin Mary, representing purity, protection, and divine intervention.
- The setting at a holy site contrasts with the impending violence
61
"glories are like glow worms afar off shine bright/ but looked too near, have neither heat nor light" (bosola)
- "glories" to "glow-worms" suggests that power, wealth, or status may appear dazzling, attractive and luminous
- "glories" prove to be empty—lacking warmth (symbolic of genuine fulfillment) or true illumination (suggesting wisdom or moral worth).
- political and social power are often hollow.
62
“go tell my brothers when I am laid out, they then may feed in quiet”
- parastitic imagery: The Duchess is a victim of her brothers’ need for dominance. They see her as a threat to their authority rather than as family.
- inevitability of her death and her acceptance of it, she maintains her dignity, nobility and stoicism
63
“the death of young wolves is never to be pitied
- suggesting that their deaths are natural or even necessary, much like the culling of wild animals depicting the infectious extent of duchess's transgressions
- their deaths should not evoke sympathy, reinforcing his ruthlessness. However, this statement is ironic—his later descent into madness suggests that he does feel guilt.
64
"the wolf shall find her grave and scrape it up … to discover that horrid murder”
- This moment foreshadows his descent into madness, particularly his later belief that he has transformed into a wolf (lycanthropy).
- he speaks of a wolf digging up her grave, symbolizing his guilt and fear that the crime will not remain hidden.
65
“she bites and scratches”
- suggests desperation and primal instinct and it contrasts with the stoicism of the Duchess, who has accepted death as inevitable and does not resist.
- the antithesis of the Duchess
66
"thy curiosity hath undone thee. Thou art poisoned with that book”
- her desire for knowledge is what has caused her downfall.This reflects the misogynistic power dynamics of the play.
- echoes the theme of secrecy and deception.
- Biblical corruption: uses his power to deceive and kill, deeply corrupt and ruthless.
67
"heavens gates are not so highly arched as Princes’ palaces, they enter there must go up on their knees”
- earthly power is ostentatious and grand, while heavenly power is more modest and humble.
- heaven must do so with humility, repentance, and faith.This reinforces the Christian idea that worldly power and status mean nothing in the afterlife
-
68
"fortune seems only to have her eye sight to behold my tragedy”
- "Fortune" refers to the classical idea of Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate, who was often depicted as blindfolded, symbolizing the randomness of fate.
- fate is not just indifferent but actively witnessing her suffering.
- Fortune is merely watching, implying that her fate is already decided and she is powerless to change it.
- Fortune is often depicted as arbitrary and cruel, and here, the Duchess laments that fate is not random, but deliberately fixated on her suffering
- a stoic acceptance of her tragic destiny,
69
“never in mine own shape … this last cruel lie”
- final act of deception against the duchess
- recognizes the finality of events—it is too late to undo the suffering caused by deceit.
- falsehood and manipulation have been central to the play’s tragedy.
- hints at his redemption, as he turns against his former masters, but too late to save the Duchess or Antonio.
- His attempt to change fate ultimately fails, reinforcing the tragic inevitability of doom.
70
- “reason and silence make me stark mad”
- Duchess is isolated and psychologically tormented by Ferdinand, reason and patience cannot save her, making her feel powerless.
- The Duchess, however, refuses to be passive or submissive, demonstrating her mental strength and defiance.
