Duchess Of Malfi Flashcards
(11 cards)
Context (A03)
- Set in Malfi, Italian court. Patriarchal setting despite the Duchess being in control.
- Patriarchal society although Elizabeth 1 ruled for 40 years she was an exception.
- James 1 hated women. Many historians compare the real DOM to Lady Arabella Stuart killed in Tower of London for refusing James 1 marital order.
- (political power & status) The Duchess goes saying “since they were both accurst, curses shall be their first language - anti-Christian. ‘Tis pity she’s a whore’: patriarchal oppression on women as tragic heroes with moments of realisation.
- meritocracy: government of the holding of power by people selected according to worth. Surrounded by sycophants (bosola being one of them who went against chain of being).
- Hierarchy in renaissance texts meant people were divided in society by wealth/class - hierarchy dictated behaviour expectations & texts often explore where characters challenge/ defy these expectations.
- James 1 court corrupt in the way it was dominated by a small number of aristocrats. Scheming for financial power.
- The English court was the seat of power - it was elitist & exclusive, James 1 court was particularly corrupt. He was a morose man who possessed none of Elizabeth 1’s instincts for practical politics.
- Elizabeth (1558-1603) & Jacobean England (1603-1625): distrust between hierarchical groups: at,o sphere of suspicion & fear. These tragedies invited audiences to witness the fall of great people.
- The use of light & dark lighting in the setting of the Duchess of Malfi when performed reflect ideas about good & evil and the hidden aspects of setting reflect the characters honesty.
Helen Mirren
“It is essentially a feminist play about a women fighting for her autonomy”.
Globe 2024/ Gemma Arteton critic
In this version B= angry & ambitious. Ferdinand makes the Duchess ignore marriage ideas & she speaks more freely. Ferdinand & the cardinal speak together in secrecy. Stage lit by candlelight (reflects original staging in intimate theatre). Theme of secrecy & surveillance & the Machiavellian mastermind through control & puppeteering.
Ferdinand’s madness
Ferdinand (lycanthropy: believes he is a wolf- incest & extreme outbursts of emotion).
Patriarchal oppression
Her brothers trying to control her body. Act 4 is dedicated to displaying the physiological torture of woman by totalitarian despots.
Bosola
Goes against the ideas of meritocracy for provisor shop of the horse. But becomes dissatisfied with how the Cardinal & Ferdinand are merely stagnant in their position whereas he has hunger to be one of their courtiers. The cardinal (kills for power) & this leads to Julia’s death.
Antonio
Believes the quality of a good leader is to give good orders to the prince, now he must take on duty & be mode provident to inform corruption of times. He is often believed to be “too honest” and Ferdinand & Bosola can’t stand it.
Kate Aughterson (critic)
“Despite her political sovereignty her brothers assume a patriarchal control over her body and sexuality and assumption which reigns over her political state”.
Lisa Jardine (critic)
“Like the beast the lacks discourse of reason, the Duchess of Malfi, like Hamlet’s mothers steps out of the path of duty and marries for lust”.
Hierarchy (A03)
In renaissance texts meant people were divided in society by wealth/class. Hierarchy dictated behaviour expectations where tests often explore where characters challenge/defy these expectations.
Sir Francis Bacon (Critic)
“Revenge is a kind of justice which the more man’s nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out”. If people seek revenge there will be consequences of law yet if there was no law on it it could be done and mean you are not punished.
