Gender Roles Flashcards
(15 cards)
“She is a young widow; I would not have her marry again.”
A1S1 Ferdinand uses this to convince Bosola to spy on the Duchess. He does not want her to marry someone of a lower class, as he would be “raised” in the class system. He wants a power monopoly (and the Duchess to himself…)
“Diamonds are of the most value, that have passed through the most jewellers’ hands.”
A1S1 The Duchess twists her brother’s words, and is not intimidated by their thinly veiled threats to kill anyone she marries. She isn’t shamed by their comments on her sexuality either.
“I did vow to never part with it, but to my second husband.”
A1S1 The Duchess subtly proposes to Antonio in an act of defiance against her brother’s oppressive rules.
“But it shows a fearful madness: I owe her much of pity.”
A1S1 In the final moments of the act, Cariola expresses her pity for the Duchess in an aside, foreshadowing that the marriage cannot have positive consequences
“Let old wives report I winked and chose a husband.”
A1S1 the end of the Duchess’ soliloquy, she asserts her power over her own fate and ends with a cheeky comment to the audience — humanises her and establishes a secrecy immediately
“Though Lust do mask in ne’er so strange disguise, she is oft found witty, but is never wise.”
A2S3 Webster uses Bosola to directly voice the potential moral of the play. Lust will always give herself away — clearly a personified allusion to the Duchess “lusty widow” — relates to gender roles as it suggests a feminine weakness / naivety
“Vulturous eating of the apricots.”
A2S2 Bosola describes the Duchess’ hunger as somewhat revolting — relates to many AO5 quotes about female desire and expectations/roles of women
“Love mixed with fear is sweetest.”
A3S2 only really a throwaway line by the Duchess, but highlights her naivety and priorities — somewhat confirms she only married Antonio to spite her brother’s orders
“I know not which is best, to see you dead, or to part with you.”
A3S5 truly displays the Duchess’ humanity in her relationship with Antonio — love is all she has to live for (later a sentimental repeated in Antonio’s final moments)
“Were I a man, I’d beat that counterfeit face into thy other.”
A3S5 the Duchess directly confronts the gender roles she lives with, knowing she can’t do anything to stop Ferdinand as she is a woman with limitations. She understands his betrayal, referring to him being two-faced.
“There’s no deep valley but near some great hill.”
A3S5 The Duchess ends the act optimistic (hill after valleys) despite her growing cynicism throughout the play, the image of Lust and her body natural optimism still barely persists.
“I account this world a tedious theatre, for I do play a part in’t against my will.”
A4S1 a meta-theatre comment from the Duchess, she has an awareness of her “role” in society and in the play.
“It is some mercy when men kill with speed.”
A4S1 Duchess’ comment on the torture of being alive/mortality — she’d rather have a swift merciful death than be tortured like Ferdinand wants
“Necessity makes me suffer constantly, and custom makes it easy.”
A4S2 The Duchess admits that her duty (body politic) restrains her, and the normalcy of gender roles makes suffering constant and familiar for her
“I am Duchess of Malfi still.” — “I forgive them”
A4S2 one of the Duchess’ most important lines — she is stoic and confident in her fading mortality as the body politic takes hold also the Duchess forgives her executioners as she doesn’t hold them responsible — shows her nobility.
