DUCHESS OF MALFI VS PARADISE LOST
DUCHESS OF MALFI
Critique of corruption as grotesque
AO1
“Foul melancholy” – Antonio
“Scurvy face-physic” – Bosola
“Bribes of shame” – Bosola
“Rotten and dead body” - Bosola
“A most provident council, who dare freely inform him of the corruption of the times” - Bosola
[Enter Ferdinand… who holds a poniard] – stage direction
“Would you like to see my husband?” (D) “Yes, if I could change eyes with basilisk” – Ferdinand
“Painted honours” – Bosola tempts D
“Flattering sycophants” – Antonio
“To feed a fire as great as my revenge” – Ferdinand
“Lusty widow” – Ferdinand
“Whores by that rule are precious” – Ferdinand
“To view another spacious world i’th’moon and look to find a constant woman there” – Cardinal
“You cannot make me cuckold” – Cardinal
“Take fire when I give fire; that is laugh when I laugh” – Ferdinand
“Let not the sunshine on him, till he’s dead” – Ferdinand (about Ant)
“O you render me excellent music” – Duchess tempted by Bosola
“Princes pay flatterers in their own money… that’s justice” – Bosola
AO3
Aristotle’s gender polarity
o Women are inconstant, men are superior
Transcendent Women
o Unachievable standards, men never satisfied
Patriarchal prohibition of widows remarrying
o Duchess’ brother prohibits her from remarrying
Malcontent character
o Disconnected with the social structure and other characters in the play
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – John Buckingham
o James’ desire to please the courtiers and clients… led him to succumb to the temptation
to make knighthood a saleable commodity
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – Lever
o Spent royal taxation on homosexual court favourites
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – 1613
o Sir Thomas Overbury killed by James I’s favourite (and lover?) Sir Robert Carr
o James then replaced the chief minister Robert Cecil and placed the entire control of the
state in the hands of Sir Robert Carr
William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure
o Duchess is censured/punished for her left
AO5
Lever “drama, evil as well as good is embodied in the individual”
1
DUCHESS OF MALFI
Critique of corruption as grotesque
AO1
“Foul melancholy” – Antonio
“Scurvy face-physic” – Bosola
“Bribes of shame” – Bosola
“Rotten and dead body” - Bosola
“A most provident council, who dare freely inform him of the corruption of the times” - Bosola
[Enter Ferdinand… who holds a poniard] – stage direction
“Would you like to see my husband?” (D) “Yes, if I could change eyes with basilisk” – Ferdinand
“Painted honours” – Bosola tempts D
“Flattering sycophants” – Antonio
“To feed a fire as great as my revenge” – Ferdinand
“Lusty widow” – Ferdinand
“Whores by that rule are precious” – Ferdinand
“To view another spacious world i’th’moon and look to find a constant woman there” – Cardinal
“You cannot make me cuckold” – Cardinal
“Take fire when I give fire; that is laugh when I laugh” – Ferdinand
“Let not the sunshine on him, till he’s dead” – Ferdinand (about Ant)
“O you render me excellent music” – Duchess tempted by Bosola
“Princes pay flatterers in their own money… that’s justice” – Bosola
AO3
Aristotle’s gender polarity
o Women are inconstant, men are superior
Transcendent Women
o Unachievable standards, men never satisfied
Patriarchal prohibition of widows remarrying
o Duchess’ brother prohibits her from remarrying
Malcontent character
o Disconnected with the social structure and other characters in the play
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – John Buckingham
o James’ desire to please the courtiers and clients… led him to succumb to the temptation
to make knighthood a saleable commodity
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – Lever
o Spent royal taxation on homosexual court favourites
James I’s Absolutist Monarchy and Tyranny – 1613
o Sir Thomas Overbury killed by James I’s favourite (and lover?) Sir Robert Carr
o James then replaced the chief minister Robert Cecil and placed the entire control of the
state in the hands of Sir Robert Carr
William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure
o Duchess is censured/punished for her left
AO5
Lever “drama, evil as well as good is embodied in the individual”
1
