Theme of Women

Theme of Women

"What cannot a neat knave with a smooth tale Make a woman believe?"
1. Act 1, Scene 1
2. Women are very easily swayed by men.
3. Could be a reference to sexual desire.
"This is flesh, and blood, sir; 'Tis not the figure cut in alabaster Kneels at my husband's tomb."
1. Act 1, Scene 1
2. Trying to persuade Antonio that she's a real woman, not just his distant ice-queen aristocratic boss.
3. She is fighting against the belief that women can only marry once, and that a truly chaste woman is bound to honour her dead husband until her own death.
4. "Sir"- giving power to Antonio despite his lower social rank.
5. Kneel- imagery of subjugation to former husband- his death allowed her freedom.
"Whether the spirit of greatness or of women Reign most in her, I know not, but it shows A fearful madness; I owe her much of pity."
1. Act 1, Scene 1
2. Possibly thinking that the Duchess was to hasty in remarrying.
3. Possibly thinks that it was too dangerous and a sign of madness to remarry against her brothers wishes. Perhaps knows the extent of the brother anger that is to come.
4. Madness could be of love and lust. Madness could simply mean that the action was absurd and not thought through. Rash decision.
5. Cariola helps the Duchess but her final words leaves the impression that she is against what the Duchess has done. Perhaps envy's the fact that the Duchess can afford to do such things because of her high status. Many people would notice the Duchess and her power.
6. The 'spirit of greatness' may be referring to the monarch's power and 'woman' referring to the Duchess' physical body.
7. Cariola is essentially highlighting the tension between the political body and the personal body. She is questioning whether the Duchess had neglected her duties as a ruler by prioritising her bodily desires over the need for stable rule.
"For know, whether I am doomed to live or die, I can do both like a prince"
1. Act 3, Scene 2
2. The Duchess instinctively responds to Ferdinand's presence with the dignity she feels a prince should publicly display.
3. The Duchess is at her strongest in times of adversity.
4. Goes against the social expectations of women.
"Diamonds are of most value, they say, that have passed through most jewellers' hands."
1. Act 1, Scene 1
2. Marriage. In the face of her brothers' insistence that she not remarry, the Duchess shoots back that women ae like diamonds that accrue value by being married. Contextually, this has some releavnce, as women often married to gain money and power.
3. Could be trying to justify her reason for wanting to be remarried.
4. Sees herself as valuable as she compares herself to diamonds.
5. Could be stating that she believes she can remarry and that she wasn't 'used' in her previous marriage. She benefited from it.

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	Created by Amy Johnson almost 3 years ago