Duchess of Malfi Act 1 scene 1 l.395 - 494

Duchess of Malfi Act 1 scene 1 l.395 - 494

1. Honesty and transparency (and its opposite flattery and sycophancy)

   • a complete man (I speak it without flattery)
   • 'a tyrant doubles with his words, And fearfully equivocates,'

2. Role-reversal/challenging gender roles

   • Is it fit? [She puts the ring upon his finger]:
     • Her putting the ring on his finger signifies her dominance; her taking the initiative
   • 'These words should be mine, And all the parts you have spoke'
   • 'You do tremble'
   • here upon your lips I sign your Quietus est. (she kisses him)
     • She takes the lead sexually, she is also the one that talks about going to bed.

3. Status and hierarchy

   • The misery of us that are born great! We are forced to woo , because none dare woo us;

4. Ambition (and its opposite – humility)

   • 'Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness'
   • You were ill to sell yourself: This dark'ning of your worth
   • 'my unworthiness!'

5. Motifs

   • Blood
     • 'One of your eyes is blood-shot'
   • Madness
     • 'With the wild noise of prattling visitants, Which makes it lunatic beyond all cure.'
     • '...it shows/A fearful madness. I owe her much of pity'
   • Death
     • 'In a winding-sheet?'
     • 'I am making my will'
     • 'Tis not the figure cut in alabaster. Kneels at my husband's tomb'
     • 'Make not your heart so dead a piece of flesh'
   • Meta theatre
     • These words should be mine, And all the parts you have spoke,
   • Imprisonment
     • ''kept in chains and close-pent rooms'

6. Challenging the Church’s power

   • ''tis the church That must but echo this '