Camillo & Giovanni

Camillo & Giovanni

1. Giovanni

   • Son of Brachiano and Isabella
   • Few appearances display youth and immaturity
     • Initially arriving with mother, emphasising attachment to her
       • Main function in scene is to cement relationship between father and uncle
       • "here comes a champion / shall end the difference between you both"
       • Lengthy dialogue with father and uncle demonstrates lively intelligence and precosity
     • Next is with Lodovico, going to tell Uncle of mother's death
       • Youthful response to her death provokes pity - questions what the dead do
         • "Do they eat / hear music, go a-hunting, and be merry / As we that live?"
       • Narration of mother's treatment reminiscent of Ophelia in Hamlet
         • "They wrapped her in a cruel fold of lead / and would not let me kiss her"
     • Next is when revenge is started - but doesn't understand it has come from his uncle
       • Become the new Duke, despite his youth
       • Flamineo's remarks that he should "be merry" as he has inherited the dukedom
         • Merits the reproach "Study your prayer, sir, and be penitent"
           • Audience likely to approve of behaviour since they have seen Flamineo's malevolent influence exerted before
   • Speaks the final words of the play - responsible for the restoration of order
     • Audience bound to have misgivings on account of his immaturity

2. Camillo

   • Vittoria's husband and Monticelso's nephew
   • Initial descriptions show him as a fool and no match for his beautiful, clever wife
   • Vittoria's motive for marrying him = financial
     • "He bought you of your father"
       • Spent twelve thousand ducats in 6 months but received no dowry
   • Main function = obstruct play's more important characters, all (including audience) are anxious to get him out of the way
     • Monticelso sends him away so B & V can continue affair to become a public scandal
     • Vittoria plays along with Flamineo to get him out of the way
   • Negative descriptions - "ass"
   • Fearful of being "cuckholded" but is gullible and easily manipulated by wife, uncle and brother-in-law
   • His death by Flamineo, neck broken on vaulting horse is both pathetic and humiliating