This document includes key quotes selected from Webster's play 'The Duchess of Malfi'. The quotes have been carefully chosen and placed into theme categories in bullet-point form. These are the themes included: women, gender roles, sexuality, Catholic corruption, religion, social status, courtly co...
A* OCR English Lit Duchess of Malfi plot summary and quote bank
OCR A level English Lit critics (AO5) table from A* student for The Duchess of Malfi
English A level A* student Duchess of Malfi context (AO3) notes
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English Literature
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H472)
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Key Malfi Quotes
Women
Castruccio claims his wife ‘could not endure fighting’
‘have a mathematical instrument made for her face’ -> Ferdinand claims about Julia
‘lusty widow!’
‘honour’ – The Cardinal focuses on this for the Duchess
‘thou wast watched like a tame elephant’ – Cardinal to Julia – idea of women being passive
and something used to entertain
‘I am Duchess of Malfi still.’ – the Duchess presents a stoic front when she is challenged with
death
‘more perfect in her tears than in her smiles’ – Bosola states this bc the Duchess is ‘sad’ but
still imprisoned so under male control
‘lustful Julia’ – even called this by Bosola at a point when she is dead -> unnecessary! – but
the Duchess of Malfi was known for being ‘murdered’ and Antonio for being ‘slain by his
hand’
Reference to ‘Paris’ case’ – Antonio discusses when Cariola provokes him -> idea that the
choice of women results in destruction bc there was a war due to eventually getting Helen
who was a woman well-known for her beauty.
Gender roles
‘right noble Duchess’, comments on her ‘discourse’ before ‘sweet countenance’ BUT
Anotonio is emasculated -> ‘fie Antonia!’ Still, the Duchess is spoken about before we
actually hear her own voice.
‘I think this speech between you two was studied, it came so roundly off’ -> perceptive
‘Sit down. Take pen and ink and write’ – Duchess = dominant
‘What do you think of marriage?’ – Duchess = first to discuss such a topic -> showing how
assertive she is.
‘I can do both like a prince
‘you must fly’, ‘hire a house’, ‘I’ll send after you’ -> the Duchess’s control in the situation or
could argue she is merely being maternal which is expected
‘You must give great men leave to take their times.’ – links to the great mans theory
Sexuality
‘bawds to serve her turn’ (pimps), ‘conveyances for lust’, ‘service’ -> how Ferdinand talks
about the Duchess’s sexuality
‘my only rule is in the night’ – Antonio and the Duchess have stereotypical gender roles
when they have sex
Freudian interpretation of Antonio’s odd lust/desire for the Duchess
Julia = only seen for sexual role – is ‘The Cardinal’s mistress’
‘he will kiss you hand’ and ‘comes i’ th’ night’ -> Bosola claims about Antonio to the Duchess
‘body of hers…was more worth than…a soul’ – said by Ferdinand
‘you are very fair’ – B says to J
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