Duchess of Malfi vs Paradise Lost: Books 9 & 10 revision notes
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Course
Drama and poetry pre-1900
Institution
OCR
A summary of key quotes in Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost, specifically how they can be compared for analysis during essay writing. Includes key significant points and moments that will support the overall analysis.
Bosola and Satan
● S malcontents
○ Bosola: “Miserable age, where only the reward/ Of doing well is the doing of
it.” (Act 1, Scene 1, p10)
○ Satan: “I who erst contended/ With gods to sit the highest, am now
constrained/ Into a beast.” (Book 9, p64)
● S disguise themselves
○ Bosola: “Never in mine own shape.” (Act4, Scene 1, p104)
○ Bosola: ‘Bosola, like an old man, enters.’ (Act 4, Scene 2, p110, stage
direction)
○ Satan: “for in the wily snake,/ Whatever slights non would suspicious mark.”
(Book 9, p61)
● S want to take revenge
○ Bosola: “I have this Cardinal in the forge already./ Now I’ll bring him
th’hammer.” (Act 5, Scene 4, p150)
○ Satan: “For only in destroying I find ease/ To my relentless thoughts.” (Book 9,
p62)
● D view on longevity of revenge
○ Bosola: “When we know black deeds must be cured with death.” (Act 5,
Scene 4, p148) - Accepts his death as punishment for his revenge
○ Satan: “Revenge, at first though sweet,/ Bitter ere long back on itself recoils.”
(Book 9, p64) - Revenge is only temporarily enjoyable until others take
revenge on you
● S deceptive
○ Bosola: deceives the Duchess to find out her pregnancy, lie to her about
Ferdinand and the Cardinal’s malevolence
○ Satan: deceives Eve into eating fruit from the forbidden tree by flattering her
■ The audience/reader sees them spying which builds up suspense, as
the characters do not know they are being deceived - changes power
dynamic across play/poem
■ D HOWEVER, Bosola feels guilty for killing Antonio - accidental nature
added in by Webster (not in ‘Paradise of Pleasure’ - morally complex
character) - possesses some moral characteristics. “Such a mistake
as I have often seen in a play,”
Eve and the Duchess
● D power/status
○ The Duchess is the head of the court whereas Eve is only seen as the
partner/wife of Adam
● S decision-making
○ Both know what the best decision to make is and don’t rely on others to make
it for them
, ○ The Duchess: “I have fashioned [a new plan] already.” (Act 3, Scene 2, p75)
○ Eve: “Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present.” (Book 9, p66)
● D independence
○ The Duchess acts to her own accord, whereas Eve is ‘guided’ by Adam and
doesn’t want to/can’t be independent
○ The Duchess: “I am Duchess of Malfi still.” (Act 4, Scene 2, p112)
○ Eve: (replying to Adam) “my guide/ And head.” (Book 5)
● S shown as greedy
○ The Duchess: (Bosola says) “how greedily she eats them”
○ Eve: ‘greedily she engorged without restraint and knew not eating death’
Adam and Antonio
● S admiration/love for partner
○ Antonio: “Let all sweet ladies break their flattering glasses/ And dress
themselves in her.” (Act 1, Scene 2, p19)
○ Adam: “to me beyond/ compare above all living creatures dear.” (Book 9, p66)
● D criticism
○ Antonio only admires the Duchess, whereas Adam has some criticism
towards Eve
○ Adam: “Too much of ornament in outward show/ Elaborate, of inward less
exact.” (Book 8)
○ Adam: “Nothing lovelier can be found in a woman than to study household
good and good works in her husband to promote.” (Book 9)
○ Antonio: “There speaketh so divine a continence/ As cuts off all lascivious and
vain hope.” (Act 1, Scene 2, p49)
● S protectiveness
○ Antonio: “For heaven’s sake, tend her well.” (Act 2, Scene 2, p49)
○ Adam: “The wife [...] safest and seemliest by her husband stays,/ Who guards
her, or with her the worst endures.” (Book 9, p68)
● D power/status
○ Adam knows he is more dominant and believes he should control Eve,
whereas Antonio allows himself to be commanded by the Duchess
○ The Duchess to Antonio: “Sit down./ Take pen and ink and write. Are you
ready?” (Act 1, Scene 2, p28)
○ Adam: “beauty is excelled by manly grace/ And wisdom.” (Book 4)
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