Theme of Deception in The Duchess of Malfi

1. Theme of Deception inThe Duchess of Malfi

2. Early sections of the Play • Antonio’s ‘Grecian horse’ p.11 – horsemanship – out of deception can come great things? • Description of the Duke 1.2.91 – ‘What appears in him mirth, is merely outside’ • Mask concealing identity – cruelty? • Line 108 – Antonio – ‘the devil speaks in them’ – directing immoral actions etc.

3. Minor character roles • Bosola’s role as ‘malcontent’ – double agent – inevitable death • ‘Keep your old garb of melancholy’ – 1.2.199 – Duke • Cariola – maid – silent spectator of brothers attempt to stop Duchess remarrying • Watches Antonio being wooed by Duchess – hides behind curtain • Visible witness @ wedding • Trust from Duchess – ‘To thy known secrecy I have given up / more than my life, my fame’ – 1.2.268-9 – considers pos more important than life?

4. The Rest of the Play • Antonio – 1.2.408 – ‘What’s your conceit in this?’ – maid revealed – mistrust of Duchess? • Destructive nature of deception – Antonio’s fear of discovery – paranoia? • Run-in with Bosola – baby’s horoscope • Ferdinand’s attitude of ‘sleep’ until he knows the facts • Bosola – uses Julia to find out about Cardinal – way of proving commitment – curtain again • Cardinal’s soliloquy to audience – kill Bosola – brutality of world

5. Antonio and the Duchess’s relationship • Marriage is in secret – unorthodox • Married ‘out of class’ – more unheard of for a woman • Clandestine nature – unacceptable by bros – violence • Cardinal’s hypocrisy – Julia • Secrecy – ‘false and undignified accusations, deception’ – destruction of marriage • Duchess ‘flouts familial authority’ – doesn’t tell family • Dangerous • No such thing as romance ‘flying in the face of good order’ in Renaissance