The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster (Edexcel A-Level English Literature): Revision Notes

Key Quotations

Act 1

"This is flesh and blood, sir; / 'Tis not the figure cut in alabaster / Kneels at my husband's tomb."

• The Duchess asserts her vitality and desire to live fully, in contrast to her brothers' desire to control her.
• This quote uses metaphor and imagery to emphasise the Duchess's defiance against the static, lifeless image her brothers wish to impose on her. The alabaster figure symbolises death and mourning, while her declaration of being "flesh and blood" underscores her human desires and agency.
• Key themes: Defiance, life vs. death, agency.

"I am Duchess of Malfi still."

• The Duchess asserts her identity and authority, even in the face of death.
• This quote exemplifies the Duchess's strength and resilience. Despite her brothers' attempts to strip her of power and dignity, she maintains her sense of self. This statement is a powerful assertion of her identity, reinforcing her noble status and unyielding spirit.
• Key themes: Identity, resilience, power.

Act 2

"Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness."

• Antonio warns the Duchess about the dangers of ambition.
• This quote uses alliteration ("great man's madness") to highlight the perilous nature of ambition. It foreshadows the tragic outcomes driven by the characters' desires for power and control.
• Key themes: Ambition, madness, foreshadowing.

"Whether the spirit of greatness or of woman / Reign most in her, I know not."

• Cariola reflects on the Duchess's complex character.
• This quote juxtaposes the "spirit of greatness" with the "spirit of woman," indicating the dual aspects of the Duchess's identity. It underscores the tension between her role as a ruler and her desires.
• Key themes: Identity, duality, womanhood.

Act 3

"I am your creature."

• Bosola acknowledges his role as a pawn in the schemes of the higher powers.
• The metaphor "creature" indicates Bosola's lack of autonomy and his subservience to his masters. This quote reflects the theme of manipulation and the dehumanising effects of power.
• Key themes: Manipulation, power, dehumanisation.

"Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle: she died young."

• Ferdinand reacts to the sight of the dead Duchess.
• The use of imagery ("mine eyes dazzle") and the imperative ("cover her face") illustrate Ferdinand's complex emotions, including guilt and sorrow, upon seeing his sister's corpse. The phrase "she died young" evokes the tragedy of the Duchess's untimely death.
• Key themes: Guilt, tragedy, mortality.

"We are merely the stars' tennis-balls, struck and banded / Which way please them."

• Bosola laments the capriciousness of fate and fortune.
• This quote uses the metaphor (tennis balls) to convey the idea of humans being at the mercy of unpredictable forces. It underscores the theme of fate and the lack of control individuals have over their destinies.
• Key themes: Fate, helplessness, unpredictability.

Act 4

"Oh, fly your fate."

• The Duchess urges resistance against predetermined fate.
• The imperative "fly" and the concept of "fate" reflect the Duchess's desire to escape the tragic destiny imposed on her. This quote highlights her defiance and resilience in the face of inevitable doom.
• Key themes: Fate, defiance, resilience.

"Pull, and pull strongly, for your able strength / Must pull down heaven upon me."

• The Duchess bravely faces her execution.
• The repetition ("pull, and pull strongly") and the imagery ("pull down heaven") emphasise the Duchess's courage and readiness to face death. It portrays her as a noble and dignified figure even in her final moments.
• Key themes: Courage, nobility, death.

Act 5

"I account this world a tedious theatre, / For I do play a part in't 'gainst my will."

• The Duchess expresses her disillusionment with life and its imposed roles.
• This quote uses the metaphor (theatre) to describe life as a performance where individuals are forced to play roles. It highlights themes of disillusionment and the lack of agency in a corrupt world.
• Key themes: Disillusionment, performance, lack of agency.

"Mine is another voyage."

• Bosola reflects on his impending death.
• The metaphor "another voyage" signifies Bosola's acceptance of death and the unknown journey that follows. This quote encapsulates his transformation and the resolution of his internal conflict.
• Key themes: Death, acceptance, transformation.

"Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, / Like diamonds, we are cut with our own dust."

• Ferdinand acknowledges the consequences of his actions.
• The simile ("like diamonds") and metaphor ("cut with our dust") illustrate the self-destructive nature of ambition and desire. This quote underscores the themes of ambition, self-destruction, and mortality.
• Key themes: Ambition, self-destruction, mortality.

"Integrity of life is fame's best friend, / Which nobly, beyond death, shall crown the end."

• Delio concludes the play with a reflexion on integrity and legacy.
• The metaphor ("crown the end") and the concept of integrity being "fame's best friend" highlight the importance of virtue and honour. This quote suggests that a true legacy is built on moral integrity.
• Key themes: Integrity, legacy, virtue.