Exploring Themes in Act 2, Scene 2 of Jacobean Revenge Tragedy
Act 2, Scene 2 delves into the unfolding drama at the Duchess's palace, revealing suspicions of the Duchess's pregnancy, accusations of theft, and the birth of a son amidst intrigue and betrayal. This scene showcases themes of suspicion, trust, superstition, and deception, setting the stage for further dramatic developments.
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Jacobean Revenge Tragedy Lesson 8 LO: To explore the themes of Act 2, Scene 2 in detail.
And so long since married? What do you notice about the entrance of Delio and Antonio on page 38 line 68? What is the purpose and effect of their exchange?
Act 2 so far Act Two, Scene One The scene is set in an apartment in the Duchess's palace. It begins with Bosola and Castruccio . Bosola mocks Castruccio for being a fool and having unrealised ambitions of being a great courtier. An Old Lady enters, and Bosola criticizes her ugliness and mocks her attempts to mask it with makeup. She and Castruccio leave, and Bosola muses on his suspicions that the Duchess is pregnant. He has bought the first apricots of the season, which he will use to try to find out if she is indeed pregnant. The apricots were believed to induce labor. Delio and Antonio enter. Antonio has just told Delio of his secret marriage, and emphasises that Delio must never breath a word of it to anyone, after which insistence they join Bosola. Antonio accuses Bosola of trying too hard not to appear puffed up (2.1.80- 1) with his promotion, and of continually putting forth a mean and melancholy appearance instead.
Act 2 Sc 1 line 104-171 The Duchess, out of breath, enters with her ladies, and asks Antonio if she has gotten fat. Bosola offers her the apricots, and the Duchess eats them. She immediately says they have made her ill and goes off to her bedroom. Antonio and Delio discuss how best to cover up that she has gone into labour, and Delio recommends saying that Bosola has poisoned her with the apricots.
Summary In a different location, Bosola muses to himself that the Duchess s reaction to the apricots means she is almost certainly pregnant. The Old Lady enters in a rush, and after Bosola berates her and women in general, she rushes off, presumably to act as midwife to the Duchess. Antonio, Delio, Roderigo and Grisolan enter. Antonio tells them to shut and lock the court gates, claiming some of the Duchess's jewels are missing. A group of gossipy servants enter, and one reports a rumor that the Duchess has a Swiss mercenary in her bedroom with her. Antonio reports that, due to the Duchess's illness and the theft of her jewels, she would like all the officers to lock themselves in their rooms and send her keys to their chests and doors. They agree, and everyone leaves except Antonio and Delio. Antonio tells Delio to go to Rome to keep watch over the Duchess s brothers. Though he trusts Delio, he is fearful, and Delio tells him it is just superstition and Old friends (like old swords) still are trusted best. (2.2.87). He leaves. Cariola enters carrying the new baby, a son, and the new father rejoices.
Group Work Write the different themes on A3 paper. For each theme add at least one quotation. As a group analyse the quotations so they are detailed. Individual words/different interpretations/connotations/roots of words/punctuation/dramatic techniques/structure/line length etc. Add context to your analysis Add wider reading to your analysis.
Theme comparison Now you have analysed the themes of The Duchess in pairs/alone select one theme you want to explore in detail. Mindmap how this theme is also presented in the selected poems of Rossetti. Select 2-3 quotations from across the collection that link to the theme. Do those quotations have anything in common, other than the theme, with the quotations selected from The Duchess? How does the theme link to the different contexts of the texts? Can you compare and contrast the different contexts? Consider how you might use the wider reading you have been given to support your ideas?
Check Write one clear comparative point Remember the big link is that both texts explore similar themes, BUT that will not be the comparative point you make. Why do they explore this theme? How do they explore this theme? What techniques do they use?
Homework Read and summarise one of the critical essays on the blog. Condense to a main outline of the argument. Extract two or three quotations which relate to the themes and ideas we have covered so far. See next slide to share the workload. We will add our quotations to a padlet.
Critical Reading the-duchess-of-malfi-robert-watson-critical-essay barbara_correll_-_malvolio_at_malfi_mana Blog on Bosola disease-and-death-on-the-stage (Malfi) the-women-of-middleton-and-webster tragedy-of-blood (Malfi) religion (Rossetti) the-religious-poetry-of-christina-rossetti the-woman-question (Rossetti)
