Women: DOM

• "Strumpet" = insult used against the Duchess; means a provocative female
• "lusty widow" = Ferdinand calls the Duchess this title; inscetuous; control over her sexual agency
• "Most luxurious will wed twice" = used to shame the Duchess's remarriage; patriarchal control
• The Duchess is a "warning to the rash and wanton" = Leech (20 cent)
• AO3 = Widows

  • Had more economic independence
  • Not under firm control of male relatives
• AO3 = Swetnam (1615)

  • Women are "full of fraud"
  • "have a thousand ways to decieve"
• "cannot tune it ... lute" = the instrument that the Cardinal compares the female body to; control of female body
• “Kisses the Bible” = form of oath/obedience; ultimately her sexuality kills her
• The Duchess 'exercises transgressive independent sexual agency’ – Callaghan
• "Fame" = The Duchess is aware of the importance of her reputation
• “How greedily she eats them!” = after the Duchess eats Bosola's apricots; links femininity to gluttony
• “the spirit of greatness or of woman…fearful madness” = links female ambition to madness
• ‘a feminist play about a woman who is fighting for her autonomy’ – Mirren
• ‘The Duchess seeks private happiness’ – Bliss
• AO1 : "I am Duchess of Malfi still"

  • An eponymous play named after a woman
  • Breaks gender stereotypes by having a woman as a protagonist/hero
• “Diamonds are of most value they say that have passed through most jeweller’s hands” = The Duchess' rebutle about reputation and being a remarried widow
• “Puts the ring on his finger” = Duchess proposes instead; stage directions