Jacobean Revenge Tragedy Lesson 19 Act 4 Scene 2 The Death of a Duchess LO: To compare and contrasts the deaths of Cariola and The Duchess. To explore the theme and context of madness

T.S Eliot Webster was much possessed by death And saw the skull beneath the skin; And breastless creatures under ground Leaned backward with a lipless grin. Daffodil bulbs instead of balls Stared from the sockets of the eyes! He knew that thought clings round dead limbs Tightening its lusts and luxuries. AO5: what can we learn about Webster from Eliot’s 20th Century view? How might it be relevant to our understanding of TDOM?

Text focus lines 106-123

The Duchess’ response to death She is matter of fact She forgives her executioners She declines to pray She kneels AO3 Context What were Christian beliefs about death? Consider beliefs about the soul, judgement and heaven

Cariola’s response to death List the reasons she gives for why she must not die. Find quotes from the Duchess that show the contrast of reaction and response to death. What is the dramatic effect of such a contrast? She bites and scratches! I am not prepared for’t! I will not die!

Bosola’s response Read Ferdinand’s speech lines 259-277. What does he seem to be suggesting? Now read Bosola’s speech lines 303-311. What are his feelings at this point about: Ferdinand and the Cardinal The Duchess Himself

A brief revival Why does the Duchess revive? What is the dramatic effect of this? What is your response?

A critical approach Positive Negative Poetically powerful Improbably Tragic vision Grossly excessive violence for effect A masterpiece laborious Great theatre Decadent and immoral Has a command of terror No moral purpose No poet morally nobler Lacks humanity Ramshackle loose structure

Check your learning What is the significance of this scene and what do we learn about the following characters?: Ferdinand Bosola The Duchess Mini essay: Write up your response with quotations, adding relevant context and other interpretations AO1: tragedy, revenge, malcontent, symbolism AO3: religious beliefs, Shakespeare, drama as literary form AO5: Renaissance views, Romantic views, Post Modernist views, your views. Consider that the main character has now died… what problem might this pose for Webster??

AO3 further reading Context research – Elizabethan attitudes to madness. They mirror Webster’s characters: fantasies of witchcraft, lust, corruption