1. Malfi Act II scene ii lines 1-80
Bosola meets the Old Lady again who appears to be his sounding board to
abuse women and the Duchess verbally…
He is now sure that the Duchess is pregnant.
He uses the metaphor of the “glass-house” or glass factory where glass would be
blown by mouth to the shape of a pregnancy (rude..!)

2. He then goes on to talk of the orange tree which does have fruit on it at different
stages. Perhaps suggesting that women are capable of being virginal i.e blossom,
fecund – green fruit and ripe i.e. the orange ready to pick all at once..
Some “give entertainment” i.e give themselves for “pure love” but more do it
for mercenary reward. In Greek myth Danae received Zeus as a shower of gold
– hence she is seen as mercenary.
Bosola also uses a metaphor from mathematics – many lines meeting in one centre
which implies a circle with many radii – another way of saying all roads lead to Rome

3. Indeed, it could be said that without Montaigne’s Essays, Hamlet
It is worth talking here of Michel de Montaigne whom Webster constantly
references as does Shakespeare. (Your edition will quote from Montaigne.)
Indeed, it could be said that without Montaigne’s Essays, Hamlet
would be very different…
His essay on Cannibals
informed The Tempest.
Montaigne wrote about all
sorts of subjects having spent
years alone contemplating
his own personality.
“Turn your gaze inward Observe your own finite self Behold – feeble man.”

4. Bosola concludes by quoting the devil again, hanging like a “watch” on a girdle
to mislead women….
Suddenly, all is action as Antonio comes in with other courtiers.
The gates are locked and rumour breaks out that a “Switzer”, commonly used in
Italian wars and ironically now guard the Pope, has been caught in the Duchess’s
Chamber.
How likely is this? What is going on here?
Bosola fears that the apricots are poisoned…Antonio is locking everyone into their
Chambers – what will that achieve?

5. Why does Delio have to go to Rome?
What sort of mood is Antonio in? Why does he forbode danger? Is it the birth or something else?
Will the enforced lock-up make people suspicious or will they believe the stories?
The military metaphor Delio uses to describe “old friends” suggests Webster is foreshadowing a terrible end for them all.
Cariola announces the birth – of another son who ironically will be a bastard and landless… although it seems to be an occasion for rejoicing.
Antonio announces that he will put in train a “figure for’s nativity” i.e. a horoscope which all rulers had done – John Dee did Elizabeth’s. A foretelling of the future… given what her brothers have said what might the horoscope foretell?