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The Duchess of Malfi - Character Summary
Member rating: No Rating | Words: | Submitted: Wed Aug 27 2003
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"The birds that live i' th' field On the wild benefit of nature, live Happier than we; for they may choose their mates, And carol their sweet pleasures to the spring." The Duchess of Malfi (3.5.18-21) The Duchess of Malfi: Character Summary A widow, the duchess rules her duchy alone. Lonely and in love, she secretly marries her steward Antonio. This is done in a hand-fast marriage witnessed by Cariola, the Duchess' hand-maiden. By choosing to marry Antonio in secret, the Duchess neglects her duty to her people. When she begins getting pregnant and giving birth, her people denounce her as a strumpet. They then lose their respect for their leader. The pilgrims in Act 4 (when the Duchess and her family are in Loreto at the religous shrine) are the only disinterested parties in the play. They are also the only disinterested commoners. back to top "That's the greatest torture souls feel in hell, In hell: that...
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