Monday, November 10, 2008

Why can't anyone in these plays say 'over'?

"This was my father's poniard. Do you see?
I'd be loathe to see't look rust, 'cause 'twas his.
I would have you give o'er these chargable revels;
A visor and a mask are whispering rooms
That were nev'r built for goodness. Fare ye well-
And women like that part which, like the lamprey,
Hath nev'r bone in't."

Filthy right? Ferdinand treats his sister like an extension of his father's legacy. This phallus here only becomes "rusted" when the Duchess leads this secretive life that he's trying to warn her off. I also think the end of the line is telling, comparing women to the lamprey, since it shows the masogny that was inherint in the time period, and also a fair-to-decent pun. I think it's a great image, and it really goes to show that Ferdinand is less concerned with his actual sistaer than with his own idea of the way that royalty should act. The secrecy and double life that the Duchess is leading can lead to nothing good, as far as he sees it. He resents it, becuase these "whispering rooms" show a private life that he does not approve of.
Her seduction of Antonio is another great scene, as I've mentioned before, these play's always have a first act taht consists more of introduction fo relationships than merely plot, we see Antonio and Delio, Bosola with the Cardinal, etc. all of this leads into the most important relationship, that of the Duchess and Antonio. For all the talk that Ferdinand gives her about not having a bone in her body, she cetainly seems to be wearing the pants in the relationship, taking charge and leading Antonio, ie slipping the ring onto his finger, which would be a much more masculine gesture than a femanine one.

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