Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CARIOLA

in The Duchess of Malfi — Webster, John

Metadata

PlayThe Duchess of Malfi
AuthorWebster, John
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1614
Decade1620s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterBlackfriars;Globe;Indoor Professional;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Car. | Cariola. | Carolia. | Car • | Cari.
Words503
Characters2650
Typicality0.46 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA14872
BritDrama no.1726
ClusterCluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

So. You enforce your merit to-much. Would you could become honest, Be sure you entertain that Bosola For your Intelligence: I would not be seen in't. And therefore many times I have slighted him, When he did court our furtherance: as this Morning. Whither the spirit of greatness, or of woman Reign most in her, I know not, but it shows A fearful madness, I owe her much of pity. Ex . Let him enter, i'll withdraw. Exit. Say you? What's the progedy? Speak lower. Thus Ignorance, when it hath purchased honour, It cannot wield it. My Lord, I lie with her often: and I know She'll much disquiet you: For she's the sprawlingst bedfellow. Sir, shall I ask you a question? Wherefore still when you lie with my Lady Do you rise so early? Never (my Lord.) This is a vain Poetry: but I pray you tell me, If there were proposed me, Wisdom, Riches, and Beauty, In three several young men, which should I choose? What is't? Pray sir do: and when That you have cl ft my heart, you shall read there, Mine innocence: It's Bosola : In my opinion, She were better progress to the baths At Leuca, or go visit the Spaw In Germany, for (if you will believe me) I do not Like this jesting with religion, This feigned Pilgrimage. Look (Madam) what a troop of armed men Make towards us. Enter Bosola with a Guard. Let me but speak with the Duke: I'll discover Treason to his person. If you kill me now I am damned: I have not been at Confession This two years: I am quick with child. Who placed thee here. You must attend my Lady, in the gallery, Some half and hour hence. He attends you: Sir, you are the happy father of a son, Your wife commends him to you. Both shall be safe: For I'll conceal this secret from the world As warily as those that trade in poison, Keep poison from their children. 1 line Of Madmen (Lady) which your Tyrant brother Hath placed about your lodging: This tyranny, I think was never practised till this hour. Oh it'll increase your melancholy. Yes, but you shall live To shake this durance off. Pray dry your eyes. What think you of Madam? Like a madman, with your eyes open? Yes, out of question. Like to your picture in the gallery, A deal of life in show, but none in practice: Or rather Like some reverend monument Whose ruins, are even pitied. Oh my sweet Lady. Hence villains, tyrants, murderers: alas! What will you do with my Lady? call for help. I will die with her. O you are damned Perpetually for this: My turn is next, Is't not so ordered? You are deceived Sir, I am not prepared for't, I will not die, I will first come to my answer; and know How I have offended. I will not die, I must not, I am contracted To a young Gentleman.

Plot summary

Plot — The Duchess of Malfi
There are two new arrivals at the Duchess of Malfi’s court. One is Antonio, her steward, who has returned from an extended visit to France. The other is Bosola, an ex-convict who committed a murder for the Cardinal, and who is now placed at court by the Duchess’s brother Ferdinand, with instructions to supply information. Ferdinand and the Cardinal leave the court, enjoining their sister not to marry again, but she defies them and secretly woos and marries Antonio. She clandestinely gives birth to a son, which Bosola discovers after Antonio accidentally drops the baby’s horoscope. The news is duly reported to the infuriated Ferdinand. The Duchess has two more children. Ferdinand visits Malfi, planning to marry her to Count Malateste. He visits her private chamber and catches her talking to Antonio, whose identity remains unknown because he has hidden as part of a practical joke. She banishes Antonio as a pretext to get him out of court, and follows him on a feigned pilgrimage to the state of Ancona. Bosola wins her confidence by speaking well of Antonio, unlike the other court flatterers; she entrusts him with the secret of their marriage, which he duly reports to his paymaster. The Cardinal is commissioned to fight in the war, and ceremonially puts off his ecclesiastical office. By papal decree, the Duchess and Antonio are banished ===== PAGE 347 ===== 1613 from Ancona and the Duchy of Malfi is seized by the Holy See; Antonio flees to Milan with his eldest son, and Bosola arrests the Duchess. Acting on Ferdinand’s orders, he imprisons and torments her, shows her the dead bodies of Antonio and her son (which turn out to be waxworks), and finally supervises her and her younger children’s murder. Ferdinand disowms him, then goes mad with lycanthropic delusions. The Cardinal schemes to have Antonio’s lands confiscated, poisons his mistress, and inadvertently reveals to Bosola his part in the Duchess’s death. Seeking revenge, Bosola mistakenly kills Antonio in the dark. In his madness, Ferdinand kills the Cardinal and Bosola, who kills him in turn. Delio decides to advance the rights of Antonio’s surviving son.