I really liked this scene and think it was important to this text. Ferdinand fails in his attempt to break his sister's spirit because before dying, she affirms her sense of self-worth and says, “I am Duchess of Malfi still,” which shows that no one could take that away from her. She has attempted to show her destiny in a world run by men, but remains to the end defiant and proud, high above the corrupted world she leaves behind. Her love and strong will in life in the midst of everything bad that is happening grabs on to existence even after being strangled to death. Bosola, inspired by her brave example, experiences a conversion of spirit as well, and becomes a better person. The entrance of the madmen is also interesting at this point in the play because it kind of foreshadows how things are going to fall apart and not be good after this. This relates to the point in history when Elizabeth dies and then the people do not like James and mourn Elizabeth a lot. With the end of the tudor dynasty there was a lot of hard things that came about with religion and this goes along with the duchess of malfi because it shows the ideas of unrest and controversy.
Andrea Yarnell
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