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Why didst not thou pity her? What an exc...

Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria

The Duchess of Malfi

John Webster

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Monologue Overview

Gender
Male
Playing Age
Adult
Style
Dramatic
Act/Scene
Act 4, Scene 2
Time & Place
Italy, seventeenth century
Length
Long
Time Period
Classical
Show Type
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)

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Context

Text

Why didst not thou pity her? What an excellent

Honest man might'st thou have been

If thou hadst borne her to some sanctuary

Or bold in a good cause, opposed thyself

With thy advanced sword above thy head

Between her innocence and my revenge!

I bade thee, when I was distracted of my wits,

Go kill my dearest friend, and thou hast done’t.

For let me but examine well the cause:

What was the meanness of her match to me?

Only I must confess, I had a hope,

Had she continued widow, to have gained

An infinite mass of treasure by her death.

And that was the main cause: her marriage,

That drew a stream of gall, quite through my heart.

For thee, (as we observe in tragedies

That a good actor many times is cursed

For playing a villain’s part) I hate thee for’t.

And for my sake say thou has done much ill well.

John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi Act 4, Sc.2 ll.285-303.

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