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MALFI CHARACTERS- ANTONIO - Coggle Diagram
MALFI CHARACTERS- ANTONIO
ACT ONE
Antonio only really has one driving force within his character- the duchess and his role as a family man, however he does serve another function right at the beginning if the play
webster uses Antonio to frame who everyone is, flesh out our initial perceptions- Antonio is very much attuned to ideas of corruption- he established corruption as one of the key themes of the play.
could make the argument that Antonio is a 'flat' character- characterisation remains the same throughout
anontio is very much cogniscient of the flaws within the cardinal and ferdinand- and yet he doesn't necessarily apply this understanding later on.
the marriage
inversion of traditional courtship- woman woos man.
the marriage is not witnessed by god- it is a someone controversial marital seremony- their marriage is lawful, but it is secret, and it is not done within a holy place.
difference in social class also makes this contrversial- although she doesn't view his position in the structure as significant
ACT TWO
some real panic from Antonio in this act- everything he does in this scene is to protect this new family.
deli warns Antonio not to worry about omens or the be too concerned about the future
Antonio then has the nosebleed- an omen for his future demise. almost cosmic juxtaposition between Helios calm demeanour and Antonios failure to recognise the bad omen
the Nosebleed
it is the nosebleed and the handkerchief that cause Antonio to drop the horoscope.
this catalyses the forthcoming action
ACT THREE
Antonio is in the duchess bedchamber before ferdinand is there.
their honest connection is demonstrated, they are making innuendoes about their sexual intimiacy- this is then invaded upon by ferdinand
this is purposeful juxtaposition from webster, the placement of their relationship and the security of it against the devious cruelty that ferdinand imposes- this will wrench them apart.
Antonio needs to be framed to be saved
the duchess feigns a pilgromage, accuse Antonio of stealing from her. dramatic irony within their over dramatic performance for there audience.
they use deceit to protect themselves- contrasts with the cardinal who utilises deceit to obfuscate his maleviolence.
act three, scene 5- the last time they see each other when they are living
direct foreshadowing that Antonio will meet a dismal end- p 93. very prophetic, 'your kiss us colder...dead mans skull'
symbolic metaphors about how they feel- sorrowful, melancholic.
ACT FIVE
begins with yet more naivety from anotonio
he wants to have a 'reconcilement' with them- he is ignorant of the fact they have killed the duchess. he has no knowledge of her death.
act five scene 3
the echo- connection from beyond the grave, love and connection lasting beyond the metaphysical boundary. the echo warns him not to attempt reconcilement
he doesn't listen.
page 145- 'my duchess is asleep'- he has no idea they have been brutually murdered- the audeince are aware that these words are quite euphemistic, that essentially he's right, they are 'sleeping', but in a different way to that he imagines.
split line verse again
a hurried warning.
act 5, scene 4
the naivety of the duchess is also within Antonio, he goes to visit the duchess
bosola kills him, mistaking him for the cardinal or an assasin
bosola tells him the duchess and two youngest children are dead, Webster uses dashes- bosola interrupts him to tell him.
could be seen as a kindness from bosola, as now atone wants to die saving him from misery. much like the duchess wanted to escape the torment of her existence, anontio wants to escape the tourment of an existence without her
on the other hand, ignorance is bliss, he could've died without having to mourn them.
his final words: rather than any desire for vengeance, anontio hopes that his son will escape the corruption and violence.
situational irony- bosola is trying to protect antoio but ends up being the one to tragically fatally harm him.