Cover for A213A (Carl's group) for Friday morning's double:
You are to compare the two main encounters of Bosola and the Cardinal. You need to Review Act 1 Sc 1 27 – 65, the first short interaction between the two characters.
What is the main difference between the tone of the encounters?
Who holds the upper hand in each?
Both are men who hold double lives. How do they wear this mantle?Referring the Act 5 Sc2, respond to the following statement: the Cardinal’s ennui is the ennui of everyone who runs out of steam living two lives or living by double standards? How far do you agree with this statement?
Mr. D
6 comments:
the main difference of the two encounters between Bosola and the Cardinal is the change of power during the meetings. The first meeting in Act 1 scene 1, is where the Cardinal holds the power. His short, sharp responses to Bosola suggest ignorance to Bosola being there, as if the Cardinal is better than him. by the Cardinals line “you enforce your merit too much” we can infer that Bosola is trying to impress the Cardinal, which clearly gives the Cardinal power in their first meeting. However, in their second meeting Bosola holds the power. The Cardinal is begging for mercy “oh mercy” and trying anything to make Bosola spare his life. “Hold: And I will faithfully split/ Revenues with thee”. The power is in Bosola’s hands and we do start to see the true colours of the Cardinal who has lived by double standards and now begging for his life. Though there are only two encounters between them, the offer an understanding of the plays development and characters changes. The Cardinal, for example, has gone from a once strong, controlling figure head, to a weak, powerless coward.
Carl
the main difference of the two encounters between Bosola and the Cardinal is the change of power during the meetings. The first meeting in Act 1 scene 1, is where the Cardinal holds the power. His short, sharp responses to Bosola suggest ignorance to Bosola being there, as if the Cardinal is better than him. by the Cardinals line “you enforce your merit too much” we can infer that Bosola is trying to impress the Cardinal, which clearly gives the Cardinal power in their first meeting. However, in their second meeting Bosola holds the power. The Cardinal is begging for mercy “oh mercy” and trying anything to make Bosola spare his life. “Hold: And I will faithfully split/ Revenues with thee”. The power is in Bosola’s hands and we do start to see the true colours of the Cardinal who has lived by double standards and now begging for his life. Though there are only two encounters between them, the offer an understanding of the plays development and characters changes. The Cardinal, for example, has gone from a once strong, controlling figure head, to a weak, powerless coward.
Carl
During the first meeting of the Cardinal and Bosola in act 1 scene 1 we see that the Cardinal is the one dominating proceedings between the pair. This is natural as Bosola was a previous servant of the cardinal so naturally he seems to hang on the Cardinals words. Though being imprisoned for murder previously for murder, it is known by both the audience and Cardinal that Bosola is capable of the extremes. This comes through much more strongly in the second congrigation between the pair. The Cardinal is rendered helpless by Bosola's skill in the art of murder. This shows a clear transformation from being a man under control to a man controlling a situation so much that he kills the cardinal. This change is very much driven by the morality of Bosola and the immorality of the Cardinal. Had the Cardinal not been so immoral the pair may not have even met again let alone the both of them ending up dead. Also Bosola has the support of the audience during the second meeting of the pair. His need to kill the Cardinal is the more moral driven idea, so therefore the audience back him over the Cardinal. So Bosola earns the respect of the audience by turning 'good; in some respects. Though being a tragedy, they both die in the end anyway, so even though the meetings are minimal they have extreme influences on proceedings within the play.
Mr Bradley Simson.
Bosola humiliation is apparent in the first encounter between him and the cardinal. The cardinal merely refuses his “suit” as Antonio suggests, and the cardinal holds the upper hand here over Bosola. Bosola frustration is apparent in the speech he gives after, expressing how he sees the corruption of the cardinal and his brothers, describing them as “plum trees grown crooked” Bosola here is trying to say that they appear morally high, yet their riches and wealth (the fruit) is crooked, referring to the corruption essence. The cardinal treats Bosola with little dignity, showing his superiority by not rising to Bosola’s comments, that other character we see in the play often entertain. The fact that Bosola is dependent on the cardinal comes apparent in this first meeting, Bosola says afterward “Could I be one of their flattering panders”, saying that he too depends on the corruption of the cardinal, as Bosola exacts payment from him. This is in direct contrast to the second meeting between Bosola and the cardinal. Essentially the cardinal knows Bosola has the power to destroy him, he has seen the evident corruption, when he saw the cardinal kill Julia. The cardinal’s responses to Bosola, are increased length, he unlike in Act 1 treats Bosola, as a force to be reckoned with. Bosola holds the upper hand in there second meeting, as the cardinal as it the mercy of him. Yet, ironically, there is a common theme between the two meetings, that being both are about payment. The cardinal does not pay Bosola in their first meeting as Antonio suggests after by saying “Hath he denied you some suit?” and the cardinal refuses to pay Bosola, in this meeting to. He says that his reward is that he remains un-discovered as the murderer of the Duchess. Arguably little changes between these two meetings. Bosola is still dependent on the corruption of the cardinal, even though he resents this.
Regards,
Antony West
The two main encounters of Bosola and the Cardinal demonstrate to the audience the stark differences in how the characters are towards each other. Act 1 Scene 1, presents the Cardinal power and status through his speech and the way he articulates himself compared to Bosola and towards Bosola. Bosola’s first line ‘I do haunt you still’ illustrates his role out of the two men, his claim to be ‘haunting’ the Cardinal presents him as a follower, however the tone of his speech, describes his strength rather than depicting him as a weak man. The Cardinals response also adds on to this, his mere ‘so’ illustrates his power rather than strength in words. Highlighting the difference in men, status and abilities.
Although the men meet for a second time, their final meeting is the most significant in which Bosola’s role changes and has the upper hand against the Cardinal. Bosola, although weak in status and power demonstrates his strength against the weak Cardinal. The Cardinal’s language ‘Oh Mercy! … Thou hast hurt me … Help! Help! Help!’ presents the role reversal at its clearest. The Cardinals call for mercy and help ironically goes against everything he had instructed Bosola to do within the play. Also with this, Webster’s choice of words ‘thou hast hurt me’ rather than wound or injured, ‘hurt’ also presents the Cardinal in a different position then before, but just in his physical strength.
The two main encounters of Bosola and the Cardinal demonstrate to the audience the stark differences in how the characters are towards each other. Act 1 Scene 1, presents the Cardinal power and status through his speech and the way he articulates himself compared to Bosola and towards Bosola. Bosola’s first line ‘I do haunt you still’ illustrates his role out of the two men, his claim to be ‘haunting’ the Cardinal presents him as a follower, however the tone of his speech, describes his strength rather than depicting him as a weak man. The Cardinals response also adds on to this, his mere ‘so’ illustrates his power rather than strength in words. Highlighting the difference in men, status and abilities.
Although the men meet for a second time, their final meeting is the most significant in which Bosola’s role changes and has the upper hand against the Cardinal. Bosola, although weak in status and power demonstrates his strength against the weak Cardinal. The Cardinal’s language ‘Oh Mercy! … Thou hast hurt me … Help! Help! Help!’ presents the role reversal at its clearest. The Cardinals call for mercy and help ironically goes against everything he had instructed Bosola to do within the play. Also with this, Webster’s choice of words ‘thou hast hurt me’ rather than wound or injured, ‘hurt’ also presents the Cardinal in a different position then before, but just in his physical strength.
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