If you used Clearing in 2024, how did you find it?

This discussion is now closed.

Check out other Related discussions

White Devil by John Webster

kruger97

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 1

raziell

Im taking Blake and this, I find The White Devil much harder than Blake though... if anyone has any useful revision notes, quotations or even some tips I'd greatly appreciate them :smile:

Reply 2

cooksie5

peppermint_patt

God yes. This is a weird play - not even sure how to begin tackling it. Ditto above, Im doing this and Blake as well.^
x

Me too. This half of the paper is scaring me to death!! I've been going crazy with learning key quotes from bits in each scene...

Reply 3

cooksie5

I havent done it by character like that. I've done from each scene. Some good quotes there though. Anybody got any predictions on questions? Our teacher thinks it could be something to do with the title and who exactly is the 'white devil'. If you think about it, its not necessarily Vittoria, although evidently she could be considered to be it.

Reply 4

keri1988

I'm doing this and Blake - I understand it a lot more than I did when we first read it, can remember a few quotes and stuff :-) A question on vittoria or women would be great fingers crossed as its the first year that it has been examined!!!

Reply 5

keri1988

kruger97

If its that question I'll be very happy - Vittoria is playing stupid! Also, Monticelso could be considered the White Devil.

I read somewhere that Francisco could be the white devil too but its more accepted to be vittoria

Reply 6

cooksie5

keri1988

I read somewhere that Francisco could be the white devil too but its more accepted to be vittoria

Brachiano could be seen as the White Devil too.

Reply 7

cooksie5

kruger97

^Brachiano isn't portrayed as good though. However I guess you could say that his treatment as a dignified and well respected character in the play based on his gender could constitute him being a 'white' character.

Yes he is supposed to be a 'great man'.
Aspects of his relationship with Vittoria do make him seem good.
For example in Act 2 scene 2 he does use some romantic language like 'i wish that time would stand still' and 'delight doth soonst devour', fairly poetic and good compared to Camillo who's just left.
Also at the end where he says: 'Had I infinite worlds they were not enough for thee'

Reply 8

hebz

"Oooo, how could Monticelso be the white devil? - Is it just that hes avenging the death of camillo and Isabella, or is there something deeper?"

i reckon so, i mean things are done in his name, the money that francisco makes lodovico belive was from monticelso. surely lodovico was looking for a kind of cleansing, or backing from the church. so lodovico sees monticelso as backing his revenge in secret, therefore being 'white' in public, and a 'devil' in secret, even though the audience knows that this is not the case.

Reply 9

raziell

Are those all the quotations you are remembering Kruger? If i remember correctly alot of this exam is based on your own opinion and balancing a good argument? Is anyone going to use opinions of critics or anything?

Reply 10

raziell

Hah, good point. Although the play is relatively easy to understand I always get the characters muddled lol. I think coming to a conclusion is quite important as well? O well, I think theres a little less to remember for this than there is for Blake.

Reply 11

cooksie5

Good Luck today everybody, lets all keep our fingers crossed for a nice question! :biggrin:

Reply 12

cooksie5

I did the Brachiano one. Was fairly pleased with it. I tried my best so I've got to be pleased with that! One more exam to go now too!

Reply 13

strawberrypie666

does anybody know any quotes to show that Vittoria is beautiful?? Thanks x

Reply 14

GingerMarshmallow

strawberrypie666

does anybody know any quotes to show that Vittoria is beautiful?? Thanks x

I think it's more or less assumed that she's beautiful.
The only thing I can think of is Act 4 Scene 2 at the house of convertites, just after her "what have I gained by thee but infamy" speech.

There's that bit about
Br: "are not these matchless eyes mine?"
Vitt: "I had rather they were not matches"
which suggests that she wishes she were less beautiful so that she would not attract men like Brachiano and get into all this trouble etc.

But it's not really said specifically.