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Article: The White Devil and old wives' tales.
- Article from:
- The Modern Language Review
- Article date:
- April 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Modern Humanities Research Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When Francisco de Medici begins to plan his revenge for the murder of his sister, Isabella, he closes his eyes and imagines her figure. He assumes that the ghost appearing before him is the creation of his own melancholy ('the quick idea of my mind' (IV. 1. 105)). (1) 'Remove this object', he exclaims: Isabella's ghost exits promptly and Francisco says, 'So now 'tis ended, like an old wives' story' (ll. 112-16). His comment has two obvious functions: it epitomizes contempt for women within the society dominated by Francisco and his brother, Monticelso, and it reminds the audience of what The White Devil is not: an unsophisticated, fabulous tale often intended to entertain ...
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