intertextuality and the context of reception: 1 and 2 · the white devil act 5, scene 1, scene 2,...

Intertextuality and the context of reception: The White Devil - Act 5 scenes 1 and 2

by John Webster

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Lesson plan

Resources Resource A – Pictures of brothers Resorce B – Bible story: Cain and

Abel (Genesis 4) Resource C – The White Devil

extracts Resource D – The White Devil film

clip Blank paper (for venn diagrams) Learning objectives To understand the story of Cain and

Abel

To apply a religious interpretation to

The White Devil

Starter activity – brothers

and conflicts (response to visual stimulus) View the images of brothers

[Resource A]. These could be

projected using a data projector,

printed out, or printed and cut up

for individual/paired responses. Ask:

What is the common theme with

these pictures? (brothers in

conflict; brothers and betrayals)

What has happened with

each pair of brothers?

What betrayals do we find

most shocking and why?

What other examples of

brothers in conflict can we

think of?

Consider why the idea of one

brother betraying another so

grips the public imagination, and

inspires so much fiction. Why is

one brother’s betrayal of another

so powerful?

Introduction – reading and responding to the Cain and

Abel story Read Genesis 4: 1-16 [Resource B]

and establish understanding of the

story (e.g. by bullet-pointing or

quickly story-boarding the events,

or getting four volunteers to act out

the story - narrator, God, Cain,

Abel).

What is our response to the story?

Why did Cain kill Abel?

Why is this story so foundational?

(first murder in the Bible, very

influential e.g. one of

Shakespeare’s most used stories)

Teach the key word: fratricide.

Main activity 1 – reading and

making connections Recap knowledge of Flamineo and

Marcello and their relationship. Why

is conflict inevitable between the

characters?

Read The White Devil extracts

[Resource C] and watch The White

Devil film clip [Resource D]

How does Webster make the

fratricide so shocking? (E.g.

suddenness of the event, the

omen with the crucifix, Flamineo’s

casual attitude, the links to the

Bible story.)

What connections can we make

between the Bible story and The

White Devil?

What are the similarities and

differences? (For example:

similarities = brothers,

sudden murder, murderers

get sent away as

punishment

differences = motivations

for murder, Marcello seems

to provoke Flamineo, extra

details given e.g. broken

crucifix, etc.)

Thinking time then feed back

initial ideas.

Main activity 2 – Venn diagrams Teacher models putting ideas of

similarities and differences into a

venn diagram (i.e. the distinctive

details of the Genesis account in one

circle, the distinctive details of the

White Devil story in another circle and

shared details where the circles

overlap)

Intertextuality and the context of reception: The White Devil - Act 5 scenes 1 and 2 by John Webster

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Students complete this (which

could be done in pairs or groups,

perhaps using A3/sugar paper

which can be displayed for

revision)

Students annotate around the

outside of the venn diagram,

suggesting why there is overlap /

distinctiveness. For example:

Webster keeps some details

the same to make the

parallel clear and therefore to

shock the audience and to

condemn Flamineo

other parts he changes

perhaps for thematic reasons

(e.g.

implicating Marcello,

since few characters are

presented as completely

innocent in The White

Devil – corrupt society

theme

using Zanche as

provocation links to

theme of illicit

relationships, social class

divide, and the

black/white issue, etc.)

Plenary – reflections Class discussion: How and why does

Webster use the Cain and Abel story

in The White Devil?

What does this religious

interpretation show us about:

1) The origins of the fratricide

theme?

2) The character of Flamineo?

3) The relationship between

Flamineo and Marcello?

4) The kind of society Webster

presents?

5) Webster’s messages and

warnings?

6) Jacobean use of - and

familiarity with - Bible

stories?

7) The on-going use / impact of

the Cain and Abel story?

You may also wish to look ahead

to Vittoria’s letter in Act 5, Scene

6, where she (prophetically?)

writes: ‘I give that portion to

thee and no other/ Which Cain

groaned under having slain his

brother.’ In the final scene of the

play, this is a sort of divine

judgement upon Flamineo for his

fratricide.

Homework suggestions Either:

An essay analysing the impact of

the fratricide on the Jacobean

audience.

Further research on - and

annotation of - these scenes

using notes from the Cross

Reference website

(http://www.crossref-

it.info/textguide/The-White-

Devil/32/2215;

http://www.crossref-

it.info/textguide/The-White-

Devil/32/2216)

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http://www.crossref-it.info/textguide/The-White-Devil/32/2215






Intertextuality and the context of reception: The White Devil - Act 5 scenes 1 and 2

by John Webster

Dr


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Resources

Resource A – Images of brothers

Scar and Mufasa (The Lion King)

Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher (Oasis)

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Ryan Giggs and Rhodri Giggs

Grant Mitchell and Phil Mitchell (Eastenders)

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Steve and Andy McDonald (Coronation Street)

Ed Miliband and David Miliband

King Hamlet and King Claudius (Hamlet)

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Resource B

Genesis 4

1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have

gotten a man from the LORD.

2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was

a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground

an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And

the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and

his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance

fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth

at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the

field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not:

Am I my brother's keeper?

10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me

from the ground.

11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive

thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength;

a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy

face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall

come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall

be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him

should kill him.

16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod,

on the east of Eden.

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Resource C

The White Devil Act 5, Scene 1, Scene 2, by John Webster

1 John 3:11-12 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning,

that we should love one another.12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one,

and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works

were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Flam. You're a boy, a fool,

Be guardian to your hound;

Marc. And, for you, I'll whip

This folly from you.

Flam. Are you choleric?

I'll purge it with rhubarb.

Hort. Oh, your brother!

Flam. Hang him,

He wrongs me most, that ought t' offend me least:

I do suspect my mother play'd foul play,

When she conceiv'd thee.

Marc. Now, by all my hopes,

Like the two slaughter'd sons of Oedipus,

The very flames of our affection

Shall turn two ways. Those words I'll make thee answer

With thy heart-blood.

Flam. Do, like the geese in the progress;

You know where you shall find me.

Marc. Very good. [Exit Flamineo].

And thou be'st a noble friend, bear him my sword,

And bid him fit the length on't.

Hort. Sir, I shall.

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Act 5 scene 2

Enter Marcello and Cornelia

Corn. I hear a whispering all about the court,

You are to fight: who is your opposite?

What is the quarrel?

Marc. 'Tis an idle rumour.

Corn. Will you dissemble? sure you do not well

To fright me thus: you never look thus pale,

But when you are most angry. I do charge you,

Upon my blessing--nay, I 'll call the duke,

And he shall school you.

Marc. Publish not a fear,

Which would convert to laughter: 'tis not so.

Was not this crucifix my father's?

Corn. Yes.

Marc. I have heard you say, giving my brother suck

He took the crucifix between his hands, [Enter Flamineo]

And broke a limb off.

Corn. Yes, but 'tis mended.

Flam. I have brought your weapon back. [Flamineo runs Marcello

through].

Corn. Ha! Oh, my horror!

Marc. You have brought it home, indeed.

Corn. Help! Oh, he's murder'd!

Flam. Do you turn your gall up? I 'll to sanctuary,

And send a surgeon to you. [Exit.] …

Marc. Oh, mother, now remember what I told

Of breaking of the crucifix! Farewell.

There are some sins, which heaven doth duly punish

In a whole family. This it is to rise

By all dishonest means! … . [Dies.]

Corn. Oh, my perpetual sorrow! ….

Enter Brachiano, all armed, save the beaver, with Flamineo and others

Brach. Was this your handiwork?

Flam. It was my misfortune. …

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Brach. Go, bear the body to Cornelia's lodging: …

Flamineo. … I will not grant your pardon.

Flam. No?

Brach. Only a lease of your life; and that shall last

But for one day: thou shalt be forc'd each evening

To renew it, or be hang'd.

Genesis 4: 8-16 8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to

pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his

brother, and slew him.

9And the LORD said unto Cain, ‘Where is Abel thy brother?’ And he said,

‘I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?’

10And he said, ‘What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood

crieth unto me from the ground. 11And now art thou cursed from the

earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from

thy hand; 12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield

unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the

earth.’

13And Cain said unto the LORD, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and

from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in

the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall

slay me.’

15And the LORD said unto him, ‘Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,

vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.’ And the LORD set a mark

upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in

the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Resource D - http://www.crossref-it.info/articles/479/The-White-Devil-~--

Act-5,-scene-2

Inte

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http://www.crossref-it.info/articles/479/The-White-Devil-~--Act-5,-scene-2

http://www.crossref-it.info/articles/479/The-White-Devil-~--Act-5,-scene-2

intertextuality and the context of reception: 1 and 2 · the white devil act 5, scene 1, scene 2,...

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