The Duchess of Malfi Lies and Deceit Quotes

Despite everything that's happened, Antonio's convinced that if he can just explain the truth to the Cardinal, the Cardinal will see reason, they can hug it out, and everything will be copacetic. Antonio's described as relentlessly honest, a quality which makes him a good guy, but unsuited to the world of deceit and intrigue he enters as the Duchess's husband. Contrast his intent here to go "in his own shape" to the Cardinal with Bosola's many different "shapes."

Julia's badgering the Cardinal to tell her what's on his mind (um, the execution of the Duchess and her kids?), and he keeps trying to tell her, "girl, really, you don't want to know; trust me, you can't handle it." One of the neat things about this line is the way in which the Cardinal is characterizing "a prince's secrets." In trying to find out what he's thinking, Julia isn't just trying to be close to him (in the way a woman could be close to her lover), she's trying to become his princely peer.

Julia thinks she's ready for this (evil, manipulative) jelly, but soon finds out that she really, really isn't. At the behest of Bosola, she's trying to find out what the Cardinal's worrying about, promising him that she's totally capable of keeping his secrets. Julia's attempting to become the Cardinal's confidant in addition to being his lover, but ultimately she's not cut out to run with the big dogs, and it costs her life.