The Duchess of Malfi Marriage Quotes

This line, spoken by the Duchess right after Ferdinand calls her children bastards, is fabulous: the Duchess, who's been oppressed by patriarchal power throughout the play, is here authorizing herself and her marriage through the patriarchal power of the church; essentially rebelling against Ferdinand by submitting to rule of Man Power. Also, given what happens later, the Duchess's promise that Ferdinand will "howl in hell" makes it sound like she's cursing him to turn into the werewolf he eventually becomes. How fierce is the Duchess? So fierce.