How does Isabella actually meet her death?
The death of Isabella happens very early on in the play in Act 2 Scene 2 through the medium of a dumb show which was a very popular device used in Elizabethan and Jacobean era. We see that Isabella is poisoned when she kisses the painting of Brachiano before bed. The lips on the portrait of Brachiano are laced with poison by Christophero and Julio as it is a known ritual of Isabella’s to kiss the portrait of her husband before bed. It is a depiction of her unyielding devotion to Brachiano and magnifies the horror and brutality of the nature of her death.
Based upon the speeches between Francisco and Monticelso in act 3 sc 1, what kind of trial is Vittoria going to receive?
Vittoria is set to face an unjust trial, as the outcome is almost decided before the trial has even taken place. We learn from the speech that there is nothing but ‘circumstances’ to prove that Vittoria has committed adultery. The only proof they need and have is ‘her black lust’, her adultery is unholy and this will be enough to condemn her and will be grounds for punishment. Monticelso being so close with the church has great power and later becomes the pope, so he has great influence over the verdict of the trial.
In Act 3 sc 2, How does the audience respond to Vittoria?
Vittoria in this scene shows that she is a strong and capable individual as she is able to defend herself. The audience after watching this scene may well adopt a new found respect for Vittoria, as she is eloquently able to defend herself, she appears wiser than the lawyer. She appears to be very calm and collected considering the circumstances and the sentence she may well face.
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