Mark Scheme And Model Answer (OCR A Level English Literature): Revision Note

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• Consider and incorporate a detailed discussion of the significance and influence of the contexts in which the texts were written and received, and how these might impact on the texts, with specific focus on the question:

  • These contexts include primarily literary context, but incorporating a discussion of other contexts as relevant to the focus of the question is also recommended

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• Compare, contrast and analyse the relationships between texts, as relevant to the focus of the question

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• Demonstrate excellent understanding of the genre 

• Write a well-structured, sustained and consistent argument that is developed in detail

• Write fluently and with confidence

• Use any critical concepts and/or terminology accurately

• Write accurately, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation

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• Make thoughtful judgements by considering literary and critical interpretations and perspectives of the texts, including changing interpretations over time

Question:

“Powerful emotions are often the excuse for unacceptable behaviour.”

In the light of this view, consider ways in which writers explore the connection between intense thoughts and bad deeds. In your answer, compare one drama text and one poetry text.

Proposition

“Powerful emotions are often the excuse for unacceptable behaviour.”

Topic sentence 1

Both Milton and Webster explore powerful emotions and themes such as pride and ambition but in different ways.

Sub point

Milton's focus is deeply rooted in religious doctrines, which reflect his theological beliefs; in contrast, Webster's exploration is more focused on the political and social dynamics of the Jacobean era, although the play still addresses moral and ethical questions.

Sub point

Milton's exploration is deeply rooted within the context of the Christian faith. His portrayal of Satan's pride serves as a reflection of the Biblical narrative of Lucifer's rebellion against God.

Sub point

Satan's ambition to overthrow God and his subsequent fall from grace are emblematic of the concept of hubris in Christian theology, which underscores the grave consequences of defiance against divine authority. 

Comparative topic sentence

In contrast, Webster explores the themes of pride and ambition within the specific socio-political context of the Jacobean era.  

Sub point

While the play does not have the same explicit religious backdrop as Paradise Lost, it still reflects the moral and ethical dilemmas within a society marked by patriarchal norms and social hierarchies.  

Sub point

The characters' ambitions and desires are set against the rigid class structure and societal expectations, where ambition, especially when exhibited by a woman, is often viewed as a threat to the established order. 

Sub point

The characters' ambitions and desires are set against the rigid class structure and societal expectations, where ambition, especially when exhibited by a woman, is often viewed as a threat to the established order.  

Sub point

The consequences of the characters' pride and ambition are therefore primarily social and personal and this reflects the power struggles and moral ambiguities of Jacobean society.

Proposition

“Powerful emotions are often the excuse for unacceptable behaviour.”

Topic sentence 2

Both the Duchess and Eve challenge societal norms and expectations imposed upon them through what could be viewed as their “unacceptable behaviour”.

Sub point

The Duchess marries Antonio, defying her brothers' authority and societal conventions, while Eve disobeys God's command by eating the forbidden fruit, which challenges divine authority and the established order in Paradise.

Sub point

The Duchess of Malfi is set in a world where repressed emotions drive the Duchess and her low-born husband to conventionally “unacceptable” behaviour.

Sub point

The Duchess, being of noble birth, is expected to conform to strict social norms and marry within her social class. The Duchess's defiance is driven by her quest for personal happiness and love in her relationships.  

Comparative topic sentence

In contrast, Eve's disobedience could be perceived as being motivated by curiosity, her ambition for knowledge and her desire to be equal to God in wisdom. 

Sub point

This demonstrates her pursuit of intellectual and spiritual autonomy. Created by God and placed in the idyllic Garden of Eden, Eve's curiosity and desire for wisdom lead her to the Tree of Knowledge.  

Sub point

Unlike the Duchess, Eve's pursuit is not primarily rooted in emotional fulfilment but in intellectual curiosity and a desire for enlightenment.  

Sub point

Eve seeks autonomy from God's limitations and rules and aspires to transcend her initial state of innocence and gain a deeper understanding of the world.  

Both Milton and Webster explore powerful emotions and themes such as pride and ambition but in different ways. Milton's focus is deeply rooted in religious doctrines, which reflect his theological beliefs; in contrast, Webster's exploration is more focused on the political and social dynamics of the Jacobean era, although the play still addresses moral and ethical questions. Ultimately, both authors suggest that powerful emotions like love, ambition and jealousy can lead characters to exhibit behaviour that – in their respective contexts – can be seen as morally “unacceptable”.

Milton's exploration is deeply rooted in the context of the Christian faith. For example, his portrayal of Satan's pride serves as a reflection of the Biblical narrative of Lucifer's rebellion against God. Satan's ambition to overthrow God and his subsequent fall from grace are emblematic of the concept of hubris in Christian theology, which underscores the grave consequences of defiance against divine authority. In contrast, Webster explores the themes of pride and ambition within the specific socio-political context of the Jacobean era. While the play does not have the same explicit religious backdrop as Paradise Lost, it still reflects the moral and ethical dilemmas within a society deeply entrenched in patriarchal norms and social hierarchies. The characters' ambitions and intense emotions and desires are therefore set against the rigid class structure and societal expectations, where ambition, particularly when exhibited by a woman, is often viewed as a threat to the established order. Thus, the consequences of the characters' pride and ambition are primarily social and personal and this reflects the power struggles and moral ambiguities of Jacobean society.  

Both the Duchess and Eve challenge societal norms and expectations imposed upon them through what could be viewed as their “unacceptable behaviour”. The Duchess marries Antonio, defying her brothers' authority and societal conventions, while Eve disobeys God's command by eating the forbidden fruit, which challenges divine authority and the established order in Paradise. The Duchess of Malfi is set in a world where repressed emotions drive the Duchess and her low-born husband to conventionally “unacceptable” behaviour. The Duchess, being of noble birth, is expected to conform to strict social norms and marry within her social class. However, her repressed emotions, particularly her desire for true love and autonomy, lead her to defy these conventions. This is evidenced in her declaration: “The misery of us that are born great! ...so we are forced to express our violent passions”. In this quotation, the Duchess laments the constraints placed upon her as a woman of noble birth and she expresses the anguish of being forced to conceal her true feelings and desires due to societal expectations. 

The critic R.S. White explores the theme of repression and the Duchess's defiance of societal norms and suggests her actions are a form of rebellion against the stifling restrictions placed upon her by her status and gender. White interprets the Duchess's decision to marry Antonio as a courageous act of expressing her repressed emotions and asserting her own autonomy. The Duchess's defiance of her brothers' authority and her pursuit of a relationship with Antonio challenges these norms, making her behaviour highly unconventional and unacceptable within the patriarchal framework of the time. Her defiance is thus driven by her desire for personal happiness and love in her relationship. 

In contrast, Eve's disobedience could be perceived as being motivated by curiosity, her ambition for knowledge and also her desire to be equal to God in wisdom. This demonstrates her pursuit of intellectual and spiritual autonomy. Having been created by God and placed in the idyllic Garden of Eden, Eve's curiosity and desire for wisdom lead her to the Tree of Knowledge. Unlike the Duchess, Eve's pursuit is not primarily rooted in emotional fulfilment but in intellectual curiosity: Eve seeks autonomy from God's limitations and rules and aspires to transcend her initial state of innocence and gain a deeper understanding of the world. As Eve states: “to compare / With that which, sooner or with later, he / Spare the sin of disobedience, that his God / Impair'd not, but favour'd oft the skill/ Of brutes and hunger, thirst, and outward sense, / If aught might else be sought”. In these lines, Eve contemplates the possibility of gaining knowledge and wisdom that could elevate her to a status equal to God's. This conveys her ambition and intense curiosity, which subsequently lead to her disobedient actions. 

Further, Milton's portrayal of Eve as the temptress and the cause of humanity's downfall could be perceived as a reflection of the prevailing misogyny of his era. Eve's curiosity and desire for knowledge, which could be viewed as admirable traits in a more modern context, would have been condemned in the context of disobedience to God's command. Milton's society would have interpreted Eve's actions as a warning against the dangers of these intense emotions and this would have reinforced the importance of obedience and submission to divine authority. Further, in relation to the Duchess’s and Eve’s actions, both characters respond differently. The Duchess remains steadfast in her love for Antonio and faces her fate with dignity and accepts responsibility for her choices. Eve, on the other hand, acknowledges her guilt and repents and seeks redemption, which demonstrates a complex mix of both remorse and accountability.

Within the theological context of the 17th century, obedience to God was paramount. God's command to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit represented a test of Adam and Eve's obedience and faith. However, Adam's decision to prioritise his intense love for Eve over his obedience to God's command could be viewed as a moral failure within the social and historical context of the poem. His love leads to an act of disobedience and directly challenges the divine authority, which disrupts the natural order established by God. His love and admiration for Eve is evidenced through the lines: “O fairest of creation, last and best / Of all God's works, creature in whom excelled” conveys Eve’s beauty and divine qualities. Despite his awareness of God's command, Adam's intense love for Eve leads him to eat the forbidden fruit, which marks the moment of humanity's Fall. Critic Stanley Fish suggests that Adam's love for Eve, which is portrayed as a powerful and overwhelming emotion, becomes the driving force behind his decision to eat the forbidden fruit. Fish argues that Milton deliberately portrays Adam's love for Eve as a form of idolatry, placing his affection for her above his devotion to God's command. It therefore demonstrates the consequences of prioritising earthly love over divine obedience.  

Both The Duchess of Malfi and Paradise Lost depict how intense emotions can lead characters to engage in morally unacceptable behaviour. Whether driven by love, jealousy, pride or ambition, these intense emotions lead to tragic outcomes. While the contexts and motivations differ in these two texts, the underlying theme remains consistent: powerful emotions can serve as excuses for individuals to justify their actions, even when those actions are ultimately destructive and morally reprehensible.