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Extreme Unction
A house of convertites is, as Cardinal Monticelso himself defines it, a house for “penitent whores.” Though there is no real record of such a thing existing outside of John Webster’s play, Webster imagines that such houses would be fairly lax, governed only by an older Matron. Though Vittoria is sent to a house of convertites as punishment for her affair with Brachiano, she is seemingly allowed to leave at will.
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House of Convertites Term Timeline in The White Devil
The timeline below shows where the term House of Convertites appears in The White Devil. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 3, Scene 2
The trial ends, and Monticelso assigns Vittoria and her lady-in-waiting Zanche to a house for “convertites ,” or “penitent whores.” The court doesn’t charge Brachiano, Flamineo, or Marcello with any crime....
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...of madness. As Vittoria leaves the courthouse, she swears to Monticelso that in her heart, the house of convertites will become “honester […] than the Pope’s palace, and more peaceable than thy soul.”
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Act 4, Scene 2
Flamineo and the Matron are now at the house of convertites , discussing important political news. They reveal that the Pope is on his deathbed, and...
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...but “infamy,” roping her into this elaborate murder plot and getting her sent to this house of convertites . Vittoria throws herself on her bed and begins to sob, while Flamineo encourages her...
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