Act 4, Scene 3 Summary

This scene begins in the aftermath of Soranzo's discovery that Annabella is both not a virgin and pregnant. He furiously accuses her of being a whore and of using him as a cover to disguise her lusts. With equal anger she tells him she only married him because he convinced her she'd go mad if he didn't, that she's be prepared to learn to love him and that she's convinced the child she's carrying is a son and potential heir. He demands to know who the father is, and she refuses to tell him but says the father is noble and glorious. Any woman would be glad to bear his child. Soranzo becomes increasingly angry as he demands again and again to know the father's name, and Annabella tauntingly refuses to tell him. He beats her and threatens her, but she...