John Fords Tis Pity Shes a Whore is rife with examples of the link between a female characters outspoken nature and sexual promiscuity. This convention is established almost immediately with the name of Annabellas servant, Putana. Putanas name, it seems, is derived from the Italian puttana, meaning whore or prostitute. In Act I, Scene II, Putana is giving Annabella lengthy advice about which of her many suitors she should marry, and Annabella entreats her Pray, do not talk so much (131). As such, there is an immediately linkage made between outspoken women and wanton sexual behavior.Much of the link between vocal women and whoreish-ness (and, by extension, the proper punishment for said behavior) is present in the character of Hippolita. Hippolita is guilty of adultery and of murdering her husband to marry her lover, Soranzo, who later scorns her, leaving her (understandably) upset. Hippolita enters in Act II, Scene II with a lengthy, impassioned speech to Soranzo about his betrayal of her-Look, perjurd man, on herWhom thou and thy distracted lust have wrongd.Thy sensual rage of blood hath made my youthA scorn to men and angelsHowever, despite all of Hippolitas rightfully expressed anger about Soranzos betrayal, it is ultimately Hippolita who is punished, in a way that is specifically symbolic to this tie of outspokenness and sexual promiscuity. In Act IV, Scene I, At Annabella and Soranzos wedding banquet, a masque is presented by a group of women, who, presumably, in their performance, remain silent. Soranzo then says Thanks, lovely virgins, which equates silence with virginity and purity. It is then immediately revealed that Hippolita was in fact one of the silent dancers, and this revelation again immediately equates her with the opposite of silence and purity. Hippolita speaks at length to Annabella before she is killed unexpectedly by drinking from a poisoned cup that she (presumably) intended to kill Soranzo with. In this way, Hippolita is given the ultimate punishment for her adultery- death.But Hippolita is not the only female character punished and ultimately murdered for speaking the truth. In Act IV, Scene III, after Soranzo discovers Annabella is pregnant, Vasques questions Putana about who the father is. Putana reveals to Vasques that it is Giovanni, Annabellas brother. Vasques responds to this information by calling in men and saying Come sirs, take me this old damnable hag, gag her instantly, and put out her eyes (198). Putana hasnt even committed the crime of sexual promiscuity, but she is still punished for speaking of it. Ultimately, after most of the main players have killed each other and the Cardinal is looked to to decide Putanas fate, he orders that she be taev/out of the city, for examples sake,/there to be burnt to ashes (219). What is significant about Putanas fate is that she hasnt explicitly committed an act of sexual wanton-ness, but still, being associated with Annabellas acts and the mere act of speaking out about them is enough to render her fit to be an example to the women of Italy about what fate may befall them if they do not behave appropriately.