The Duchess of Malfi

Before the Renaissance

revenge was a common way justice was implemented. (the Renaissance brought the development of a legal system which became more sophisticated as courts of law became more established).

How was revenge considered when Webster wrote Duchess

unlawful (but conveyed unhappiness in a society infected by anarchy) but revenge drama was popular because it provided people the opportunity to imagine having their grievances addressed by the court.

How the audience's ambivalent mix of sympathy for the wronged individual and a moralistic antipathy towards the avengers was resolved

the avenger would achieve satisfaction but they would also become a victim.

Impact of entrance in act 3 scene 2

Antonio comes out of hiding only once Ferdinand leaves -makes him appear unheroic.

there are fewer stage direction than in modern drama

when the play was first published in 1623, character names grouped together at the beginning of each scene - modern editors able to locate entrances and exits most appropriate to them.

impact of Bosola's sudden entrance after the Cardinal in act 5 scene 5

relates to his vision of seeing 'a thing armed with a rake / That seems to strike at me' (V.5) - this creates excitement by dramatically foreshadowing forthcoming events.

impact of the use of light and darkness in Act IV scene 1 when Ferdinand deceives his sister with the severed hand.

contributes to the sense of hopeless gloom -makes Ferdinand's deception credible, and creates empathy and pathos for the Duchess by shocking the audience with the sudden exposure of the horrifying hand.

Aristotle argued in tragedy a hero's hamartia should be "error of judgement or frailty"

The Duchess' hamartia is that she succumbs to a young woman's desire for love and places personal happiness above duty.

dramatic arc

Webster's Duchess criticised for its 'random' structure and for its collapse into anti-climax after the Duchess' death (William Archer "ramshackle looseness of structure").

Parallel scenes between Duchess and Julia

the abortive affair between Julia and Bosola parodies the genuine love story of the Duchess and Antonio: Julia's unabashed lust "I am wanton; this nice modesty in ladies is but a troublesome familiar that haunts them' contrasts with the Duchess' bashful confession of her love for Antonio 'Oh, let me shroud my blushes in your bosom'. (D & A love is pure and selfless love whereas J & B only have lust that's entirely self-motivated. Ironically, Webster shows the outcome to be the same for all, thus 'proving' the thesis introduced in the opening speech of the play that any corruption at the 'head' of the fountain will rain down destruction on all, regardless of whom they are or what they represent).

parallel scenes between the Cardinal and Antonio

Act 5 scene 4 the Cardinal confine everyone to their room so he can conceal his murder of Julia and the intended murders of Antonio and Bosola -this mirrors Act 2 scene 2 when Antonio (acting on Delio's advice) fabricates a lie in order to keep everyone in their chambers throughout the night so the Duchess' labour can be hidden. (Again, we are dealing with polar opposites, this time between birth and death, plotting creates a sense of déjà vu and thus reinforces the strong sense of fatalism within the play).

Charles Spencer

'what clearly turned Webster on was cruelty'.

T.S Elliot

Webster was 'much possessed with death'

David Cecil

Webster portrays evil as far more powerful than good

Ferdinand's diamond simile

"Whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust" - showing that ultimately we all cause our own demise.

"The last part of my life hath done me best service"

Bosola proud he took revenge.

Bosola anticipates his fate and how all the events are moving towards an inevitable tragic end

"Oh, my fate moves swift"

Bosola the meaningless and randomness of life (reflective of Webster's nihilistic viewpoint)

"We are merely the stars' tennis balls, struck and banded which way please them"

Maria Aberg production

focus on "masculinity and chaos"/ blood soaked and gory that front row provided with protective blanket/ "Aberg's production is clearly based on the idea that there is something toxic about unchecked masculinity" ( Cardinal rapes Julia).

Antonio's emotive description of the Duchess (evidence of Webster's poetic writing)

"She stains the time past, lights the time to come"(I.1) -suggests metaphorical luminosity of the duchess' physical and spiritual essence is so great that she eclipses the past and puts it into shade.

how other else can Antonio's description be interpreted ("She stains the time past, lights the time to come" I.1)

signifies she's a source of light that shines radiantly into the future from the prism of the present (the Duchess continuously associated with light throughout the play: upon seeing her strangled body, Ferdinand declares 'Cover her face. Mine eyes dazzle' 4.2)

Ferdinand is associated with fire

He says only the Duchess's "wh*re's blood" can put out his "wild-fire" and imagines killing her children by having them "burning in a coal-pit" and lighting "them like a match"

Bosola about the brothers

they "are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools" -suggests stagnant and impure water which contrasts with Antonio's simile of the French court being a fountain.

Antonio states corrupt government leads to corrupt society

"Some cursed example poison 't near the head, death and diseases through the whole land spread" -language of physical decay is emblematic of a society in which moral corruption has become rampant.

Duchess tells Ferdinand a lie (possibly to protect Antonio)

"When I choose a husband I will marry for your honour" (demonstrates the inner conflict she has with wanting to own her life and complying with the expected role of women in society).

Thomas Middleton

called the play a "a masterpiece of tragedy".

the Romantics divided critic of the play

some (Moore) praise the "poetic power of his tragic vision/ some (Kingsley) criticise the chaotic structure of the play.

Opening scene with Antonio and Delio is reflective of the time

during the late Renaissance, France was associated with fashion, order and culture; Italy with corruption and immorality (because it was a Catholic country)

The Reformation

1500s Martin Luther begun a movement against Catholic teachings because he argued the Church had too much power and needed to be reformed (could relate to the unchecked control the Cardinal demonstrates/ attempts to administer)

The White Devil

similarly set in Italy and deals with themes of revenge and plotting/ includes a Cardinal figure who becomes a Pope, allowing him to excommunicate Vittoria, who like the duchess is killed.

Jacobean court corruption

When the Duke and Cardinal are described as “like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools” Webster’s audience would be reminded that James’ court was corrupt e.g James sold of noble titles in order to generate fund for the royal purse

Jacobean Beliefs about social order

* during the 16th and 17th centuries, laws were introduced to regulate who would be allowed to wear silk or velvet
* official documents demonised revolts and promoted a political system of hierarchy
* “even by God himself (kings) are called gods” -James I