DM CONTEXT

Question 1

Feminism - Jacobean theatre (theatrical context)

Answer 1

Women not allowed to act, female roles acted by boys and men

Question 2

Social context - Elizabeth I

Answer 2

Jacobean society became disillusioned by ageing of Elizabeth I
- women power through beauty

Question 3

Real Duchess of Amalfi

Answer 3

1504 widowed Duchess of Amalfi secretly married her steward, Antonio Bologna
1512 her brothers put her to death when marriage was revealed

Question 4

How did Webster hear of Duchess’ story? His influences?

Answer 4

1565 Belleforest’s ‘Histoires Tragiques’ - one of the stories : Duchess condemned for violating sexual and social codes in this version

Question 5

17th century intermarriage

Answer 5

17th century growing intermarriage between ‘old’ and ‘new’ families of wealth
-> growing economies especially in London (where Webster lived and grew up)

Question 6

When was it written and performed?

Answer 6

1612, 1613

- James I’s court = decadent, anti-Catholic, etc.

Question 7

Economic context -> affecting social

Answer 7

Webster’s dramatic career correspond with growth of London economically and in population
- London became import-led economy - cloth trade
= cultural influences - change in social hierarchy

Question 8

political setting of DM

Answer 8

set during Spanish hegemony/leadership of Naples - backdrop of ‘occupying’ authority
- vulnerable authority = mirrored in power struggle between male and female political figures

Question 9

views on marriage in Jacobean society

Answer 9

marriage = sacred

• v difficult to separate, had to be petitioned for by husband
• this is why Duchess takes upon herself to ‘propose’ and choose her husband