Duchess Of Malfi - Characters Flashcards
Duchess
- she represents a victim of a patriarchal and corrupted religious system
represents a woman who is determined to live autonomously:
She defies her brothers’ demands that she remains a widow
She chooses her own husband
How does Webster choose to present the Dcuhess’s attempts
futile in order to criticise the status quo
As well as this, Webster portrays the violent consequences of the Duchess’s choice to become a mother in defiance of her brothers’ wishes
Her desire for autonomy and personal agency within her society are presented as doomed:
Although she chooses to live on her own terms, ultimately, she and her husband are murdered by her brothers, a cardinal and a duke
Duality of the duchess
The Duchess, a likeable heroine, is an effective tragic hero to present Webster’s criticism of corruption:
She is witty and humorous
She is humble and self-effacing
However, at times she is self-absorbed and vain:
She is rude to her maid
She believes Antonio’s marriage to her is a reward for his virtuous life
What is the duchess’s TRAGIC FLAW
Her naive nature as she trusts too easily
She tells Antonio time will temper her brothers’ reactions
She dismisses Antonio’s protests about their class difference
She believes Ferdinand has forgiven her for marrying again
She tells Bosola her secret, which leads to their capture
How is the duchess portrayed
The Duchess is portrayed as a sacrificial character:
She is the catalyst for Bosola’s repentance and potential salvation as his cynical attitude is softened by her actions
She sacrifices herself for love
Ferdinand
Ferdinand is Duke of Calabria, brother of the Cardinal and the twin brother of the Duchess
