Duchess of Malfi: Context Flashcards
Backdrop of Duchess of Malfi
- Early 17th century
- Jacobean era
- Set in Italy
- Revenge tragedy
What is a malcontent?
A character who is often discontent with the social structure and other characters in the play (e.g Bosola, Satan)
What is a machiavellian + where does the idea come from?
A method of being cunning, scheming and unscrupulous - especially in politics
- Derives from 15th Century political philosopher Niccolo Machievelli
What year was The Duchess of Malfi written?
1612-1613
Why is the Duchess of Malfi based in Italy?
- For English theatergoers of Webster’s time, Italy represented corruption and deception. Therefore, was a safer setting than England for describing the immoral actions of the aristocracy
- Anti-catholic sentiment
What were the views about catholicism within Italy in
Who is the character of the Duchess based on?
Giovanna d’Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi
Who is a malcontent in the play?
Bosola; he is malcontent - unhappy, unsettled and displeased with the way of the world
What does the malcontent often show?
A variable level of morality - their morality will change over the course of the play
Where does the term ‘Machiavellian’ come from?
Italian renaissance diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli, who wrote ‘the Prince’
How were catholics viewed in the Jacobean era?
Considered traitors: linked to the gunpowder plot, inability to ‘trust face’ as Catholics would practice in private
How was the class structure in Jacobean England?
incredibly rigid; it was very rare for anyone to marry outside of the class they were born into
Where was the play first performed?
In Blackfriars, more intimate and frequented by the intellectuals - allowed for more sneaking and subtle lighting
(built on the site of a former monastery - catholic ghost of the past)
Who was the king when the play was written?
King James I
What was King James’ court like in reality?
James’s court was infamous for its profligacy and corruption. He himself showered his favourites with money, offices and privileges
What was the ownership of married women like in the early 17th century?
Married women moved from a position of legal subservience to her father to being legally subject to her husband
How did widows possess a degree of independence?
Could claim the independence to decide her second husband herself, rather than marrying in accordance with her family’s wishes
What is lycanthropy?
- A human with the ability to shape shift into a wolf (either purposely or after being placed under a curse/affliction)
- The transformation was supposedly accomplished by a satanic allegiance
- Symbolizes mans duality, as conflict between body and soul
- Links to second stage of tragedy in Renaissance times (as passions seen as animalistic rather than intrinsic) MIGHT CHANGE
John Knox’s (16th) ideas against ‘the monstrous regiment of women’
- Labelled female rulers as “unnatural”
- Incongruous for a woman to rule a state while being ruled by her husband
- rule by women is contrary to the Bible
(EXAMPLE: Queen Elizabeth I, who never married)
What is ‘The Lord of Misrule’?
A peasant or sub-deacon appointed to be in charge of Christmas revelries (unusual moment that breaks traditional hierarchical ideas).
Thomas Overbury ‘New and Choice Characters’ (1615) view on virtuous widows:
‘She is like the ________ gold, only employed for Princes’ _______, she never receives but one man’s _________’
‘She is like the purest gold, only employed for Princes’ medals, she never receives but one man’s impression’
What is neostoicism (late 16th-17th century)?
- Became popular in Europe
- Practical philosophy: basic rule of life is that humans should not yield to the passions, but submit to God
- Four passions: greed, joy, fear and sorrow
- Everything that happens (even if it’s wrong) is under control of God so tends to the good
What is stoicism?
- Ancient Greek philosophy
- the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint
Quote from Queen Elizabeth I Speech to the Troops at Tilbury (1588)
‘I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king’
