Malfi - Context

Question 1

X

Answer 1

Her transgression of societal values when she proposes to Antonio symbolises a crisis reflective of the chaotic reign of James 1

Question 2

How can the play be interpreted?

Answer 2

The play can be interpreted as a commentary on James 1 reign with Webster transporting the plot to a setting far away in Italy so that his views are less controversial

Question 3

James 1 reign

Answer 3

1603-1625

Question 4

Reaction when James 1 became monarch after Queen Elizabeth 1 died

Answer 4

great relief as everybody was terrified by the lack of an heir.

Question 5

Towards the end of a Elizabeth’s reign there was. …

Answer 5

Extreme poverty, civil war, famine and bad harvests

Question 6

When did Elizabeth 1 die?

Answer 6

1603

Question 7

What did James 1 want to do?

Answer 7

Unite Scotland and England

Question 8

James 1

1) sexuality
2) witchcraft
3) money
4) drunkenness
5) gunpowder plot

Answer 8

His sexuality was a matter of dispute. He had several relationships with male courtiers such as George Villiers and Esme Stewark.

He was obsessed with witchcraft and blamed witches for the death of his mother, Mary Queen of Scots.

Reputation for giving excessively generous gifts; he was an outrageous spender. The historian ‘Smith’ says James was a ‘weak king of England’ who ‘wasted money’

He was associated with drunkenness (symbol of breaking tradition)

First time he favoured Protestant faith was after the gunpowder plot in 1605. This was very controversial.

Question 9

Patriarchal Elizabethan society

Answer 9

Marriage is organised by men on behalf of the daughters

If a woman was widowed the rest of the family would be worried about family honoured

Question 10

Stereotype of widows

Answer 10

They were obsessed with sex

Ferdinand and Cardinal think the Duchess is like this

Question 11

Conflicts in societal values

Answer 11

Protestants viewed love and marriage at the heart of marriage whereas the upper-class food ideas of dynastic union to better social hierarchy

Question 12

Example of woman presented in a derogatory and misogynistic way

Answer 12

The Wide of Bath

Question 13

James I children

Answer 13

Prince Henry - died of typhoid, after his death lord of nostalgia for time of Elizabeth, after he died flourishing of Jacobean cult of Elizabeth

Elizabeth Stuart - named after Elizabeth I, became associated with nostalgia for Elizabeth I

Question 14

Context on John Webster

Answer 14

Born 1578
Reputation for gory plays
15 years younger than Shakespeare but still considered his contemporary
Native of London
Most controversial of all Jacobean dramatists

Question 15

What was John Webster’s first play

Answer 15

‘The White Devil’ performed in 1612

Question 16

What is the Duchess of Malfi based on?

Answer 16

Palace of Pleasure by William Painter about Giovanna D’Aragon, Queen of Naples

Question 17

How is DOM a revenge tragedy?

Imagery/atmosphere 
Assist
Play within play
Wolf
Soliloquy 
Type of murder
Final act

Answer 17

Blood, gore, darkness imagery
Villains that assist the revenge are killed (Bosola)
A play within a play (framed narrative) - madmen show organised by Ferdinand
Madness - Ferdinand as a wolf
Soliloquies
Violent murders
5th and final act where all characters are killed

Question 18

Where is the play set and what can we say about that country

Answer 18

Italy

Was the birthplace of the renaissance and centre of Catholicism

Question 19

Manuals reminding women of the wifely duties

Answer 19

‘A Crystal Glass for Christian Women’ - Philip Stubbes 1591

Question 20

Other plays set abroad which allowed them to what

Answer 20

‘Measure for measure’ set in Vienna allowed dramatists to freely but indirectly critique the English court

Question 21

James I’s ascension to to the throne ….

Answer 21

James I’s ascension to the throne was initially welcomed however soon the sense of security of having a married monarch with an heir was undermined by his extravagant habits associated with sex and drinking.

Question 22

Theatrical context on how the darkness scene has been performed

Answer 22

During an indoor performance in Sam Wanamaker playhouse in 2014 this scene was directed in total darkness. Only when the Duchess calls out in horror - ‘Oh! Horrible’, are the candles lit and the audience realise Ferdinand has given her a wax hand.
However, critics such as Browne suggest the same scene played in an outside space such as the Globe would be more impactful; with slightly more light the audience are invited to watch the plot unfold and Ferdinand’s cruel actions minute-by-minute instead.

Question 23

Anatomy

Answer 23

Interest in anatomy and public dissections reflected by characters fascination
‘What’s this flesh? Fantastical puff paste’ - Bosola about Dead duchess

Ferdinand’s threat to the doctor ‘flay off his skin to cover one of the anatomies’

Death and anatomy fascinating to audience then

Question 24

Religion

Answer 24

Elizabeth Protestant
James I catholic

Elizabeth had Catholic opposition

James - strong advocate of royal absolutism, believing in divine right of kings and that he was an intermediary between his people and god.

Disliked by people because he spent lavishly, only summoned parliament once between 1612 and 1622, levied an unpopular tax on imports and exports without parliaments consent

Puritanism = type of Protestant

Gunpowder plot was a catholic plot. Triggered anti Catholicism and harsh legislation

Bye plot 1603 to kidnap James
Main plot 1603 remove James from throne and replace with his cousin lady Arabella Stuart
Gun powder plot 1605 attempt to blow up James’ parliament

Pope = catholic

James passed an act where everyone had to swear an Oath of Allegiance denying the popes authority over the king

Anti catholic Jacobean England

Malfi - catholic duchess and catholic country