Malfi Critics Flashcards
P.B Murray
The radiant spirit of the Duchess cannot be killed
Muriel Bradbrook
With all his many roles, Bosola is never permitted the luxury of being a self
Lee Bliss
The Cardinal’s cool, unemotional detachment is more terrifying than Ferdinand’s impassioned raving
Nanci Roider
The play is a cautionary tale which shows what can happen when women marry without being granted the proper consent
Travis Bogard
The ultimate tragedy of Webster’s world is not the death of any individual but the presence of evil and decay which drags all mankind to death
R.S White
Webster’s villains meet their deaths in ways which satisfy poetic justice (counter argue for Ferdinand)
Rupert Brooke
The end is a maze of death and madness
Kenneth Tyan
Webster’s characters die superbly, asserting their selfhood to the last breath.
New Historicist Critic
Webster is challenging the patriarchy of the 17th century through the Duchess and the power she holds, ultimately coming to the conclusion that the patriarchy dominates society.
Marxist Critic
A Marxist critic would feel empowered by Antonio’s brave decision to accept the Duchess’s marriage proposal, as it meant that the lower class were rising up and becoming equal