Tragedy and opening context Flashcards
Main characteristics of revenge tragedy
Blood thirsty deaths and inflicted injuries
A hero already down on his luck rather than the downfall happening in the play
Ghost as driving force
Hero unable to act decisively
A play within a play
Madness
Deaths at end
Where is the play set and significance
Malfi- in Italy
16+17 century stereotypes of them were
catholic - but England was Protestant Sexual deboratory Hot headed Machiavellian characters Food culture and fashion
Means Webster can critique society without backlash from England
Dramatic personae
Cardinal is not chaste
Duchess and Ferdinand are twins
Antonio is of lower status
Author
Webster was interested in law
First child born 2 months after marriage - relation to duchess difficulty in keeping pregnancy a secret
1612- precessions for Prince henrrys death - life size model on top of coffin (inspired wax figures)
What literary period was play written in
Jacobean drama
True story behind play
Giovanna married 12 in 1490
5 months after husbands death - gave birth to son and she became regent of Amalfi since her son was an infant
Beccadelli was gored to run her estate and the two secretly married and had kids
Faced the wrath of the Giovanna brothers one of which was a truly cardinal
Italian perspective
Busino - play was hostile presentstion of Catholicism
How play seen today
Arguably more focus on intricate details of character depth and psychology
2012 production by Simpson shoe vivid representations of character complexity
Use of madrigal singers, Greek chorus climb the scaffolding around Ferdinand and one of them hands him a dagger, symbolising his madness and a malevolent supernatural presence
Hazlitt 1820
The nearest to Shakespeare to anything we have on record
Women
Renaissance society excluded women from leading role in public life
Daughter and virgin -> wife and mum -> widow
Women always under control of male
Wealthy widow - in charge of life. Even then son often l… restricted
Daughters of prominent families married off my parents to make political or business connections. Poor people had more independence
Religion and Catholicism
Act of supremacy by king Henry V111 1534 declared king be the only supreme head on earth in England in place of Pope
Roman Catholics in northwest England but tolerance didn’t exist.
By law everyone was supposed to belong to the Church of England
James
Sexual relationship with Buckingham
Widowed women
Potentially achieved autonomy from men upon death of their husbands, so in theory we’re free to remain single or choose another spouse to their own liking
However women sometimes suffered hardassment from male relatives or neighbours so best option was to seek protection from a new husband
