The Duchess of Malfi : Key info
The Duchess of Malfi is a notable literary work by John Webster. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Duchess of Malfi.
Key info
Playwright: John Webster
Title of the Playwright: Jacobean Tragedian
Original title (1623 Quarto): The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy.
Modern title: The Duchess of Malfi (The Tragedy of the Duchess of Malfi)
Source: The story of the Duchess of Malfi, based on true events from Palace of Pleasure by William Painter (1575), which was itself taken from Historia Tragica by Matteo Bandello.
Written Time: 1612–1613
First Performed: Around 1614 by the King’s Men
Published Date: 1623 (1st quarto edition)
Total Acts & Scenes: 5 Acts; 20 Scenes (varies slightly by edition)
Genre: Tragedy (Revenge Tragedy, Domestic Tragedy)
Point of View: Third-person dramatic (play presented through dialogue and action)
Climax: The murder of the Duchess in Act IV, Scene II. Antonio, Duke Ferdinand, the Cardinal, and Bosola all kill each other.
Setting: Early 16th-century Italy
Time Setting: Approximately between 1504 and 1513
Place Setting: Malfi (Italy), Rome, and Milan (Italian courts and palaces)
Key Notes:
Jacobean drama refers to plays written during the reign of King James I (1603–1625). The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean revenge tragedy, full of revenge, bloodshed, conspiracy, and moral corruption. In such plays, an innocent person is often wronged or killed, and revenge follows later.
In this play, the Duchess is a tragic heroine. She is independent, brave, and disobeys her brothers for love. She secretly marries and becomes a symbol of a woman’s freedom. But her courage leads her to a tragic end.
Melodrama: The word “Melodrama” comes from the Greek words “melos” (meaning music) and “drama.” It is a kind of play or story filled with strong emotions, dramatic events, excitement, and a clear fight between good and evil. In melodrama, the hero is usually brave and honest, the heroine is innocent and beautiful, and the villain is cruel and clever. The story often includes danger, sudden twists, and emotional speeches. The good characters are fully good, and the bad characters are fully bad. So, the audience can easily decide whom to love and whom to hate. In the end, the good people always win, and the evil ones are punished. Melodrama easily touches the emotions of ordinary people and has become a popular form of entertainment.