What are the tortures inflicted upon the Duchess during imprisonment?
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.
Answer
What are the tortures inflicted upon the Duchess during imprisonment?
In John Webster’s (1578-1632) “The Duchess of Malfi,” the Duchess suffers a lot. She faces injustice and inhuman torture at the hands of her selfish brothers: Ferdinand and the Cardinal. During her time in prison, they also torment her emotionally to break her spirit.
When the Duchess’s brothers learn that she has married Antonio and has children, they become furious. They want to punish her. So, Ferdinand orders Bosola to imprison her in a dark cell. They torture her both physically and emotionally.
Fake Hand and Wax Figures: Ferdinand meets the Duchess in the dark cell. He gives her a hand to hold and lies that it is her dead husband, Antonio’s hand. He wants her to think Antonio is dead. After this, Bosola brings lights and shows her wax figures that look like Antonio and her children. These fake bodies make her believe that her whole family is dead. This is emotional torture to break her spirit. The Duchess feels so broken and wants to die.
Madmen and Executioners: Moreover, Ferdinand brings madmen from the local asylum to torment her mind. These madmen shout and act wildly. He hopes this will make her go mad, but she stays calm and strong. Then, Bosola meets the Duchess disguised as a tomb-maker and says she will be killed. He says: “I am a tomb-maker.” However, the Duchess remains brave. She declares:
“I am Duchess of Malfi still.”
This shows her courage and dignity. Eventually, Ferdinand orders Bosola to bring some executioners. The executioners strangle the Duchess and her two children.
In short, the Duchess suffers emotional pain, fear, and loss during her imprisonment. Her brothers want to destroy her mind before killing her body. But the Duchess stays brave and noble until the end. Her courage makes her a truly tragic and strong heroine.