The Duchess of Malfi, the protagonist of the trargedy
“The Duchess of Malfi” by John Webster, is completely an exceptional
character from the typical Jacobean one. The author paints the character with
the colour of sensuality, passion, strength, wit, and independence. Now we are
going to discuss her character.
The Duchess of Malfi is the sister of Cardinal
and the twin sister of Ferdinand. She is never referred to by name
throughout the play. At the very beginning of the play, we see she is a widow,
but “still in the bloom of youth”. Actually “The Duchess of Malfi”
is a tragedy on a real duchess “Giovanna”, a girl of twelve, married to Alfonso,
duke of Amalfi, in 1490. She became widow at the age of twenty in 1498. Later,
defying the order of her older brothers she fell in love with a man beneath her
class, secretly married and gave birth to three children. But when her marriage was discovered she
along with her husband and children was mercilessly killed.
The Duchess is highly influenced by the sprite of
Renaissance. ...
The Duchess is very indomitable to gratify her own
intention. She proves her strength by marring Antonio defying her brother’s
warning not to remarry. In her remarriage she is also very lawful. ...
Moreover, we see that, The Duchess has a deep faith in
religion. She wants to meet her beloved hereafter. ...
The strength and the firmness of The Duchess shine
through the darkness. In the face of the death she is defiant, and fearless. ...
As a free individual, she places passion above the
reason. She, being swayed by passion, becomes easily deceived by trusting Bosola
with her secret. ...
The Duchess is seen from the start of the
play as a lusty character pursuing the affection of Antonio but to us, the
Duchess cannot be said as lusty, because every person, in this world, has his
or her physical desire.
On the contrary, the Duchess does not want to give any
part of her wealth to others. So she should remarry.
Excellent
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