Duchess of Malfi Context

Question 1

Time Period

Answer 1

Jacobean

Question 2

Origin

Answer 2

Built on work of Thomas Kyd in the Spanish Tragedy

Question 3

Aristotle

Answer 3

Bound by Aristotelian convention to create a morally upright heroine who possessed one ‘fatal flaw’ or ‘hamartia’

Question 4

Richard III

Answer 4

Bosola’s early characterisation inspired by Shakespeare’s presentation of Richard III, another malcontent

Question 5

Malcontent

Answer 5

Bosola not simply naturally inclined towards vanity yet, his vanity is a result of a backwards social standing

Question 6

1605 Gunpowder Plot

Answer 6

Webster’s presentation of nature of men impacted by a contemporary suspicion of Catholics during the 1605 Gunpowder Plot where group of Catholics attempted to depose King

Question 7

Orazino Busino

Answer 7

Webster’s Duchess of Malfi is ‘in condemnation of the grandeur of the Catholic church’

Question 8

Contemporary audience would liken Duchess to …

Answer 8

Lady Arbella Stuart:

• Cousin of King James I who married William Seymour (lower status) after being told not to as too close to throne
• Seymour = Antonio
• Arbella + Seymour try to flee on separate boats but Arbella captured, but staved herself in Tower of London (“I am Duchess of Malfi still”, “I’ll starve myself to death”)

Question 9

‘The White Devil’

Answer 9

• Duchess + Vittoria both ‘femme fatales’ (uses attraction to deceive men)
• Vittoria’s sins are having a lover and being sexually aware, like Duchess
• Vittoria was a victim of circumstance but had a sexual desire so sinful
• Both Vittoria + Duchess die bravely
• Both have malcontent brothers

Question 10

King James I

Answer 10

King James I 17th century court in England consumed with corrupted + sinful characters as James sold positions of power to his friends during reign

Question 11

Italy

Answer 11

Webster set play in Italy to criticise King James I’s court in England without being imprisoned