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Overview

Synopsis

Set in the Italian city of Malfi, John Webster’s tragedy tells the story of the Duchess, a young widow who falls in love with her steward, Antonio. However her scheming brothers, Duke Ferdinand and the Cardinal, want to stop the Duchess from marrying again as they are keen to eventually seize her fortune. The Duchess and Antonio marry in secret and have three children before they are discovered and brought to task by her brothers.

When the Duchess and Antonio attempt to run away, only Antonio and their eldest child manage to escape. The Duchess is betrayed by her servant Bosola, who was working as a spy for Ferdinand, and the brothers kill their sister and her younger children. Overcome with guilt and shame, Bosola declares that he will seek revenge for the Duchess. In a tragic chain of escalating violence, the Cardinal confesses his role in the murders to his mistress, Julia, but then murders her to keep her silence. Intent on seeking revenge, Bosola then mistakenly kills Antonio, believing him to be the Cardinal. Eventually Bosola murders the Cardinal but he and Ferdinand then kill each other in a brawl. As the play ends, the eldest son of Antonio and the Duchess takes his place as heir to the Malfi fortune.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1612
Genres
Drama, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Italy, Seventeenth Century
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Antonio Bologna

Lead

Male

Spoken

The Cardinal

Lead

Male

Spoken

Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria

Lead

Male

Spoken

The Duchess

Lead

Female

Spoken

Delio

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Daniel de Bosola

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Cariola

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Julia

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Count Malateste

Featured

Male

Spoken

Castruccio

Featured

Male

Spoken

Silvio

Featured

Male

Spoken

Marquis of Pescara

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher