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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
- Book
- John Webster
- 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
John Webster was born in London sometime around 1580 (about sixteen years after William Shakespeare), and was the son of a carriage maker and a blacksmith's daughter. He began his career collaborating with other playwrights, writing The Malcontent with John Marston in 1604 and Westward Ho with Thomas Dekker in 1607. Webster wrote The Duchess of Malfi ten years into the Jacobean era in England and just a few years before Shakespeare’s death. The play is based on an Italian novella, which
to read the context for The Duchess of Malfi and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The Duchess of Malfi begins in the palace of the Duchess, a young widow and the ruler of the Italian town of Malfi. Her steward, Antonio, has recently returned from France, and Bosola, a murderer and the former employee of the Duchess’ brother, the Cardinal, has just returned to the palace after being punished for his crimes.. Soon Duke Ferdinand, the Duchess’ twin brother, arrives with his entourage. In a private conversation with his friend Delio, Antonio remarks that
to read the plot for The Duchess of Malfi and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
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
Scenes
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
Writer, editor and theatre researcher