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The Duchess of Malfi (originally published as The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy) is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by English dramatist John Webster in 1612–1613. [1] It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theatre, then later to a larger audience at The Globe, in 1613–1614.
It begins in the palace of the Duchess, a young widow and the ruler of the Italian town of Amalfi. Her steward, Antonio, has just returned from a visit to the French court, and Bosola, a murderer and former employee of her brother, the Cardinal, has just returned from his punishment.
The Duchess of Malfi tells the story of the spirited duchess and her love for her trustworthy steward Antonio. They marry secretly, despite the opposition of her two brothers, Ferdinand (the Duke of Calabria) and the Cardinal. Although she bears three children, she refuses to name the father.
A summary of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi – a gory tale of revenge and dark humour. *Warning, spoilers ahead! The Duchess falls in love with her steward, Antonio. Her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal tell her not to remarry (she was recently widowed). She agrees and they leave for Rome.
Feb 7, 2013 · A classic tragedy of revenge and passion set in the Italian Renaissance. Read the full text of the play, with an introduction, footnotes, and a cast of characters.
These pages are dedicated to one of the greatest achievements of English Renaissance drama, John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. Here you will find the complete text of the play with links in each scene to notes and commentary.
LitCharts offers comprehensive and concise summaries, analysis, and quizzes for John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, a Jacobean tragedy based on a true story. Learn about the plot, themes, characters, symbols, and literary devices of this play.
