DONM II
- Created by: b.kalejaiye
- Created on: 17-09-17 17:20
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- D U C H E S S O F M A L F I
- During
the English Renaissance, Italy was often imagined and presented as a place of
moral and even spiritual corruption, and certainly this is true in John
Webster’s play The Duchess of Malfi.
- The
importance of the Italian setting in the play is emphasized almost immediately,
and Italy is presented in negative terms in a number of different ways.
- Moral
corruption was considered bad enough in anyone. Moral corruption in a Christian
was considered even worse. Moral corruption in a Christian cleric (such as the
Cardinal) was considered perhaps the worst thing of all.
- In Protestant
England, Catholics (especially members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy) were
often accused of corruption, and indeed Italy was often associated with
corruption because it was the home of Roman Catholicism.
- Just
as corruption in a member of the religious hierarchy was considered especially
blameworthy, so was corruption in a member of the secular hierarchy as well.
Duke Ferdinand, brother of the Cardinal, clearly exemplifies the moral
turpitude that was often associated with Italian aristocrats.
-
Thus, Antionio describes the duke as
. . . A most perverse and turbulent nature.
What appears in him mirth is merely outside;
If he laugh heartily, it is to laugh
All honesty out of fashion. (1.2.76-79)
- The duke, in other words, is associated with hypocrisy and with hidden dishonesty – two vices often linked, by the English, with the supposed moral corruption of Renaissance Italy. The duke might justly be described as a “Machiavel,” a term used in the English Renaissance to describe someone who displayed the craftiness and deceit often associated, in many English minds, with the Italian political theorist Machiavelli.
-
Thus, Antionio describes the duke as
. . . A most perverse and turbulent nature.
What appears in him mirth is merely outside;
If he laugh heartily, it is to laugh
All honesty out of fashion. (1.2.76-79)
- Just
as corruption in a member of the religious hierarchy was considered especially
blameworthy, so was corruption in a member of the secular hierarchy as well.
Duke Ferdinand, brother of the Cardinal, clearly exemplifies the moral
turpitude that was often associated with Italian aristocrats.
- In Protestant
England, Catholics (especially members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy) were
often accused of corruption, and indeed Italy was often associated with
corruption because it was the home of Roman Catholicism.
- Moral
corruption was considered bad enough in anyone. Moral corruption in a Christian
was considered even worse. Moral corruption in a Christian cleric (such as the
Cardinal) was considered perhaps the worst thing of all.
- These include the following: · In Antonio’s opening speech, the virtue of the French royal court is implicitly contrasted with the corruption of aristocratic courts in Italy (1.1.4-22).
- Bosola, who is morally corrupt himself, soon emphasizes the moral corruption of the Cardinal, commenting, Some fellows, they say, are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were able to possess the greatest devil, and make him worse. (1.1.42-44)
- The
importance of the Italian setting in the play is emphasized almost immediately,
and Italy is presented in negative terms in a number of different ways.
-
In contrast, the Duchess of Malfi is associated with the
kind of virtue that only highlights, by contrast, the corruption of her
brothers. Antonio says that in her looks
There speaketh so divine a continence
As cuts off all lascivious and vain hope. (1.2.107-08)
- Not all Italians were presented on the English stage as corrupt, but, as the play will soon show, the duchess unfortunately exercises far less power in her native land than do her evil, scheming brothers.
- Jacobean women continued to live a life that was sub-ordinate to men. They were supposed to obey what was told to them. The main responsibility of married women was to take care of the household matters and raise children.
- Before marriage, a girl was under the control of her father, after marriage her husband and after the death of her husband, her son. Thus, women were made to depend on their male relatives throughout their lives.
- Young girls were groomed for later life. Since childhood they were trained to take care of the house apart from sewing. However, if there was a need felt women also took up a job to add to the family income. During Jacobean era, women did get to work in some plays. However, the scope was were restricted
- Bottom line on morality and ethics in The
Duchess of Malfi: they're in decidedly short supply. In Jacobean tragedy in
general, you see traditional Christian ethics in a state of decay, and in this
play in particular it feels like morality and ethics hurt you way more than
they help you.
- Some critics think that, in the face of the hopelessly corrupt world Webster writes about, human dignity comes out on top.
- Although it sounds comforting, the Decency-Carries-the-Day argument is a tough one to champion in a Webster play.
- Even though the world around her is horrifying, the Duchess's own personal definition of decency somehow insulates her from all the moral nastiness that eventually leads to her death.
- During
the English Renaissance, Italy was often imagined and presented as a place of
moral and even spiritual corruption, and certainly this is true in John
Webster’s play The Duchess of Malfi.
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