Duchess of Malfi - John Webster

The Duchess of Malfi is filled with all the blood and guts you'd expect from a Webster revenge tragedy, and all the corruption and treachery you'd expect to find in a Spanish court. However, while melodramatic and even fantastical at times (a woman murdered by a poisoned Bible - now how often does that happen?), there are also scenes that show the characters in a very 'human' light, and (unlike previous playwrights) Webster's Duchess is both noble and loving, the kind of character you can truly relate to and pity. This text can be quite heavy-going at times, and the language can be tricky to get your head around, even for those accustomed to the likes of ...  Read the complete review

The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean tragedy play written by John Webster. The play is initially a love story as the strong and independent widow, the Duchess, marries her steward Antonio Bologna. However this leads the play to a nightmarishly tragic end as when her actions are uncovered and the truth revealed her two brothers eager for revenge bring about the destruction of the Duchess, her household and ultimately themselves. The characters within this drama have been cleverly conceived and their distinct personalities make them the sort of characters you will remember forever. The Duchess herself is so believable that it is quite easy at times to forget that ...  Read the complete review