The Duchess (Duchess of Malfi - John Webster)

Member Name: grumpygremlin

Product:	Duchess of Malfi - John Webster
Date:	10/11/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plenty of intrigue and treachery, as well as romance

Disadvantages: Can be a bit heavy going and a bit long

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 Shakespeare - you sometimes have to read a sentence twice before it goes in. However, when it finally does 'go in', the language is rich and really a delight to read.

There are plenty of puzzling or interesting questions to ask about this play - 'if it's a revenge tragedy, who's revenging who?', 'what's up with Ferdinand's behavior towards the Duchess - does it smack of incest?', 'why is Bosola such a complex and changeable character?' However, if that kind of analysis doesn't interest you, the play is very easy to enjoy for what it is - you'll be shocked, you'll be remorseful and sympathetic, you'll be angered, you'll be hopeful, you may even laugh!

Summary: Excellent play with villains you can get your teeth into, and a heroine you can love.