The Duchess of Malfi

By: Webster, John

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. It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theatre, then later to a larger audience at The Globe, in 1613-1614.Published in 1623, the play is loosely based on events that occurred between 1508 and 1513 surrounding Giovanna d'Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi (d. 1511), whose father, Enrico d'Aragona, Marquis of Gerace, was an illegitimate son of Ferdinand I of Naples. As in the play, she secretly married Antonio Beccadelli di Bologna after the death of her first husband Alfonso I Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi.The play begins as a love story, when the Duchess marries beneath her class, and ends as a nightmarish tragedy as her two brothers undertake their revenge, destroying themselves in the process. Jacobean drama continued the trend of stage violence and horror set by Elizabethan tragedy, under the influence of Seneca. The complexity of some of the play's characters, particularly Bosola and the Duchess, and Webster's poetic language, have led many critics to consider The Duchess of Malfi among the greatest tragedies of English renaissance drama.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1702368254
• ISBN13: 9781702368254
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

“Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle she died young.” - John Webster

This was originally published as “The Tragedy of the Duchess of Malfy.” Before you actually get to the play, do not overlook this fairly good introduction, including information on the author, early performances of Webster’s plays, the source of the play, Webster’s tragedy of the Duchess of Malfi, a note on the text, and acknowledgments. It is good to know the source of the “cover her face” line in context. You might even have a new favorite writer. Many people find out about this play through college courses. I came across this because of a quote from the play in Agatha Christie’s “Sleeping Murder.” Then I ran across this again under the title “Cover Her Face” by P. D. James. Then it started turning up everywhere, even “Queen of the D-a-m-n-e-d” by Anne Rice.