Essay
Presentation of Power in Duchess of Malfi
A level english literature essay about how power is presented in Duchess of Malfi. Includes; Analysis, Quotes, Context, Characters
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Explore the presentation of power in The Duchess of MalfiWebster presents power as a political concept during Jacobean patriarchal society, Ferdinand and
Cardinal’s toxic desire to gain their sister’s level of power is portrayed through their wishes to not let her re-
marry and her assassination. The extreme malcontent brothers demonstrates their abuse of power to
benefit from the social hierarchy. Conversely the Duchess, a female aristocrat disempower her political
figure by her desire in violation of social status and traditional gender position, but her power is evident
through her choice to marry and abdication.
Webster opens the scene with the contrast between the the good government and the bad; French court
being upheld like ‘common fountain’ whereas Malfi with ‘poison, death and disease spread’.The fountain
symbolises the structure of government where people of power rule the court, this implies the Amalfi court
becoming susceptible to posining by corruption and abuse of power, foreshadowing the misfortune deaths
of the Duchess. Speech and language have the power to empower and debase, ironically Bosola who
lacks power and wealth has the most to criticise about the authority. Bosola eschews flattery and dismisses
the brothers like ‘plum trees grow crooked’, the simile exposes their corrupt deceitful reputation but it
reveals his own stance as the ‘caterpillar, hang on their ears’. Due to the nature of court Bosola reinforces
there is no more reward more doing well than doing well, still demeaning himself.
In Bosola, the audience is introduced to the epitome of anarchy; those with power had most to fear from
who have nothing to gain or lose from it.
The Duchess asserts her power over Antonio when she chooses to marry someone inferior and against her
brothers’ wishes. She ‘sent for’ Antonio to ‘sit down’ and ‘puts her ring upon his finger’, her peremptory
speech and act indicates her dominant role in the relationship.This suggests that women were challenging
the patriarchy gender roles as usually men would woo the woman; stereotypes of women being subservient
and property of their husband. Her reasoning being those ‘born great are forced to woo’ she acknowledges
her inherited power but denies the advantages and thus ‘puts of all vain ceremony’. Its evident her
undeniable strength enable the marriage to be legally outside of church consequently ennobled Antonio to
her status; to marry out of class for women was a social demeanour during Jacobean society but the
Duchess challenges this. Webster alludes the Duchess’ character to Queen Elizabeth, her authoritative
nature gave her the ultimate power to govern the country, surrounded by treason and manipulativeness
she kept her throne intact and remained single.
In addition the Duchess demonstrates her power through title when she confronts and rebels against her
brothers. she can live or die ‘like a prince’, the simile uses a male role to declare her nobility proving her
individual power, viewing death as a gift and thanking her brothers for it indicate her fearless character. The
duchess remain strong willed even towards her death when she states shes the ‘duchess of malfi still’ gives
the audience the idea of changing ideologies of power within females as she proves to subvert the
stereotypes of submissive women by making her own decisions and defy male power.
Another woman who display her feminine power is Julia who also woos a male like the Duchess, She
confronts Bosola with a pistol and soon after the confrontation turns into flirtatious flattery while knowing the
consequences of her actions and behaviour, she continues to be ‘great’ woman of ‘pleasure’. During
Jacobean society women had little to no power and therefore belittled as irrational and would face backlash
in controversial situations whereas male would get away with it. Cardinal despises her boldness, Bosola
uses her, Castruchio mistreats her but In reality they are in her power.
In the play Ferdinand and Cardinal also try to use their power but for the revenge on the Duchess,
supposedly helping to preserve her nobility. Ferdinand is a ‘corrupter’ that will use the ‘law like a foul black
cobweb to a spider’ the simile reinforce his evil actions of manipulating the law in which he uses it as a
weapon and protection to others. Using bribe to get Bosola to spy upon the Duchess which he accepts that
he becomes a ‘traitor’ recognising the assignation goes with the position secured for him as a master of
the Duchess’ horse. This conveys the Duke’s misuse of power has influenced those around him, Bosola’s
only seems to think about the benefits and gain of power. Furthermore his controlling nature is apparent
when he doesn’t want his ‘young widow’ sister to remarry because widows remarrying was considered
licentious; they warn her against corruption, lustful pleasure, hypocrisy to spoil her ‘high blood’. Their
deceitful motive is using their male authority power over her to supposedly maintain her reputation from
‘poison’. Threatening that marriage is a ‘prison’. The irony being they become the chief suspects of her
downfall and she ends up in prison, this invokes feelings of sympathy in the audience for the Duchess as
they know about the brother’s malicious intents.
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