Antonio bologna, steward of the household to the duchess. The duchess of malfi etext dramatis personae gradesaver. It focuses on the representation of marriage for love and the social conflicts to which it gives rise. The duchess of malfi many famous princes, so out of brave horsemanship arise the first sparks of growing resolution, that raise the mind to noble action. This free course, john webster, the duchess of malfi, concentrates on acts 1 and 2 of john websters renaissance tragedy, the duchess of malfi.
However, the play was not rewritten in modern english, so it retained its jacobean feel. Your brother, the lord cardinal, and sister duchess. The duchess of malfi is based on the true story of a woman, the duchess of amalfi, who had married the duke of amalfi. Does the duchess of malfi have any resonance with modernday audiences. The duchess of malfi is a jacobean revenge tragedy written by english dramatist john webster. Antonios opening praise of the french court sets up a comparison to the italian court, which contemporary audiences would have associated with. The duchess of malfi summary so it all starts out with our girl, the duchess, whos inherited her political position from her dead husband, the former duke of malfi. This webtext does not attempt to make these fine distinctions.
It was first performed privately at the blackfriars theatre, then before a more general audience at the globe, in 1614. The play begins at the duchess of malfi s palace in amalfi. 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 161216. The duchess of malfi was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. The duchess of malfi english to english translation. First performed in 1614, john websters the duchess of malfi is a tragedy. Her name plays on the italian carriolo, meaning trundlebed, where personal servants would have. Antonio, the duchesss steward, has just returned from the french court to amalfi, where his friend and confidant delio greets him. It is based on a story in painters palace of pleasure, translated from the italian novelist, bandello.
Duchess of malfi online text with notes larry avis brown. Here you will find the complete text of the play with links in each scene to notes and commentary. Despite being a widow, shes still a total babe, and her steward, antonio, has noticed, although hed never in a million years make a move on an aristocrat especially not one whos his boss. Study guide for the duchess of malfi, by john webster act i, scene i quote delio. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. These pages are dedicated to one of the greatest achievements of english renaissance drama, john webster s the duchess of malfi. The duchess of malfi originally published as the tragedy of the dutchesse of malfy is a macabre, tragic play written by the english dramatist john webster in 1612. John webster the duchess of malfi act 1 scene 1 genius. Delio asks what antonio thought about his time in france, and antonio responds. It was first performed privately at the blackfriars theatre, then later to a larger audience at the globe, in 161614.