THE DUCHESS OF MALFI CONTEXT
- Created by: shaziaaaa
- Created on: 16-04-18 18:37
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- The Duchess of Malfi: Context
- General Context
- First performed in 1613-1614
- The Duchess is a young widow who marries her steward, Antonio, (against her brother's wishes) and bears him with three children.
- Her twin brother, Duke Ferdinand, is obsessed with her; imagining her in the 'shameful act of sin'...
- Her other brother, The Cardinal (a and of God) ensure that his spy, Bosola, in employed in her household.
- Social and Historical Context
- Set in a patriarchal world of early modern England.
- The Duchess surprisingly asserts her right to marry whom she pleases.
- The Duchess seduces Antonio as well as conducting her own wedding ceremony, with her maid (Cariola) as their witness.
- The Duchess surprisingly asserts her right to marry whom she pleases.
- Women were challenging the patriarchy.
- It's often said that women of this period had no power to own property, nor run their own households.
- A Crystal Glass for Christian Women: Philip Stubbes
- During her final moments, she mocks and dismisses the male court
- Set in a patriarchal world of early modern England.
- Political Context
- The Duchess of Malfi is set in Italy
- Freeing the dramatists to critique the English Court indirectly
- In the opening of Malfi, Antonio talks admirably to Delio of the court of France. he was praising the order and opens he witnessed there.
- This low-key opening allows the audience to compare the court of Malfi and the French court.
- The Duchess of Malfi is set in Italy
- Theatrical Context
- Webster's first successful play: stages in the Blackfriars Hall
- Blackfriars Hall held 600 people and was indoors.
- Didn't use the popular Globe Theatre (open top), holding up to 2000 people.
- The scene in which Ferdinand visits the Duchess in her imprisonment was played in total darkness with all candles removed.
- The same scene played in outdoor space, such as the Globe, would invite the audience to see the Duke's plot unfold.
- it was only wen the Duchess called for lights that the audience had realised he had given her a dead man's hand in greeting, not his own.
- Webster's first successful play: stages in the Blackfriars Hall
- General Context
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