The Duchess of Malfi (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: John Webster
- First Published: 1623
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: Sixteenth century
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: England or English people, Childbirth, Sixteenth century, Widows or widowers, Italy or Italians, Blood, Time, Monarchy
- Locales: Milan, Italy, Amalfi, Italy
Places Discussed
Malfi’s court. Residence of the duchess of Malfi in Italy. Original set descriptions are sparse, and the central importance of the setting is not so much in its physical nature as its function as a location where characters good (the duchess and her husband Antonio) and evil (Duke Ferdinand, the cardinal, and the duchess’s brothers) can meet and interact. Without it being specifically stated, there is a clear sense that this tragedy unfolds largely within walls which, by the end of the play, have become the prison of the duchess. As the play unfolds there...
[The entire page is 582 words long]
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