free from most of the vices of his brother and sister. Disgusted by Flamineo’s attentions to Zanche and the insults he directs at their mother, he accepts his brother’s challenge but is treacherously stabbed before they can fight.

Zanche

Zanche (ZAHN-kay), Vittoria’s Moorish maid. Like most of the characters, she is loyal only to herself. She reveals the guilt of Vittoria and Flamineo to Mulinasser and offers him Vittoria’s jewels as her dowry if he will wed her. She is trapped with her mistress by Flamineo and dies with them by Lodovico’s hand.

Giovanni

Giovanni (jee-oh-VAHN-nee), Brachiano and Isabella’s precocious young son. He is old enough to recognize evil, and he banishes Flamineo from court as soon as he is made duke.

Antonelli

Antonelli (ahn-toh-NEHL-lee) and

Gasparo

Gasparo (GAHS-pah-roh), Lodovico’s companions, who assist in the murder of Brachiano.

Hortensio

Hortensio (ohr-TEHN-syoh), Brachiano’s attendant.

Doctor Julio

Doctor Julio (YEW-lee-oh), an expert in poisoning who contrives Isabella’s death.

Duke of Bracciano

The Duke of Bracciano, also known as Paulo Giordano Orsini, is an influential nobleman. Though married to Lady Isabella, he is deeply infatuated with Vittoria Corombona. His desire for Vittoria triggers the tragic events in the play. Bracciano conspires with Flamineo to arrange a meeting with Vittoria. He later divorces his wife and schemes to murder both Isabella and Camillo, Vittoria’s husband. After the killings, he proves to be an unfaithful lover. Misled by a forged letter from Francisco to Vittoria, Bracciano accuses her of infidelity. Only when Vittoria convinces him of the letter's falsehood does he aid her escape from prison, taking her to Padua. On their wedding day, Bracciano participates in a tournament but is assassinated by Ludovico, who poisons his helmet. Bracciano's character is largely devoid of redeeming qualities, driven by lust, cruelty, and a murderous nature.

Camillo

Camillo is Vittoria’s first husband and a cousin to Cardinal Monticelso. He is depicted as a frail, older man, lacking in virility. Camillo confides to both Bracciano and Flamineo that he has not shared a bed with his wife for a long time. Essentially, Camillo embodies the classic cuckold of Renaissance theatre. Due to a plot by Flamineo and Bracciano, he is killed while vaulting with Bracciano.

Vittoria Corombona

Vittoria is widely considered the ‘‘white devil’’ of the title, a woman who betrays her husband and conspires in the murders of both her husband and her lover’s wife. Despite this, Vittoria demonstrates independence, strength, intelligence, and logic throughout the play. This is especially evident during her trial for murder and adultery. Instead of submitting to the judge, she asserts her rights, arguing that it is unjust for her accuser to also be her judge. Although she performs well in this scene, she fails to obtain justice in the courts. Despite a lack of evidence linking her to the murders, she is convicted of adultery and sentenced to a house for penitent prostitutes. With Bracciano's help, she escapes and flees with him to Padua. There, they marry but are ultimately murdered.

Historically, Vittoria's character has been interpreted as villainous, often depicted as a malevolent seductress. However, interpretations from the late twentieth century highlight how Vittoria is manipulated by the patriarchal structures of Italy. Initially, her father essentially sells her to Camillo. Her brother then panders her to Bracciano, who in turn mistrusts and nearly betrays her. Finally, the Catholic Church and the political state, represented by Francisco and the Pope, conspire to kill her.

Cornelia

Cornelia is the mother of Vittoria, Flamineo, and Marcello. Although her role in the play is minor, it is crucial. She serves as the moral compass, confronting Flamineo, Bracciano, and Vittoria about their clandestine affair. She expresses regret that her children were ever born. Bracciano curses her, claiming that all forthcoming harm will be her fault. In the final act, after Flamineo kills his brother Marcello, Cornelia descends into madness.

Francisco de Medici

Francisco, the Duke of Florence and a member of Italy's most powerful family, is Isabella’s brother. When Bracciano has Isabella murdered and absconds with Vittoria, Francisco seeks vengeance. As the most powerful civil authority in the play, he collaborates closely with the church authority, represented by Cardinal Monticelso. Francisco is unscrupulous, with schemes as sinister as those of Bracciano and Flamineo. He employs Lodovico to execute his revenge. Later in the play, he disguises himself as Mulinassar, a Moor in Bracciano's service. Through an affair with Zanche, he acquires crucial information about earlier murders, leading to the demise of most characters.

Duke of Florence

See Francisco de Medici

Flamineo

Flamineo, Vittoria’s brother and Cornelia’s son, is a villain in every sense. He acts as a pimp, arranging his sister's relationship with Bracciano, and commits numerous vile acts to advance his career. When his mother confronts him about his misdeeds, he treats her with disdain, rejecting both her advice and her maternal concern. Flamineo is entirely amoral, willing to do anything to get ahead, regardless of the impact on others, including his own family. He is a leech, initially relying on Vittoria’s husband and later on Bracciano for support. Ultimately, he betrays Bracciano and kills his own brother. There is nothing redeemable about Flamineo; some critics argue that he, rather than Vittoria, is the "white devil" referenced in the title.

Count Lodovico

Lodovico is the first character to speak in The White Devil. Recently banished, he sets the tone for the entire play. He is a cynical and self-serving man. Later in the play, he is permitted to return and reveals that he was in love with the murdered Isabella. Consequently, he takes on the task of avenging her death on behalf of Francisco and Monticelso. In the final act, Lodovico, disguised as a Capuchin monk, infiltrates Bracciano’s household in Padua. He poisons Bracciano by sprinkling poison on his helmet. Additionally, as the Capuchin monk, he pretends to administer last rites to Bracciano. Moments before Bracciano's death, Lodovico reveals his true identity, ensuring Bracciano dies knowing he is eternally damned. Lodovico then kills Flamineo, Zanche, and Vittoria in the play’s final scene before he himself is killed in the presence of Bracciano’s son.

Marcello

Marcello is the younger brother of Vittoria and Flamineo. Though his role in the play is not extensive, he provides a stark contrast to his brother. His most significant scenes occur later in the play; he insults Zanche and Flamineo’s supposed engagement to her. This provokes Flamineo, who challenges him to a duel. Ultimately, Flamineo re-enters and fatally stabs Marcello, driving their mother into madness.

Cardinal Monticelso

Cardinal Monticelso is the most influential church figure in the play. His role is crucial as he serves as both accuser and judge during Vittoria’s trial for the murders of her husband and Isabella. Although he cannot convict her of either murder, he punishes her for adultery by sentencing her to a house for repentant prostitutes. Monticelso later ascends to become Pope Paul IV, granting him the power to excommunicate both Vittoria and Bracciano. He also conspires with Francisco to exact revenge on Bracciano, Flamineo, and Vittoria.

Mulinassar

See Francisco de Medici

Paolo Giordano Orsini

See Duke of Bracciano

Pope Paul IV

See Cardinal Monticelso

Zanche

Zanche is Vittoria’s Moorish maid. Flamineo mistreats her, promising marriage but failing to follow through. She falls in love with Francisco, who is disguised as the Moor Mulinassar. To gain his favor, she discloses details about the murders of Isabella and Camillo. In the final scene, she demonstrates her quick thinking by instructing Flamineo to kill himself first, so she and Vittoria can learn how to do it. Unfortunately, both Zanche and Vittoria are deceived by Flamineo’s faked suicide, and all three—Zanche, Vittoria, and Flamineo—are killed by Lodovico.