John Webster was a playwright and younger contemporary of William Shakespeare in the 16th century. The Duchess of Malfi Quotes Showing 1-24 of 24 “Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle. However, the word 'madness' literally takes place for the first time in the concluding line of Act I. Like “The weakest arm is strong enough that … In The Duchess of Malfi, we see aristocratic women who endeavour to exercise their independence, and move beyond the gender and social norms of their time. The Duchess of Malfi is portrayed with a many-sided personality, combining humor, dignity, sensuality, and courage. In The Duchess of Malfi, the theme of insanity is multilayered. The Duchess of Malfi Essay 2618 Words | 11 Pages. Disguise—masking reality, hiding one’s true intentions, presenting a false front—is a major theme in The Duchess of Malfi. Dympna Callaghan places Webster's character in the context of contemporary drama, politics, and discourses about widows and female sexuality. Julia is depicted according to the stereotype of a fickle woman, while the Cardinal is the constant figure of authority. Duchess of Malfi. Antonio, the manager of her household, has just returned from France. John Webster, a well-known playwright and dramatist is especially known for his brilliant work like “The Duchess of Malfi” and “The White Devil” famous for his grotesque imagery and macabre logic of writing, he takes his audience into a gritty and grim voyage to a world littered with corpses, death and blood. The Duchess is another protagonist whose demise is catalysed by controversial sexual attitudes, however, whilst Blanche is forced to rely on lust as a survival method, the Duchess’ appeal to sex demonstrates her regain of control and indomitable spirit. Webster implies through The Duchess Of Malfi (TDOM) that worldly ambitions in the form of monetary desires is a type of evil and madness, in the form of desiring positions and statuses is a type of moral degeneration, and in the form of desiring a marriage outside of familial recognition is a kind of extreme danger and risk. She died young.” ― John Webster , The ... “Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness.” ― John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi. The Company is providing custom writing and research services to its clients for limited use only as provided in its Terms and Conditions. This could be a result of experience with her brother, who may be perceived at the height of madness. Answer to: Discuss the theme of madness in The Duchess of Malfi. Put simply, this play is filled with death and suffering. The Duchess forces Antonio to flee to Milan with their eldest son. The Duchess' imperative implies a lack of fear of the madmen, enhancing her power and bravery. The Duchess of Malfi is a revenge tragedy, but Webster has used the form for much more than just its entertainment value; he has used it as a vehicle for the exploration of some themes relevant to the society of his time. She is comfortable in her lofty position as ruler of a dominion. The Cardinal finds them, takes their wedding rings and banishes them. The Duchess of Malfi explores love and male authority in a traditional society in which women are subjected to the wills of men.