In the time period that John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi was written, women had absolutely no sexual agency. Divided into categories of Madonna or Whore, women had impossible expectations to live up to. While marriage is the one institution in which it is socially acceptable for a woman to be sexual, the play subverts this. That Webster has the Duchess’ brothers the Cardinal and Antonio’s critique her for remarrying makes the categories of Madonna and Whore indistinct, thus demonstrating policing woman’s sexuality is useless. Act 1 Scene 1 demonstrates the misogyny and hypocrisy of the Duchess’ brothers clearly. Before the Cardinal and Ferdinand leave the court of Malfi they instruct their sister not to remarry. They tell her:
Cardinal: …show more content…
From the very beginning of her marriage she intends to inform her brothers of the ceremony, albeit at some later point in time, hence her optimism as she reassures Antonio that her brothers will eventually approve of their marriage: “Yet should they know it, time will easily / Scatter the tempest” (1.1.472-3). Additionally, the Duchess marries Antonio purely for love. She describes him in this scene saying, “And I must tell you, / If you will know where breathes a complete man - / I speak it without flattery - turn your eyes, / And progress through yourself” (1.1.435-38). Similarly, Antonio says of her, “Let all sweet ladies break their flattering glasses / And dress themselves in her” (1.1.204-5) describing her as the picture of perfect virtuous womanhood. This demonstrates that although Antonio is socially inferior, they are perfectly suited for each other and their mutual attraction is founded upon their respective personal excellence. This impression is further enhanced by the negative representation of the Duchess’s brothers earlier in the scene, who may be noble by birth but are both terrible people. Further, the Duchess emphasizes the strength that she will show later in the play saying, “So I, through frights and threatenings, will assay / This dangerous venture” (1.1.348-49). By juxtaposing the
Cardinal: …show more content…
From the very beginning of her marriage she intends to inform her brothers of the ceremony, albeit at some later point in time, hence her optimism as she reassures Antonio that her brothers will eventually approve of their marriage: “Yet should they know it, time will easily / Scatter the tempest” (1.1.472-3). Additionally, the Duchess marries Antonio purely for love. She describes him in this scene saying, “And I must tell you, / If you will know where breathes a complete man - / I speak it without flattery - turn your eyes, / And progress through yourself” (1.1.435-38). Similarly, Antonio says of her, “Let all sweet ladies break their flattering glasses / And dress themselves in her” (1.1.204-5) describing her as the picture of perfect virtuous womanhood. This demonstrates that although Antonio is socially inferior, they are perfectly suited for each other and their mutual attraction is founded upon their respective personal excellence. This impression is further enhanced by the negative representation of the Duchess’s brothers earlier in the scene, who may be noble by birth but are both terrible people. Further, the Duchess emphasizes the strength that she will show later in the play saying, “So I, through frights and threatenings, will assay / This dangerous venture” (1.1.348-49). By juxtaposing the