3 Review(s)

The Duchess of Malfi is one of the John Webster's finest plays. In it, Webster not only shows a much firmer stagecraft than his earlier efforts, but he also reveals powers of gaiety and playfulness and an understanding of the heart, hard to imagine from one who voluntarily elected the tragedy of blood as his medium. At least two of the characters, the Duchess of Malfi and her husband Antonio are robust and healthy figures who even under the stress of torture, uphold their humanity. This edition of The Duchess of Malfi has the following features: • Information on John Webster’s Age and Tragic Art • Original Text of the Play, with Paraphrase and Annotations • Explanations of Important Passages with Critical Comments • Detailed Critical Appraisal of Characters • Discussion on Important Textual Aspects • Important University Questions with Answers • Selected Literary Criticism