The Duchess of Malfi

To be honest, I'm really surprised that I've never heard of John Webster, or that he's not more popular. I know he was a contemporary of Shakespeare's but was not nearly as prolific as him, which I suppose is a huge factor in any author's popularity and relevance. Still, I think that The Duchess of Malfi is my favorite play that I have read in class so far, even beating out Shakespeare's Twelfth Night or Marlowe's Dr. Faustus. Though it is deeply disturbing and macabre, it provides a fascinating look into sexual psychological aspects that were taboo in Elizabethan times, and I think that it is one of the earliest major English feminist plays that I have read so far. Though the Duchess ultimately dies a tragic death, she is undoubtedly a gracious and noble character, while most of the men in the story are weak, murderous, incestuous, or confused. By contrast, the Duchess is strong, intelligent, beautiful and charismatic, and is victimized by her two evil brothers, who are notably part of the church. Many of the men in her life are in love with her -- Antonio, Bosola, and even her own brother. This is part of the psychological aspect that I find so intriguing. It never says outright that the Duchess' twin brother Ferdinand has incestuous feelings towards his sister, but it is hinted at implicitly throughout the play and would provide a good motive for Ferdinand's violent obsession with her.