Summary The Duchess of Malfi Study Notes

DUCHESS OF MALFI NOTES
SETTING

Italy, opens at the Court of Malfi

TIME

1504

CHARACTERS

 The Duchess
 Bosola
 Antonio
 Ferdinand
 Cardinal
 Julia
 Cariola
 Delio
 Count Malateste
 Castruccio
 Pescara
 Silvio




PLOT
 Antonio return from France and tells Delio how he admires French rule
 Bosola unhappy for not rewarded by Cardinal for his murder which sent him to prison
 Cardinal wants nothing to do with Bosola, but Bosola vows not to be fobbed off
 Brothers described as very corrupt but sister is complete opposite (by Antonio)
 Cardinal wants a spy (Bosola) in Duchess’ house as suspects she wants to marry against his/
Ferdinand’s wishes (but not to know it was he who sent B)
 Duchess ignores brothers and follows own plan of wooing and secretly marrying Antonio
(much lower status)
 Years pass and the pair have 3 children – Bosola discovers pregnancy but does not suspect
Duchess to be married, just that Antonio supplying her in secret with low born lovers (brothers
and Bosola not suspect she has married anyone)
 Ferdinand/ Cardinal discover the marriage and go mad – Duchess and children banished,
property seized by church
 Antonio and Duchess split up to save some of their family
 Duchess is caught with two children and all arrested
 Ferdinand torments Duchess then demands she and children killed
 Bosola does the murders along with Cariola’s (Antonio unaware of the deaths)
 Ferdinand not reward but blames Bosola for killing his best friend and goes mad – leads to
Bosola changing his mind and wanting to avenge the Duchess, save Antonio
 Bosola meets Julia, she fancies him and agrees to draw out the Cardinal (who pretended to be
ignorant of sisters death)
 Cardinal tells Julia he was responsible for the deaths then kills her with a poisoned bible