DUCHESS OF MALFI CRITICS:
Clifford Leech:
We cannot say that Webster condemns unequal marriages...he shows what the world thinks
of them
Nanci Roider:
A cautionary tale which shows what can happen when women marry without being granted
the 'proper' consent
David Cecil:
Webster portrays evil as far more powerful than good
All its apparent beauties are a snare and a delusion – Webster’s view of the world
Muriel Bradbrook:
With his many roles, Bosola is never permitted the luxury of being a self.
Frank Whigham:
His imprisonment of her (the Duchess) re-isolates her, and so restores her status as
untouchable, in a private realm that only he can enter – about Ferdinand
Edmund Gosse:
The characterisation of the Duchess…is one calculated to inspire pity.
Stephen Sims:
Increasingly unworthy of her as the play proceeds – about Antonio
William Archer:
Almost monomaniac – about C/F’s opposition to DOM remarrying.
C.V.Boyer:
The play continues…to bring about the tragic doom of the three villains who have sought to
advance themselves by her destruction.
J.W.Lever:
Bosola typifies the plight of the intellectual
Kenneth Tynan:
One ducal and incestuous, the other ecclesiastical and more normally lecherous – F’s
incestuous desires normalise the actions of C which is hypocritical as Julia is frowned upon
for it.
B.A.Young:
Submerged virtue behind the malcontent villain – about Bosola
Clifford Leech:
We cannot say that Webster condemns unequal marriages...he shows what the world thinks
of them
Nanci Roider:
A cautionary tale which shows what can happen when women marry without being granted
the 'proper' consent
David Cecil:
Webster portrays evil as far more powerful than good
All its apparent beauties are a snare and a delusion – Webster’s view of the world
Muriel Bradbrook:
With his many roles, Bosola is never permitted the luxury of being a self.
Frank Whigham:
His imprisonment of her (the Duchess) re-isolates her, and so restores her status as
untouchable, in a private realm that only he can enter – about Ferdinand
Edmund Gosse:
The characterisation of the Duchess…is one calculated to inspire pity.
Stephen Sims:
Increasingly unworthy of her as the play proceeds – about Antonio
William Archer:
Almost monomaniac – about C/F’s opposition to DOM remarrying.
C.V.Boyer:
The play continues…to bring about the tragic doom of the three villains who have sought to
advance themselves by her destruction.
J.W.Lever:
Bosola typifies the plight of the intellectual
Kenneth Tynan:
One ducal and incestuous, the other ecclesiastical and more normally lecherous – F’s
incestuous desires normalise the actions of C which is hypocritical as Julia is frowned upon
for it.
B.A.Young:
Submerged virtue behind the malcontent villain – about Bosola
