The Duchess of Malfi and Other Plays

by John Webster, René Weis (Editor)

This volume offers John Webster's two great Jacobean tragedies, The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, together with his brilliant tragicomedy, The Devil's Law-Case, and the comedy written with William Rowley, A Cure for a Cuckold. Webster is a radically and creatively experimental dramatist. His tragedies deploy shifting dramatic perspectives which counteract and challenge conventional moral judgements, while the predominantly gentler tone of his comedies and tragicomedies responds inventively to contemporary changes in dramatic taste and fashion. All four plays display the provocative intelligence of a profoundly original playwright. Under the General Editorship of Michael Cordner of the University of York, the texts of the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and punctuation. In addition, there is detailed annotation, a glossary, and a critical introduction which traces Webster's artistic development, defends him against charges of over-indulgence in violence, and explores his sophisticated staging and scenic forms.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics, Fiction, Literature, Theatre, 17th Century

438 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1624

About the author

John Webster (c.1580 – c.1634) was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his tragedies The White Devil (1612) and The Duchess of Malfi (1613), which are often regarded as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Aaron Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously The Duchess of Malfi and The White Devil are completely brilliant, but what's great about this edition by René Weis is that we get a good idea about Webster's other interests and his skill in other modes. We see this in the tragicomedy The Devil's Law-Case and the delightfully farcical A Cure for a Cuckold written with William Rowley.

I was truly astounded by the sparkling wit of A Cure for a Cuckold, which boasts one of the most delightful comic characters I believe I've ever seen in Jacobean drama, worthy of a Falstaff or a Morose but realistically and wonderfully drawn by Rowley in his signature style. This entire play is excellent. It moves quickly, it has some great twists and surprises, and it is even introducing new devices as late as act 5.

One thing that comes through most obviously in this collection is Webster's knowledge of – and desire to poke fun at – the law. It runs through each of these plays, and he uses the law as a device in all of them.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the hell? "Read this", I was told. "It's a lovely story!" I was told.

[Tamara Mahadin M]

This play is so depressing! I didn't imagine that it would be that bloody and violent. I highly recommend it because Webster uses the Senecan tragedy. I have never heard about it before until now.

Information about the Senecan tragedy:

"The plays of Seneca exercised great influence on medieval playwrights, who used them as models for literary imitation. They were edited by Nicholas Trivet, and in the 15th and 16th cents there was a considerable vogue in Italy for Senecan tragedy. The plays of Giraldi (1504–73)—notably his Orbecche (1541)—and of Ludovico Dolce (1508–68) were particularly famous. The same movement in France had its effect on Buchanan's Latin plays and on the plays of Jodelle and Garnier, and both the Italian and the French fashion influenced English drama in the 16th cent.

The characteristics of the Senecan tragedy were: 1. a division into five acts with Choruses—and in the English imitations often a dumb show expressive of the action; 2. a considerable retailing of ‘horrors’ and violence, usually, though not always, acted off the stage and elaborately recounted; 3. a parallel violence of language and expression. Gorboduc is a good example of a Senecan tragedy in English. The fashion, which developed in learned rather than popular circles, was short‐lived, and was displaced by a more vital and native form of tragedy. But its elements persisted in Elizabethan drama and may be traced in such plays as Tamburlaine the Great and Titus Andronicus."

[Robert]

The White Devil

A play reliant on intricate family relations and a web of lust, deceit, ambition and vengeful urges to rival any play I've ever come across. It has the classic elements of its genre - murder, ghosts, play-within-a-play, revenge - but it feels different in some important respects. There's a whole conspiracy of revengers, most of whom seem nearly or equally as reprehensible as the play's blatant villains and some of whom appear to get away unpunished. There's only a half change of rule to restore sanity and righteousness - and it's not clear whether the next generation really will turn out any better. Even more pessimistic than its antecedents.

Who's the White Devil? (A devil in disguise, considered more dangerous than an openly evil person.) Could be Vittoria, Bracciano, Flamineo - but I'm proposing Monticelso, the vengeous Cardinal with a book full of the names of criminals, classified by type, who gets a murderer pardoned so he can use him for more murder, and ends up elected Pope.

I should go see a performance of this.

[Tamar Nagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duchess of Malfi is outstanding and truly is a magnificent tragedy. A Cure for a Cuckold is also fantastic. The other two were ok, bringing my overall review down to four stars. The introduction was very helpful, and the notes in the back were pretty good, though they didn’t always correspond to the little circles in the text, which was both annoying and confusing.


I’ll write about the characters when I have more time because there’s so much to digest first.

[Molly Whiting · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic tale of repressed female sexuality and a highly mysogynistic pair of brothers looming over the main character. Though there are some really refreshing details such as the transfer of power from Antonio to the Duchess.. the play itself isn't bad just deeply tragic - be warned of a LOT of death and trauma at the end. Though I find it did become kind of confusing, I recommend reading the intro for the plot/ context/ characters - or find one online before or as you are reading as I think otherwise I would have been lost af. I did actually give this up once before, and then began re-reading and managed to get through with the help of the intro. its a classic so do recommend, just don't stress yourself out if you get a little lost.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for my Shakespeare Study Group in Durham as we are going to compare and contrast this play be John Webster, a contempory of Shakespeares with Titus Andronicus. The recently widowed Duchess is told not to re-marry by her two brothers but she secretly marries Antonio her Steward. It is their discovery and revenge that lead to their downfall and becomes the tragedy which is this play. A good story (based loosley on a real story) where we get to examine the themes running through it like corruption, love and male authority and class.

[Lisa Culligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard work, only read it because it is a requirment of my next OU module for my BA. Obviously of it's time. Predictable. Although I didn't know the story, as it was a tradegy and she was going against the men in her family the ending was inevitable.

[lottie❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

occasional cool and powerful speeches but like. mostly found it really jumpy and weird to read. as well as a bit all over the place with wtf was going on. giving sensational early gothic. so much murder - develop ur characters a bit first man

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Devil - 3.5
Duchess of Malfi - 4.5
Devil's Law Case - 3
Cure for a Cuckold - 4

[Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The duchess of Malfi is the best play in this collection. A world of corruption, a world where everyone seeks power over his beloved's comfort and ease. I really like it.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great Jacobean tragedies, deeply moving as ever.

Read as part of the Shakespeare Institute's 2019 readathon: #Websterthon.

[Tori Woodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty tragic play had to read for A-level english

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not exactly a mood lifter, but this was so brilliantly written—great characters—so many quotable lines.

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

only Duchess of Malfi read so far (Dec 2020)

[Alanseinfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, well told. Strong characters. Well worth reading.

[india-mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wild ride of a play

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for uni renaissance module.

[Michael P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good edition of a great play.

[Geetanjali lachke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this amazing work is fun but watching it is another level of experience.

[adaora :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s always the great cynics, that rest their secret hopes and dreams for society in one, singular character. webster does this with the duchess

[Megan McElhone · Rating 4 out of 5]

gertrude wishes she was the duchess of malfi

[Sophia]

this took me forever and the ending is so damn wild.

[Ian McNair · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like corruption, abuse of power, cruelty and objectification - this book is for you. I prefer a reasonably happy ending.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for Duchess of Malfi, eh stars for the other plays

[Bea🌷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Mollyyy♥️🧚‍♀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deeply haunting and tragic play provoking so many thoughts. Infiltrated with discomfort, sadness, violence, misogyny, and a lot of death.

[Brenton Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn all that bloodshed cause shawty said nuh huh to her brothers

[Kiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

-for college-
short, entertaining, dramatic... pretty much all u can ask for in a play

[Evereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

How many kids does the duchess have John??