Power and gender in John Webster's tragedies

Abstract

John Webster's tragedies The White Devil (1612) and The Duchess of Malfi (1612-13) primarily deal with the spread of corruption in society through the power-politics of the rulers. Every character, regardless of his/her social class, contributes to corruption wittingly or unwittingly, and is destroyed in the end regardless of the motivations -- whether morally good or evil -- on which he/she chooses to act. This dissertation analyses the ways in which the characters are affected by social corruption, but also suggests certain alternatives which may point towards change within the existing social system. In both plays, there are some characters who, by their enlightened view of the workings of corruption, can present a threat to this system. Especially women, who are determined to assert themselves despite the oppressive influence of their patriarchal society, can form potentially subversive alternatives. Webster analyses this through Vittoria in The White Devil and the Duchess in The Duchess of Malfi. This dissertation asserts that Webster proves himself to be a radical dramatist by subtly emphasising the subversive potential of women in society.