"The Duchess of Malfi" is an example of a Jacobean revenge tragedy. The Jacobean age was one of questioning and uncertainty about many issues, such as religion, politics and law. Webster uses the form of revenge tragedy for much more than just its entertainment value; he has used it as a tool for the exploration of themes relevant to society of the time.

Webster based his plot on a true story set in Italy. The use of foreign settings allows Webster to explore ideas such as inequality, injustice, and corruption, these ideas were common perceptions of Italy by the English public at the time.

The play itself had often been criticised as being weak, confusing, and illogical, containing many inconsistencies within characterisation, plot and structure. One discrepancy within "The Duchess of Malfi" is the way in which Webster uses time and place. Many critics believe the duchess to...