Point of View

The Duchess of Malfi is a play written by John Webster. As a play, it is presented in first person from the limited perspective of the various characters, though there is an omniscient quality as well. This comes from the fact that various characters take the stage, each revealing information about himself or herself at various times throughout the play.

Language and Meaning

The play is difficult to read due to the intricate language and the time frame in which it was written, around 1611. Words such as sycophants, horseleech, chirurgeons, etc. are archaic. The reader must reread parts to fully comprehend the unfamiliar vocabulary.

In the beginning of the play, Antonio asks Bosola about the Duchess’s brothers. Bosola responds by comparing the brothers to twisted fruit-bearing trees, but they are by stagnant water and only pesty birds and insects desire to eat the fruit...