Publisher's Synopsis
The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster is a dark Jacobean tragedy about power, corruption, and revenge. The play follows the widowed Duchess of Malfi, who defies her controlling brothers-the Cardinal and Ferdinand-by secretly marrying her steward, Antonio. When her brothers discover the marriage, they unleash a brutal campaign of psychological and physical torment against her. Ferdinand descends into madness, and the Cardinal grows increasingly ruthless. Eventually, the Duchess is murdered, along with her children and Antonio. However, vengeance follows as Ferdinand and the Cardinal meet their own tragic ends. The play explores themes of tyranny, ambition, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of cruelty.
