OCR A Level English Literature: Duchess of Malfi Context

Context Overview

• Context should inform but not dominate reading.
• Focus on literary context, then social, historical contexts as relevant.
• Contextual understanding is crucial for comparative essays.

Key Contexts

Literary Context

• Jacobean Drama

  • Written during James I's reign (1603-1625).
  • Known for political and social unrest themes.
  • Duchess of Malfi: first performed in 1613, belongs to the revenge tragedy genre.
  • Cynical towards politics and religion, unlike Elizabethan drama.
  • Dark themes: death, revenge, betrayal.
  • Political satire was popular; questioned social order.
  • Human Complexity: explores corruption, sex, violence, and morality.
  • Supernatural Elements: incorporated to signify guilt and madness.

• Revenge Tragedy

  • Origins in Roman philosopher Seneca.
  • Popularized by Elizabethan playwrights like Shakespeare.
  • Supernatural elements like ghosts raise questions on fate.
  • Protagonists seek revenge; themes of mercy and forgiveness.
  • Post-Gunpowder Plot (1605) relevance: dissatisfaction with oppression.
  • Common plot: murder, often by a clear villain.
  • Brutal violence and murder depicted graphically.

Social Context

• Religious Conflict

  • Real Duchess's story of murder by brothers used to critique religious corruption.
  • Set in Italy, symbolizing corruption to English audiences.
  • Catholic Church's hypocrisy criticized.
  • England's history of Protestant-Catholic conflicts reflected in the play.

• Philosophical Influence

  • Machiavellian Philosophy: political ambition over morality.
  • Character Bosola embodies Machiavellian traits.
  • Power and corruption themes reflect societal instability.

Historical Context

• Political Critique

  • Webster critiques corruption in political institutions across Europe.
  • Court of King James I known for loose morals.
  • Characters reflect the corruption: Cardinal's betrayal and Duke Ferdinand's murder schemes.

• Gunpowder Plot Influence

  • 1605 plot underscored political instability.
  • Revenge tragedies depicted conspiracies and leadership uncertainty.

Key Themes and Ideas

• Exploration of human complexities and societal corruption.
• Use of supernatural and ghostly elements to reflect guilt.
• Critique of religious and political institutions.
• Examination of revenge, morality, and justice in a corrupt world.