11.2 John Webster and Revenge Tragedy

John Webster, a master of revenge tragedy, pushed the genre to new heights during the Jacobean era. His plays, like "The Duchess of Malfi," explore corruption, morality, and justice through complex characters and vivid language.

Webster's impact on revenge tragedy was profound. He set new standards with his psychological depth and expanded themes, influencing later playwrights and cementing the genre's place in dramatic literature.

Revenge Tragedy Characteristics

Common Elements and Themes

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• Revenge tragedies revolve around a protagonist seeking vengeance for a perceived wrong or injustice, often leading to a cycle of violence and retribution
• Common elements include:
  • Ghosts that haunt the protagonist and drive their quest for revenge (Hamlet's father in Shakespeare's "Hamlet")
  • Madness that consumes characters as a result of their obsession with revenge (Hieronimo in Thomas Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy")
  • Graphic violence and murder as the means of exacting revenge (the brutal murders in Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi")
• Jacobean revenge tragedies explore themes of corruption, moral decay, and the consequences of unchecked passion or ambition

Metatheatrical Devices and Heightened Language

• The genre frequently employs metatheatrical devices to comment on the nature of revenge and its impact on society
  • Plays-within-plays are used to mirror the main plot and expose the characters' true intentions (the play-within-a-play in "Hamlet" reveals Claudius's guilt)
  • Soliloquies and asides allow characters to express their inner thoughts and motivations directly to the audience
• Revenge tragedies of the Jacobean era are known for their heightened language and use of macabre and supernatural elements
  • Vivid imagery and poetic language intensify the emotional impact of the plays (the Duchess's haunting speech in "The Duchess of Malfi": "I am Duchess of Malfi still")
  • Supernatural elements, such as ghosts and omens, create an atmosphere of dread and foreboding (the ominous horoscope in "The Duchess of Malfi")

Corruption, Morality, and Justice in Webster

Corruption and Moral Decay

• In "The Duchess of Malfi," Webster explores the corruption of the Italian court and the moral decay of characters
  • Ferdinand and the Cardinal abuse their power and engage in incestuous desires towards their sister, the Duchess
  • The Cardinal's duplicitous nature and involvement in murder demonstrate the corruption within the Catholic Church
• "The White Devil" exposes the corruption and moral failings of characters driven by self-interest
  • Flamineo manipulates others for personal gain, disregarding loyalty and familial bonds
  • Vittoria engages in adultery and murder, showcasing the moral decay of the aristocracy

Justice and Its Elusiveness

• Webster's plays question the nature of justice, as characters who commit heinous acts may initially escape punishment, while the innocent suffer unjustly
  • In "The Duchess of Malfi," the Duchess is persecuted and ultimately murdered by her brothers, despite her innocence
  • Bosola, who carries out the murders, experiences a crisis of conscience but is unable to find redemption
• The plays suggest that true justice is elusive in a world plagued by corruption and moral decay
  • Revenge often leads to further violence and suffering rather than resolution, creating a cycle of destruction (the deaths of Antonio and the Duchess's children in "The Duchess of Malfi")
  • The corrupt characters may face their downfall, but often at a great cost to the innocent (the deaths of Camillo and Isabella in "The White Devil")

Psychological Complexity of Webster's Characters

Intense Emotions and Inner Conflicts

• Webster's characters are driven by intense emotions such as jealousy, ambition, and desire, which lead them to commit terrible acts and contribute to their own downfall
  • Bosola's conflicted loyalty and guilt in "The Duchess of Malfi" demonstrate the psychological toll of his actions
  • Flamineo's ruthless ambition and manipulative nature in "The White Devil" ultimately isolate him from others and lead to his demise
• Villains such as Bosola and Flamineo are portrayed with psychological depth, as their motivations and inner conflicts are explored throughout the plays
  • Bosola's soliloquies reveal his grappling with the morality of his actions and his desire for redemption
  • Flamineo's moments of vulnerability and self-doubt humanize him, despite his villainous acts

Identity and Self-Awareness

• Webster's characters often grapple with questions of identity, self-awareness, and the consequences of their actions
  • The Duchess in "The Duchess of Malfi" asserts her identity and agency in the face of oppression, defying societal expectations
  • Vittoria in "The White Devil" undergoes a transformation as she confronts the consequences of her actions and seeks to redefine herself
• The plays explore the psychological toll of living in a corrupt and morally ambiguous world
  • Characters struggle with guilt, paranoia, and the erosion of their mental state (Ferdinand's descent into madness in "The Duchess of Malfi")
  • The weight of their actions and the inability to escape the cycle of violence lead to the characters' psychological deterioration

Webster's Impact on Revenge Tragedy

Setting New Standards

• Webster's plays, particularly "The Duchess of Malfi" and "The White Devil," are considered masterpieces of the revenge tragedy genre and have influenced subsequent works
  • The complex characterization and psychological depth in Webster's plays set a new standard for the genre, moving beyond simple archetypes and stock characters
  • The exploration of moral ambiguity and the consequences of revenge became more prevalent in later revenge tragedies
• Webster's works expanded the thematic scope of revenge tragedies, delving deeper into issues of corruption, morality, and the human condition
  • The plays' critique of societal institutions and the abuse of power influenced later works that addressed similar themes (the corruption of the court in Shakespeare's "Hamlet")
  • The examination of gender roles and female agency in "The Duchess of Malfi" paved the way for more complex female characters in the genre

Enduring Influence

• The heightened language, vivid imagery, and use of macabre and supernatural elements in Webster's plays have become defining features of the revenge tragedy genre
  • Later playwrights emulated Webster's style, incorporating poetic language and Gothic elements into their works (the ghostly apparitions in Thomas Middleton's "The Revenger's Tragedy")
  • The use of dramatic irony and foreshadowing, prominent in Webster's plays, became staples of the genre
• The enduring popularity and critical acclaim of Webster's plays have helped to cement the revenge tragedy genre as a significant and influential form of dramatic literature
  • "The Duchess of Malfi" and "The White Devil" continue to be widely performed and studied, attesting to their lasting impact on the genre
  • Webster's influence can be seen in the works of later playwrights, such as Thomas Middleton and John Ford, who further developed the themes and techniques of the revenge tragedy genre