Introduction:
“The Duchess of Malfi” is a fine Jacobean revenge tragedy written by English dramatist John Webster in (1612–1613). The drama is also called a melodrama. Melodrama is a startling dramatic writing with magnificent characters and thrilling issue designed to appeal to the emotions. This drama is replete with melodramatic elements.
Melodramatic elements of the play “The Duchess of Malfi”: “The Duchess of Mulfi” is repleted with all the elements of a melodrama.
Emotional Love
A melodrama must show emotional love affair. In the play “The Duchess of Malfi”, we can see the very emotional and passionate love between the Duchess and Antonio.
Provocation
First of all, Provocation that provokes the villain to do evil deeds to the hero. Here, in this play, Bosola planned a crucial plan to make mischief of the Duchess and Antonio.
Pangs
Secondly, Pangs, that means the sufferings or pains of the hero, heroine and other good characters. The misery happens because of the villain’s evil deeds. Just because of Bosola’s ill-will, each good character includes the Duchess, Antonio, Duchess’ two brothers, Julia.
Penalty
And finally comes Penalty, the last part of the play, where the villain gets his or her punishment for evil deeds. At the last part of “The Duchess of Malfi”, Ferdinand stabs both Cardinal and Bosola. Bosola kills Ferdinand. Finally, Cardinal and Bosola die.
Conclusion:
Webster’s masterpiece “The Duchess of Malfi” is one of the best melodramas of English literature. He injects all the required elements of melodrama in this drama. Readers can swallow the actual taste of a melodrama by this play.
