The Duchess of Malfi

The Duchess of Malfi is a Jacobean tragedy written by John Webster in 1612-1613. The play is set in Italy and revolves around the Duchess, a young widow who defies her powerful brothers by secretly marrying her steward, Antonio. This marriage goes against her brothers' desires to control her inheritance and maintain their family's reputation.

As the story unfolds, the Duchess's brothers employ various schemes to uncover her secret, leading to a series of tragic events including betrayal, murder, and revenge. The play explores themes of power, corruption, deception, and the consequences of defying societal norms.

The play, which premiered at Blackfriars Theatre, is loosely based on events that occurred between 1508 and 1513 surrounding Giovanna d'Aragona, Duchess of Amalfi, whose father, Enrico d'Aragona, Marquis of Gerace, was an illegitimate son of Ferdinand I of Naples. As in the play, she secretly married Antonio Beccadelli di Bologna after the death of her first husband Alfonso I Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi.