The main characters and their rolesWe follow the bubbles blown in the air.The pleasure of living, what is it?Only the good times of a feverThe Jacobean age was one of questioning and uncertainty on many issues, such as religion, politics and law. At the same time, he rediscovered the power of the classical texts of Rome and Greece and reinterpreted the tragic form to adapt it to his own purposes. The Duchess of Malfi is a revenge tragedy, but Webster used this form for more than just its entertainment value; he used it as a vehicle for the exploration of certain themes relevant to the society of his time. Webster based his plot on a true story set in Italy and retained the Italian setting because, like Shakespeare and other playwrights of his day, he had used politically acceptable foreign settings to explore ideas such as those presented in The Duchess of Malfi (which were actually commentaries on the England of their own time), linked to inequality, injustice and corruption, without provoking outrage in response to her work. Antonio and the DuchessThe fact that 'Antonio's never being able to have an equal relationship with the Duchess has prompted some readers to think that his importance as a character in the play is limited, while others suggest that his main role is that of spokesperson. for Webster's own judgments and opinions. To assess the importance of her role, we must consider it in relation to the Duchess and in the context of the play as a whole. The power inequalities associated with gender and social status are highlighted in the relationship between the Duchess and Antonio, and the reactions of others towards their relationship. In Antonio's self-deprecating speech, Antonio: We follow after...... middle of paper ...... it was pointed out that The Duchess of Malfi is an imperfect play. For example, Ferdinand reveals to Bosola a possible motive for wanting his sister murdered: Ferdinand: Having gained an infinite mass of treasure by her death. [Act 5, scene ii] But this doesn't seem convincing, because Malfi is little more than a poor fishing village. Moments like these in the play have caused it to be criticized for its plot, and it has other flaws. For example, is it plausible that the Duchess could marry Antonio and have children in secret? Webster tends to overlook the importance of the Duchess's sons, and in Act 5 we see Delio apparently with a false heir. But despite these flaws, The Duchess of Malfi has endured and remained popular, not just for its powerful entertainment value and for Webster's story. masterful use of language, but also for the understanding it gives us of Jacobean society.