“He speaks with others' tongues, and hears men's suits
With others' ears; will seem to sleep o' th' bench
Only to entrap offenders in their answers.”
What is particularly unusual about these relationships is the way in which the Duchess persistently challenges all the authorities that her brothers try to impose on her. In this particular case, she is doing it for the sake of love, which reinforces the idea that power and love are indeed linked. As her brothers try to convince her that marrying again would be foolish, not only does she disregard what they say, but she also defends her own wishes.
“Diamonds are of most value,
They say, that have past through most jewelers' hands.
Whores, by that rule, are precious.”
Her attempt to convince her brothers otherwise shows great character and determination, which was highly unusual for women of those times.
Later on in the play when the Duchess’ brothers are aware of her sexual activity (which they assume is out of wedlock), they both discuss what they want to do with her.
“I could kill her now.”
Their discussion not only envisions the idea that they are using the power that they have been given, but in a more physical aspect, their masculine power against her feminine independence. This struggle of power between the siblings is kept on the surface throughout the play, as the brothers continuously try to control the Duchess, yet she remains persistent in challenging and disobeying them.
Another exploration of power is through the secrecy involved in the play, and how the characters effectively gain a certain amount of power by knowing something that other characters don’t. The secret relationship between Antonio and the Duchess gives them both power in terms of its effect on the other characters, particularly Ferdinand. Antonio has a certain amount of power over Ferdinand as the relationship is making him angry, yet he has the power to stop it. Bosola also tries to use knowledge to his advantage as he hopes that in exchange for the spying he does for Ferdinand, he will receive not only power, but also respect.
Throughout the play, love never appears to come into its own form as power does, but it is always tainted with the corruption of the society; the only real love between any two characters has to be hidden for many years for fear of life. Even when the theme of love is more explicit to the audience, it is still mixed with the theme of power. At the beginning of the play when the Duchess is trying court Antonio, Webster not only explores once again the concept of power between men and women, but also the boundaries created by social status. The Duchess clearly goes against her brothers’ wishes by marrying again, but she furthers her violation by marrying someone of a lower social status i.e. Antonio, a steward.
“Sir, this goodly roof of yours, is too low built;
I cannot stand upright in't nor discourse,
Without I raise it higher; raise yourself.”
In this instance, the Duchess is literally raising Antonio, but metaphorically raising his social status to her level, although this does still not comply with her brothers’ standards. It is also particularly ironic that the Duchess uses secrecy for the sake of love when she asks Cariola to hide, and thus make their meeting a wedding ceremony.
“Good dear soul,
Leave me; but place thyself behind the arras,
Where thou may'st overhear us.”
This is the only instance in the play whereby secrecy is used with good intentions, as opposed to the usual web of deception that surrounds the other characters.
Of the few female characters, Julia plays an important role in emphasising the difference between love and lust. She is similar to the Duchess in that she is in part of a secret relationship, but her intentions are different to those of the Duchess, as her relationship is with a married man out of wedlock. This contrast is once again emphasised at the end, when it is apparent that Julia dies for lust, whereas the Duchess dies for love.
Towards the end of the play, when the Duchess has her final disputes with her brother before her death, it almost seems like a battle of love against power. One instance where perhaps love does take precedence over power is when Ferdinand has finally discovered who has fathered her children, and instead of killing her, he tells her to kill herself.
“Die then, quickly!”
Ferdinand clearly has the power and motivation to kill the Duchess, yet he refrains from doing so, perhaps because his love for her is too strong.
Before the ‘battle’ comes to it’s eventual end whereby love loses, and the Duchess is killed, she still manages to maintain her power and dignity to the very end of her life, showing her determined and strong character.
“I am Duchess of Malfi still.”
The question of whether the play is about love or power can never be answered, as it can never be only one of them. It would initially appear that power is dominant, as all the love is destroyed, and even those who hold power are brought to their deaths, drowning in their own corruption and greed. Only one relationship in the play shows true love, and this leads to the ultimate death of all of the leading characters. However, it is also important to note the effect each theme has on the other, and how they complement each other.
