Family, Honour, and Women in The Duchess of Malfi

John Webster’s tragedy The Duchess of Malfi explores the clash between love, honour, and social expectations in early modern England. The play follows the Duchess, a powerful noblewoman, who chooses to remarry after becoming a widow. Her decision to marry Antonio, a man of lower social rank, puts her in direct conflict with her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal.

Their hostility is not only about her personal choice but about what it represents to them. For the brothers, her actions threaten the family’s honour, their reputation in society, and the strict social hierarchy that gave them power.

Marriage and Honour in Early Modern Society

In the early modern period, remarriage for women, especially widows, was often seen as shameful. Widows were thought to be experienced in relationships, and society feared that their second marriages would not last. Many believed that such women were driven by desire rather than loyalty or virtue.

Because of this view, the Duchess’s remarriage was considered scandalous. As a high born woman of noble blood, her choices reflected not only on herself but on her whole family. Her brothers worried that by marrying a man of lower status, she would damage their social standing and dishonour their lineage.

The Brothers’ Control and the Duchess’s Resistance

Ferdinand and the Cardinal represent the harsh social expectations of their time. They try to control their sister by warning her not to marry again. However, the Duchess resists and follows her heart, which makes her a bold and modern character compared to the rigid values of her brothers.

The more she defied them, the more strained their relationship became. Once she married Antonio, the gap between her and her brothers turned into open hostility. To them, it was a betrayal so great that it could only be silenced through violence. Their eventual decision to kill her shows how deeply ideas of family honour and social hierarchy shaped attitudes toward women.

Women and Power in the Play

Through the Duchess’s story, Webster highlights the unfair limits placed on women. Her brothers treat her as a symbol of family reputation rather than as an independent person. Her tragedy shows how women who challenged these social rules faced harsh consequences, even when their choices were based on love.

References

Pacheco An & Johnson Da (eds) 2010, 'The Renaissance and Long Eighteenth Century', London.