Assess the dramatic and thematic effectiveness Essay

The opening act of The Duchess of Malfi is important in terms of the themes that buttocks Webster is presenting. He uses the functions to explore such themes, and subsequently the listening are given detailed descriptions of most of the main characters. Moreover, Webster uses the characters to describe each other not notwithstanding giving the audience an insight into their personal attributes, but also how each character perceives the other. Although not entirely apparent in the initial acts of the play, the fact that the audience only know or so the characters from the other characters descriptions, implies the ideas of secrecy, deception, and spying, and the general theme that there are things that the characters think they know, when in fact they dont.Antonio is the first character to be introduced, and he is initially presented as an outsider returning home from the French court, which he admires. He has a brief conversation with Delio about the French court, and how althou gh it was orderly, it could slow be distorted.Pure silver drops in general but if t chanceSome cursed example poisoned t near the head,Death and diseases by dint of the whole land spread.The rhyming couplet makes it almost seem like a curse, and exerts a sense of doom. This already gives the impression that the court of Malfi is it self distorted, as Antonio describes the goodness of the French court, and then quickly goes onto describe how easily any court could be corrupted, as if pointing a finger at the court of Malfi. Webster uses this stemma quite effectively to convince the audience from the beginning that there is more to the Court of Malfi than it may primarily seem.Interrupting the conversation, Bosola arrives, and before he even speaks, Antonio speaks of him to Delio, and creating a manifest impression of Bosola.Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud,Bloody, or envious, as any man,If he had the means to be so.This unpleasant impression of Bosola given to the audie nce is except supported, as Delio reveals that he was a fellow seven years in the galleys for a notorious murder, making him appear as an evil character who is capable of murder.Aside from the information the audience receive from Antonio and Delio, the way in which Bosola speaks makes him appear to be very negative.He and his brother are like clean trees that grow crooked over standing pools they are rich and oerladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them.The constant use of bluish and distasteful imagery attributes him to be quite bitter, and so completes the overall impression that he is indeed an unpleasant character. However, as Bosola leaves, Antonio says he has heard good things about Bosola, but his railing at those things which he wants overcomes these positive aspects.Tis great pityHe should be thus neglected I have heardHes very valiant. This foul melancholyWill poison all his goodness.This indicates to the audience that Bosola may have a good side which he may or may not reveal later. Either way, this is another way in which Webster explores the theme of first impressions not being all that they seem.