The Duchess of Malfi and Twelfth Night Similarities

The Duchess of Malfi and Twelfth Night: Cunning Similarities

            In John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi and in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, themes of gender, woman empowerment and social norms are illuminated in a way that draws similarities between the two plays. In The Duchess of Malfi, the Duchess, Bosola and Ferdinand all have different roles in the play, but they are each disguising an aspect of their lives in order to benefit them or hide the truth from their society. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Viola, Olivia and Feste are also disguising themselves, but in the end, none but Feste benefit from their disguises. Moreover, disguises are an obvious similarity between the two plays, but gender and social norms are as well. Both plays highlight issues regarding gender as the Duchess shows her inner strength and nobility in her actions, while Viola enlightens those around her with her truthful words about women and love. Social norms are also challenged in both plays as the Duchess marries out of her social rank and so do Sir Toby and Maria in Twelfth Night. In brief, based on the resemblance of the two plays, it is clear that whether people were prepared or not, women were  becoming more empowering during this time period and the social norms were being questioned to prove that the views on gender, norms, and women were changing in the society.

Like I previously stated, the Duchess is a keen example of the modernistic view of women empowerment as she rebelled against her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal in the play and went with her instinct to marry for love and not status. The Duchess, being a woman of high social class marries Antonio, her “steward”, and has children with him, “I thank you, gentle love / And ‘cause you shall not come to me in debt, / Being my steward, here upon your lips / I sign your Quietus est” (2.1. 164-67). The significance is that they both had not planned or knew how to present their rebellious marriage to their society so they kept the truth from others, which did not benefit either one in the end. Bosola disguises himself in a way that fools all characters to believe that his actions are pure and righteous. For example, he disgusies himself as a spy only to reach a higher level of social status, but he does not comprehend the hurt he causes the Duchess and Antonio until the end when they have been killed. Alike Bosola, in Twelfth Night, Feste the clown also disguises himself and fools others with his wits, but he actually benefits because he is honest with his disguise as the characters know he speaks the truth, “I would be sorry, sir, but the fool / should be as oft with your master as with my mistress. I / think I saw your wiadom there” (3.1.37-39).  Correspondingly, in Twelfth Night, Viola disguises herself as Cesario, but she does not realize how it impacts herself and others until she falls in love with her Duke Orsino. A disguise is a popular theme in both plays, but it seems that the implication was to not hide one’s intentions or self in society because it severely affects oneself and others as well.

Along with disguises, gender and social norms are applicable in both plays as the Duchess is an empowering woman and is often referred to as “prince”; ironically comparable, Viola is dressed up as Cesario and spreads her truthful opinion about woman and love as Orsino says that women’s love is questionable. When the Duchess is talking to her brother Ferdinand, she refers to herself as a prince when she boldly claims, “Why should only I, / Of all the other princes of the world, / Be cased up, like a holy relic? I have youth / And a little beauty” (3.2.134-137). Interestingly, Ferdinand does not question or argue with her reference because there seems to be a mutual truth to the virile title she has given herself. Nobility is seen through both female characters, which is interesting because being noble seems so masculine, but it is reversed throughout this play.  The importance is that both plays mock masculine tittles to portray that women can be powerful and noble as it comes from one’s character instead of status. All in all, the similarities of gender, social norms and women themes in both of the plays demonstrates how the times were changing and so were the opinions of those in that society.