The white devil

The White Devil

1. The White Devil -John Webster Author Introduction John Webster Born c. 1580 London, England Died c. 1634 (age 53 or 54) London, England Spouse Sara Peniall Information His works The White Devil   The Duchess of Malfi

2. John Webster  (1580-1634) -was an English  Jacobean   dramatist  best known for his tragedies  The White Devil  and  The Duchess of Malfi , which are often regarded as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. His life and career overlapped  William Shakespeare 's.

3. About the Work The White Devil Title page of the 1612 edition of  The White Devil Written by John Webster Date premiered 1612 Place premiered Red Bull Theatre ,  Clerkenwell Original language English Genre revenge tragedy Setting Padua  and Rome, Italy, 1585

4. Character of the play Monticelso – A Cardinal, later Pope Paul IV. Francisco De Medici – Duke of Florence; in Act V disguised as the Moor, Mulinassar. Brachiano – Otherwise Paulo Giordano Orsini, The Duke of Brachiano, husband of Isabella, and in love with Vittoria. Giovanni – Brachiano’ s son by Isabella. Lodovico – Sometimes Lodowick, an Italian Count in love with Isabella. Antonelli – Ludovico's friend and conspirator. Gasparo – Ludovico's friend and conspirator. Camillo – Vittoria's husband, nephew of Monticelso. Carlo – Attendant of Brachiano, in league with Francisco. Pedro – Attendant of Brachiano, in league with Francisco.

5. Theme of the Play Individualism Revenge Appearances Female Virtues Class ( As is the case with most British literature, class is an important theme within  The White Devil).   Misogyny (Misogyny is a strong theme in the play, and is manifest in the viewpoints of most of its male characters.) Medieval Values

6. Hortensio – One of Brachiano’ s officers. Marcello – An attendant to the Duke of Florence; Vittoria's younger brother. Flamineo – Vittoria's brother. Brachiano’ s secretary. Isabella – Francisco De Medici's sister; first wife of Brachiano Vittoria Corombona – a Venetian lady, sister of Flamineo. first married to Camillo – afterwards to Brachiano Cornelia – Mother to Vittoria, Flamineo, and Marcello Zanche – Moor servant to Vittoria; in love with Flamineo, then Francisco Ambassadors, Courtiers, Lawyers, Officers, Physicians, Conjurer, Armourer, Attendants, Matron of the House of Convertites, Ladies. Doctor Julio. Christophero, One of the line-less "ghost" characters who helps Doctor Julio murder Isabella.