During Monday’s class, we had a discussion about the terms ‘hero’ and ‘dramatic hero’. We went on to question who the dramatic heroes are in The Duchess of Malfi. After doing a bit of research, my better understanding of a tragic hero is that of someone who evokes a sense of pity in the audience, and is also made to endure undeserved misfortunes. That being said, it is clear that The Duchess is this play’s foremost dramatic hero. In Act 4, Scene 2, the Duchess is wrongfully fooled into believing that her husband and children have been murdered, thus taking with them her own will to live. This was orchestrated by the Duchess’ brothers, and carried out by Bosola in an attempt to receive his fair due in the form of an advancement after continually doing the brother’s dirty work.
However, after he has done so and reported back to Ferdinand, he is once again let down. Now this isn’t meant to evoke any kind of pity in the audience for Bosola, as he seemingly has no moral compass in regards to what he is willing to do for his advancement. This is also not the first time he has murdered someone, and it is not the first time he has not been given his promised reward. Having said that, Bosola plays a very important role in the last few scenes in the play. Although he has multiple motives (revenge, his sense of betrayal), Bosola does perhaps the most valiant action in the play. He takes it upon himself to confront the Cardinal, bringing death to both him and Ferdinand, while in the process being mortally wounded. When Antonio spoke of Bosola not reaching his full potential earlier in the play, this final act of boldness comes quite close to what I believe Bosola would have been had he not chosen a darker path.
Bosola is one of the most interesting characters in Jacobean drama, and Sabrina gives a good account of why. Julia makes it clear that he’s also very good looking, as is Antonio: star quality abounds in The Duchess of Malfi.