Defiant female discourse in The White Devil

Abstract

John Webster’s The White Devil is a complex play considered as one of the most controversial plays among critics. Some earlier critics complained of the play’s decadent sensationalism, structural incoherence and lack of moral purpose. However, there have recently been a number of critical voices against this harsh criticism by means of various interpretations. This paper aims to read the play in terms of social commentary, which deserves to be discussed as a tragic satire. The world of the play is chaotic and corrupt with no justice and no rationality. All the members of the court except for Cornelia and Isabella are deceitful, vengeful, lecherous and hypocritical. Webster's satiric commentary focuses on the corruption of the court and the church, calling in question a patriarchal society which exploits women. The three primary virtues for a woman of the Jacobean period were considered to be obedience, chastity and silence. Cornelia and Isabella play the roles expected of them, but Vittoria does not. The play takes as its central character Vittoria, a defiant female character who refuses to be controlled by the patriarchal structures: the state and the church. Vittoria is generally thought to be the “white devil” of the title, a woman guilty of adultery and inciting to murder. Nevertheless, Vittoria reveals herself throughout the play to be independent, strong, intelligent, and logical. Through her Webster unveils political and social abuses of his time where corruption exists at every level. Especially, when she defies the court in the trial scene exposing the injustice and corruption of men in power, Vittoria as a victim becomes sympathetic and evokes our admiration for her courage. In fact, her accusers are more hypocritical, manipulative and vicious than she. Webster chooses to use Vittoria, an assertive female character to criticize the chaotic and corrupt society of his time. But she is not able to break through its boundaries because she is destroyed in the end. Her defiant voices are eventually suppressed and contained by social hierarchy of male supremacy.