English Renaissance Drama: Status of Women in “The Duchess of Malfi”

Abstract

Renaissance dramas mostly illustrate gender relations and women’s complex roles of empowerment. Writers of that time examined the social issues of this day through dramas that usually featured a strong female character at the centre of the play, societal issues such as the stereotypical role of the female, elements of class-consciousness, and the role of faith in a patriarchal society. Analysis of literature in this type gives the researchers much pressure to reveal real situations of that period. The main topic of this article is to analyze John Webster’s “ The Duchess of Malfi”.