Assess the dramatic and thematic effectiveness Essay

The opening act of ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ is important in terms of the themes that John Webster is presenting. He uses the characters to explore such themes, and subsequently the audience are given detailed descriptions of most of the main characters. Moreover, Webster uses the characters to describe each other not only giving the audience an insight into their personal attributes, but also how each character perceives the other. Although not entirely apparent in the initial acts of the play, the fact that the audience only know about the characters from the other characters’ descriptions, implies the ideas of secrecy, deception, and spying, and the general theme that there are things that the characters think they know, when in fact they don’t. Antonio is the first character to be introduced, and he is initially presented as an outsider returning home from the French court, which he â€Å"admires†. He has a brief conversation with Delio about the French court, and how although it was orderly, it could easily be distorted.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Pure silver drops in general; but if ‘t chance  Some cursed example poisoned ‘t near the head,  Death and diseases through the whole land spread.† The rhyming couplet makes it almost seem like a curse, and exerts a sense of doom. This already gives the impression that the court of Malfi is it self distorted, as Antonio describes the goodness of the French court, and then quickly goes onto describe how easily any court could be corrupted, as if ‘pointing a finger’ at the court of Malfi. Webster uses this contrast quite effectively to convince the audience from the beginning that there is more to the Court of Malfi than it may primarily seem.  Interrupting the conversation, Bosola arrives, and before he even speaks, Antonio speaks of him to Delio, and creating a distinct impression of Bosola. â€Å"Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud,  Bloody, or envious, as any man,  If he had the means to be so.†Ã‚  This unpleasant impression of Bosola given to the audience is further supported, as Delio reveals that he was â€Å"a fellow seven years in the galleys for a notorious murder†, making him appear as an evil character who is capable of murder.  Aside from the information the audience receive from Antonio and Delio, the way in which Bosola speaks makes him appear to be very negative. â€Å"He and his brother are like plum trees that grow crooked over standing pools; they are rich and o’erladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them.†Ã‚  The constant use of dark and distasteful imagery attributes him to be quite bitter, and so completes the overall impression that he is indeed an unpleasant character. However, as Bosola leaves, Antonio says he has heard good things about Bosola, but his â€Å"railing at those things which he wants† overcomes these positive aspects. â€Å"‘Tis great pity  He should be thus neglected; I have heard  He’s very valiant. This foul melancholy  Will poison all his goodness.†Ã‚  This indicates to the audience that Bosola may have a good side which he may or may not reveal later. Either way, this is another way in which Webster explores the theme of first impressions not being all that they seem.