Analyzing Bosola's Character in the Duchess of Malfi by John Webster Essay

"Much has been claimed for Bosola's repentance by the end of the play, but in fact, he has changed little.' A Character Study of BOSOLA We are introduced to Bosola by Delio in Act 1 Sc 1 as 'a fellow seven years in the galleys for a notorious murder'. The audience immediately sees him as an evil character capable of murder. Even though Antonio perceives him as a potentially valiant character "He's very valiant', he also realises that he 'like moths in a cloth do hurt for want of wearing'. Hence, Bosola is seen as one who has some inkling of goodness in him but it is overshadowed by his 'close rearing'. Antonio realises that Bosola if not used well would become a bad person. The idea of a nature of goodness overpowered by the nurture by 'black malcontents' is the result that is Bosola. He is the 'court gall', a bitter character who would 'rail at things which he wants' and would do anything to achieve. The bitterness of Bosola's character is brought out in his conversation with the Cardinal. He laments on it all being a 'miserable age', where 'the only reward for doing well is the doing of it'. He is seen as a character who has been taken advantage of by the corrupted court and who has learnt to deal with his consequence 'blackbirds fatten best in hard weather'. We thus realise that the hardness of his character is brought out by the need for survival. He is a neglected character who has learnt to 'thrive' in his own way. He is obviously angered by the disease of corruption in the italian court 'for places in the court are like beds in the hospital'. It is to survive that Bosola becomes an 'invisible devil in flesh'. Yet while Bosola agrees to play the role of Ferdinand's avengement to the Duchess in her 'marraige' to Antonio, it is Bosola who...

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