Discuss the character of Bosola in ‘The Duchess of Malfi’

 Discuss the character of Bosola in ‘The Duchess of Malfi’

In John Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi," Bosola is a complex and multi-faceted character. He is initially presented as a ruthless and cunning assassin, hired by the Duchess's brothers to spy on and ultimately kill her. However, as the play progresses, Bosola's character develops and he begins to question the morality of his actions. He becomes increasingly sympathetic to the Duchess and her plight, and ultimately joins her in her fight against her brothers. Bosola's character arc is one of the central elements of the play, and his transformation from a villain to a hero is a key aspect of the play's exploration of themes of power, corruption, and redemption.

What happens to Bosola in The Duchess of Malf

In "The Duchess of Malfi," Bosola ultimately sacrifices himself in an attempt to save the Duchess and her children from her vengeful brothers. Despite his initial role as an assassin hired by the brothers, Bosola becomes increasingly sympathetic to the Duchess and her plight, and eventually joins her in her fight against her brothers. He ultimately helps the Duchess escape from prison, but is captured and tortured by her brothers. In the final scene of the play, Bosola kills the brothers in a fit of rage, but is himself mortally wounded in the process. He dies along with the Duchess and her children, his death serving as a final act of redemption for his past actions.

How is Bosola a Machiavellian character

Bosola can be considered a Machiavellian character in "The Duchess of Malfi" because of his manipulation of others for his own gain, his use of deceit and cunning, and his adherence to the idea that the end justifies the means.

At the beginning of the play, Bosola is a mercenary and assassin, who is hired by the Duchess's brothers to spy on her and ultimately kill her. He is willing to do whatever it takes to complete his task, including using deceit and manipulation to gain her trust. He is also willing to betray her for his own gain, such as when he tells the brothers of her secret marriage. This is a manifestation of Machiavelli's idea that a ruler should use whatever means necessary to maintain and increase his power, even if it means committing immoral acts.

As the play progresses, Bosola's character develops and he begins to question the morality of his actions. He becomes increasingly sympathetic to the Duchess and her plight, and ultimately joins her in her fight against her brothers. In the end, he sacrifices himself to save the Duchess and her children, becoming a tragic hero. This arc of character development can also be seen as a representation of Machiavelli's idea that a ruler must be willing to adapt and change in order to maintain power.

In summary, Bosola's use of deceit and manipulation, his adherence to the idea that the end justifies the means and his character development, all align with Machiavelli's ideas as presented in "The Prince".

Who does Bosola betray

In "The Duchess of Malfi," Bosola betrays several characters throughout the play. Initially, he is hired by the Duchess's brothers, the Duke of Malfi and the Cardinal, to spy on her and ultimately kill her. He pretends to be her loyal servant and confidant, but in reality, he is reporting her every move to her brothers. He also helps them to plan and carry out her murder, betraying her trust and ultimately leading to her death.

In addition to the Duchess, Bosola also betrays the courtier, Antonio, by falsely accusing him of being involved in the Duchess's secret marriage. This leads to Antonio's imprisonment and torture.

Bosola also betrays the Duchess's husband, the steward, and their children, by helping the brothers to capture and murder them.

As the play progresses, Bosola's character develops and he begins to question the morality of his actions. He becomes increasingly sympathetic to the Duchess and her plight, and ultimately joins her in her fight against her brothers. He ultimately sacrifices himself to save the Duchess and her children, becoming a tragic hero, this is an act of redemption in a way of his past betrayals.

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