Question
What is the role of the male gaze in constructing the Duchess’s character in ‘The Duchess of Malfi’?
Answer
In “The Duchess of Malfi,” the male gaze plays a significant role in constructing the Duchess’s character, primarily through the themes of control, power, and the subversion of gender roles. The male characters in the play, particularly Ferdinand and the Cardinal, seek to control and inspect the Duchess, reflecting the societal norms and anxieties of the time.
Control and Inspection
The male gaze is manifested through the desire to inspect and control the Duchess’s body, as seen in Ferdinand’s obsession with uncovering what is hidden and private about her. This reflects a broader cultural impulse to regulate and dominate the female body, aligning with contemporary anatomical and gynaecological discourses (Kim, 2005).
Bosola, acting on Ferdinand’s behalf, is tasked with scrutinizing the Duchess, particularly during her pregnancy, which symbolizes the male desire to exert power over her body and life choices (Kim, 2005).
Subversion of Gender Roles
The Duchess challenges traditional gender roles by using her voice and language to assert her authority and desires, which is seen as a threat by the male characters. Her ability to speak and act on her desires contrasts with her brothers’ attempts to silence and control her, highlighting an inversion of conventional gender dynamics (Mucci, 2018; Hamamra, 2020).
The play associates the Duchess’s voice with honesty and authority, while her brothers’ voices are linked to corruption and madness, further subverting the expected power dynamics between genders (Hamamra, 2020).
Metaphorical Implications
The Duchess’s behaviour and the male response to it serve as metaphors for broader societal issues, such as the decay and corruption of the court and state. Her power and autonomy are seen as dangerous and diseased, reflecting the patriarchal fear of female agency (Mucci, 2018).
Conclusion
In “The Duchess of Malfi,” the male gaze is a tool of control and power, seeking to dominate the Duchess’s body and voice. However, the play subverts these attempts by highlighting the Duchess’s agency and the moral corruption of her male oppressors. This dynamic not only critiques the societal norms of the time but also underscores the tension between male authority and female autonomy.
References
Mucci, C., 2018. The Duchess of Malfi: When a Woman-Prince Can Talk. **, 4. https://doi.org/10.13136/SJTDS.V4I1.139
Hamamra, B., 2020. “I pray sir, hear me: I am married”: Language and Sexual Politics in Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. Anglia, 138, pp. 1 – 19. https://doi.org/10.1515/ang-2019-0056
Kim, H., 2005. The Ocular Impulse and the Politics of Violence in The Duchess of Malfi. **, 13, pp. 123-144.
Webster, J. (2009) The Duchess of Malfi. Oxford: Oxford World Classics.
