What is the role of the male gaze in constructing the Duchess’s character in ‘The Duchess of Malfi’?

Updated:

AskanAcademic.com

A brief exploration of the Duchess as a character constructed by the male gaze in Webster’s ‘The Duchess of Malfi’.

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.

Photo of author

AskanAcademic.com

Askanacademic.com is a website of Business Bliss Consultants FZE, an academic support company established in 2003 and featured in The Times, The Independent, the BBC, ITN News, the Daily Mail and more.