An Analysis of Bosola in 'the Duchess of Malfi'

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Bosola can be described as a convincing character as unlike some of the characters in the play, his opinions and principles change throughout, therefore constantly altering the audience's feelings about him. He is the only character to communicate to the audience via soliloquy, divulging his true thoughts and intentions which often differ from his outward appearance, making him psychologically realistic and interesting. Although this would suggest he is a convincing character, Bosola, at times, falls into set roles of the Jacobean Tragedy; malcontent, satirist and avenger. Webster uses Bosola to fulfill these conventions of the genre and to direct and drive the plot, especially after the Duchess' death. Even though Webster uses Bosola in this way, he is more than a mere tool as his character extends beyond the established roles of the genre, giving a more complete character.

Bosola's inconsistency makes him different to some of the other characters in the play; the Cardinal is always cold and calculating, Antonio is honorable and benevolent and Ferdinand is fierce and aggressive, even in his mad state. There is no change in their characters, yet Bosola reaches beyond the confinements of the stereotypical role of `black malcontent', as Antonio describes him, altering his opinion of the Duchess as a prostitute, `this precise fellow is the Duchess' bawd', to seeing her as a noble woman and feeling compassion for her in her last moments of life, `Return fair soul from darkness, and lead mine out of this sensible hell!' Bosola's capricious nature makes him more convincing and realistic as a character. At the beginning of the play, the audience will probably dislike Bosola's cruel, pessimistic look on life. His change in opinion t...

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One of the most apparent aspects of Bosola's character is his unflinching view of society, particularly the society at court, `for places in the court are like beds in the hospital, where this man's head lies at that man's foot, and so lower, and lower'. The play is meant to represent real life at the time, so Webster has used Bosola to display his own view of society.

Bosola is a psychologically convincing character. He is interesting and inconsistent yet he is not meant to be realistic as a person, but in the world of the play. Ultimately he is fulfilling a role, Acting as a tool for Webster to fulfil multiple roles; malcontent, satirist, avenger, as well as being a catalyst for the plot and link to the play for the audience. However, Bosola is not `merely a tool'. His behavior is interesting in general, not just as a device for Webster.

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