The main characters and their rolesWe follow the bubbles blown in the air.The pleasure of life, what is it?Only the good hours of the feverThe Jacobean age was that of questions and uncertainties about many issues, such as religion, politics and law. At the same time he was rediscovering the power of the classical texts of Rome and Greece and reinterpreting the tragic form to suit his own purposes. The Duchess of Malfi is a revenge tragedy, but Webster used the form for much more than just entertainment value; he used it as a vehicle for the exploration of some themes relevant to the society of his time. Webster based his plot on a true story set in Italy, and kept the Italian setting because, like Shakespeare and other playwrights of his time, he had to use politically acceptable foreign contexts in which to explore ideas such as those presented in The Duchess of Malfi (which were actually commentaries on the England of their era), dealing with inequality, injustice and corruption, without provoking an outrageous response to his work. Antonio and the Duchess The fact that Antonio will never be able to have an equal relationship with the Duchess has led some readers to believe that his importance as a character in the work is limited, while others suggest that his main role is that of spokesperson for the Webster's judgments and opinions. To evaluate the importance of her role we must consider it in relation to the Duchess and in the context of the play as a whole. The power inequalities associated with gender and social status are highlighted in the relationship between the Duchess and Antonio, and the reactions of others towards their relationship. In Antonio's self-deprecating deathbed speech, Antonio: Let's follow later...... middle of the paper ...... it was emphasized that The Duchess of Malfi is an imperfect play. For example, Ferdinand reveals to Bosola a possible reason for wanting his sister murdered:Ferdinand: For gaining an infinite mass of treasure with her death. [Act 5, scene ii]But this does not seem convincing, given that Malfi is little more than a poor fishing village. Moments like these in the play have led to it being criticized for its plot and has other flaws. For example, is it plausible that the Duchess could marry Antonio and have children in secret? Webster tends to overlook the importance of the Duchess's children, and in Act 5 we see Delio apparently with a false heir. But despite these flaws The Duchess of Malfi endured and remained popular, not only for its powerful entertainment value and Webster's role. masterful use of language, but also for the insights it offers us into Jacobean society.