| Though Vittoria and the Duchess are in many ways polar opposites, John Webster creates psychologically consistent protagonists in both The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi. By examining Vittoria's codependence and the Duchess's integrity, this study aims to illustrate the psychological unity Webster achieves in both The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi. Though codependence and integrity are mutually exclusive characteristics, these qualities make significant contributions to the unity of each play. While codependence serves to decenter Vittoria beyond repair, it also serves to unify the structure of The White Devil. While the structural integrity of The Duchess of Malfi has been brought into question by numerous critics, the psychological integrity of the Duchess serves as a connecting thread throughout the play, even during its frequently criticized fifth act. |
