John Webster, Thomas Middleton And other Jacobean dramatists- the Complexity And Irresolvability Of the depicted tragic spectacle

Abstract

   Adopting the widespread critical view which asserts that webster's two main tragedies, The White Devil and the Duchess of Malfi, depict corrupt / corrupting courts; the degeneration of moral values; and the inherent evil in both individuals and the social and religious systems to which they belong to; we are ultimately confronted with the following question: was Webster concerned merely with the depiction of social corruption and the triumph of evil in both church and state, or in finding a satisfactory resolution to this raging moral and social anarchy as well?

I would contend that both Webster's plays may be in some degree apocalyptic- a prelude to a resurrection of divine order whereby a new world and ideals will be born out of chaos. The distinctly desperate and pessimistic vision of the triumph of evil and the total collapse of moral codes may ultimately be transformed into an ideal condition by the operation of divine providence and justice. The permanent qualities of that ultimate order- such as eternity, perfection and magnanimity, may eventually redeem the moral disintegration of the fallen society depicted in these two plays.

To express it differently, the pessimistic assessment of the human condition which is characterized by the collapse of social, human, moral and religious premises, is set against the view that moral anarchy will be replaced by the extension of God's grace. Only if we acknowledge the duality of that view as expressed within the play, can its full effect be perceived.