The White Devil

1. The White Devil
-John Webster
Author Introduction
John Webster
Born c. 1580
London, England
Died c. 1634 (age 53 or 54)
London, England
Spouse Sara Peniall
Information
His works The White Devil
The Duchess of Malfi

2. John Webster (1580-1634)
-was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his
tragedies The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, which are often
regarded as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. His
life and career overlapped William Shakespeare's.

3. About the Work
The White Devil
Title page of the 1612 edition of The White Devil
Written by John Webster
Date premiered 1612
Place premiered Red Bull Theatre, Clerkenwell
Original language English
Genre revenge tragedy
Setting Padua and Rome, Italy, 1585

4. Character of the play
• Monticelso – A Cardinal, later Pope Paul IV.
• Francisco De Medici – Duke of Florence; in Act V disguised as the Moor,
Mulinassar.
• Brachiano – Otherwise Paulo Giordano Orsini, The Duke of Brachiano, husband of
Isabella, and in love with Vittoria.
• Giovanni – Brachiano’ s son by Isabella.
• Lodovico – Sometimes Lodowick, an Italian Count in love with Isabella.
• Antonelli – Ludovico's friend and conspirator.
• Gasparo – Ludovico's friend and conspirator.
• Camillo – Vittoria's husband, nephew of Monticelso.
• Carlo – Attendant of Brachiano, in league with Francisco.
• Pedro – Attendant of Brachiano, in league with Francisco.

5. Theme of the Play
• Individualism
• Revenge
• Appearances
• Female Virtues
• Class (As is the case with most British literature, class is an important theme
within The White Devil).
• Misogyny (Misogyny is a strong theme in the play, and is manifest in the
viewpoints of most of its male characters.)
• Medieval Values

6. • Hortensio – One of Brachiano’ s officers.
• Marcello – An attendant to the Duke of Florence; Vittoria's younger
brother.
• Flamineo – Vittoria's brother. Brachiano’ s secretary.
• Isabella – Francisco De Medici's sister; first wife of Brachiano
• Vittoria Corombona – a Venetian lady, sister of Flamineo. first married to
Camillo – afterwards to Brachiano
• Cornelia – Mother to Vittoria, Flamineo, and Marcello
• Zanche – Moor servant to Vittoria; in love with Flamineo, then Francisco
• Ambassadors, Courtiers, Lawyers, Officers, Physicians, Conjurer, Armourer,
Attendants, Matron of the House of Convertites, Ladies.
• Doctor Julio.
• Christophero, One of the line-less "ghost" characters who helps Doctor
Julio murder Isabella.