Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614).
One of the key moments of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi (1613-14) is the writing of the Duchess’s will. On the surface, memory is a state in which princes must consider their own mortality. It is actually the driving force behind the action of the play, illustrated by funeral rites, wills, mon...
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Société d'Etudes Anglo-Américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles
2024-12-01
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| Series: | XVII-XVIII |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/1718/13585 |
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| author | Louis André |
| author_facet | Louis André |
| author_sort | Louis André |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the key moments of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi (1613-14) is the writing of the Duchess’s will. On the surface, memory is a state in which princes must consider their own mortality. It is actually the driving force behind the action of the play, illustrated by funeral rites, wills, monuments and tombs. In various ways, the protagonists are present after their deaths, leaving unerasable psychological traces. This article will question this relationship between death and memory in Webster’s Duchess of Malfi: with its plethora of memento mori images and discourses on posterity, isn’t memory a form of vain illusion, pertaining to the luxury and decadence of the aristocracy? If so, why is the Duchess rewarded with posterity, while her enemies are killed in secret and end up forgotten? |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d581bb525b484efd8c2366067ddf4cbf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0291-3798 2117-590X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Société d'Etudes Anglo-Américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles |
| record_format | Article |
| series | XVII-XVIII |
| spelling | doaj-art-d581bb525b484efd8c2366067ddf4cbf2025-01-10T14:08:59ZengSociété d'Etudes Anglo-Américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe sièclesXVII-XVIII0291-37982117-590X2024-12-018110.4000/130q8Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614).Louis AndréOne of the key moments of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi (1613-14) is the writing of the Duchess’s will. On the surface, memory is a state in which princes must consider their own mortality. It is actually the driving force behind the action of the play, illustrated by funeral rites, wills, monuments and tombs. In various ways, the protagonists are present after their deaths, leaving unerasable psychological traces. This article will question this relationship between death and memory in Webster’s Duchess of Malfi: with its plethora of memento mori images and discourses on posterity, isn’t memory a form of vain illusion, pertaining to the luxury and decadence of the aristocracy? If so, why is the Duchess rewarded with posterity, while her enemies are killed in secret and end up forgotten?https://journals.openedition.org/1718/13585memoryJacobean dramaJohn Webstermemento moriposterity |
| spellingShingle | Louis André Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). XVII-XVIII memory Jacobean drama John Webster memento mori posterity |
| title | Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). |
| title_full | Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). |
| title_fullStr | Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). |
| title_short | Memories of “wretched eminent things” (5.5.113): Remembrance and Posterity in John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi (1613–1614). |
| title_sort | memories of wretched eminent things 5 5 113 remembrance and posterity in john webster s duchess of malfi 1613 1614 |
| topic | memory Jacobean drama John Webster memento mori posterity |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/1718/13585 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT louisandre memoriesofwretchedeminentthings55113remembranceandposterityinjohnwebstersduchessofmalfi16131614 |