「말피의 공작부인」: 신분갈등과 개인주의 정신
The Duchess of Malfi: Class Conflicts and the Spirit of Individualism
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The Duchess of Malfi is generally regarded as a revenge tragedy in that the Duchess of Malfi’s brothers, Ferdinand and Cardinal, commit an act of revenge against their sister who acted against their will and remarried. In this paper, I approach this play in the light of sociological interpretation, for the play gives us a glimpse into English marriage, social mobility, and the law in seventeenth century English society. I focus on class conflicts and changes of the notion of love and marriage, and explore how these phenomena are related to the rise of the spirit of individualism in that age. I mainly refer to the Crisis of Aristocracy written by Lawrence Stone. In the book, Stone investigates how English society underwent various changes during the seventeenth century, ascribing the changes to the emergence of the new bourgeois, Humanism, and the Reformation. He explains that these factors promoted a social atmosphere in which personal abilities and virtue were valued above inherited social status, which inevitably caused class conflicts. In the play, despite her brothers' objections to her second marriage, the Duchess selects Antonio, who is not impressive pedigree but has high virtue, as her spouse. The Duchess’s desire to pursue love by overcoming social conventions is one example of Renaissance individualism. Antonio, a steward, absorbs Humanism, improves himself, and marries the Duchess. Hence, he improves his social status. Bosola, Ferdinand’s informant, says that all humans are equal regardless of their social status; such a view reveals his critical social consciousness. His hope of being promoted to a better position indicates the possibility of social mobility in that age. In conclusion, in The Duchess of Malfi , Webster questions the traditional social hierarchy, showing us that humanity itself does not necessarily depend on social status by portraying Antonio as virtuous and capable while Ferdinand and Cardinal as evil and corrupt.
Abstract
The Duchess of Malfi is generally regarded as a revenge tragedy in that the Duchess of Malfi’s brothers, Ferdinand and Cardinal, commit an act of revenge against their sister who acted against their will and remarried. In this paper, I approach this play in the light of sociological interpretation, for the play gives us a glimpse into English marriage, social mobility, and the law in seventeenth century English society. I focus on class conflicts and changes of the notion of love and marriage, and explore how these phenomena are related to the rise of the spirit of individualism in that age. I mainly refer to the Crisis of Aristocracy written by Lawrence Stone. In the book, Stone investigates how English society underwent various changes during the seventeenth century, ascribing the changes to the emergence of the new bourgeois, Humanism, and the Reformation. He explains that these factors promoted a social atmosphere in which personal abilities and virtue were valued above inherited social status, which inevitably caused class conflicts. In the play, despite her brothers' objections to her second marriage, the Duchess selects Antonio, who is not impressive pedigree but has high virtue, as her spouse. The Duchess’s desire to pursue love by overcoming social conventions is one example of Renaissance individualism. Antonio, a steward, absorbs Humanism, improves himself, and marries the Duchess. Hence, he improves his social status. Bosola, Ferdinand’s informant, says that all humans are equal regardless of their social status; such a view reveals his critical social consciousness. His hope of being promoted to a better position indicates the possibility of social mobility in that age. In conclusion, in The Duchess of Malfi , Webster questions the traditional social hierarchy, showing us that humanity itself does not necessarily depend on social status by portraying Antonio as virtuous and capable while Ferdinand and Cardinal as evil and corrupt.
참고문헌 (16)
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