Essay: Paradise Lost & The Duchess of Malfi – theme of gender and power

Within both John Milton’s Paradise Lost and John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi, the theme of gender, and subsequently power, is heavily explored through the reversal of gender roles, as well as marriage and hierarchy, while seventeenth century views are reflected upon. This is demonstrated through Eve successfully opposing her counterpart Adam’s opinion in Paradise Lost and the Duchess initiating her marriage between herself and Antonio in The Duchess of Malfi.
Seemingly in both texts, men appear to hold more power and therefore bear a greater hierarchical position, as supported by the Jacobean view of women being subservient to men. This is evident in Paradise Lost as Milton portrays the relationship between Adam and Eve to be affectionate yet unequal, as designed by God who created Eve as a companion for Adam from his own rib. As Eve was created from Adam’s rib, it is implied that solely he was created in the image of God therefore implying a male holds a closer relationship to God than a woman. Accompanying the Jacobean views of women being owned by their husbands, Eve acts accordingly through asking her husband’s approval to separate and ‘divide [their] labours’. Furthermore, not only is Adam higher in the Chain of Being within Eden, he is also apparently closer to God, reaffirming Eve’s distance from God, acting as an informant through warning her of Satan’s presence in the garden, further establishing the bond between man and god to be closer than the one between woman and god. Granted she already had knowledge of their unwanted company, however this was through chicanery means of listening into angels discussing the issue, supporting the Elizabethan idea that women are made up of the cold and dry humours, more inclined to sin, debauchery and deceit. Moreover, before their separation, it became apparent that gender stereotypes had been observed as Eve promised to return as to prepare ‘noontide repast’, indicating that a woman’s role was domestic, relating to the Elizabethan ideal.
This seventeenth century view is supported in The Duchess of Malfi with the Duchess’s two brothers, The Cardinal and Ferdinand, taking on guardian roles over their sister, noticeably her choice to remarry. Marriage was often considered part of a social unit, rather than just between the couple, explaining her brothers often proposing suitors for her who would be socially acceptable in regards to their family honour. However, this view entraps the Duchess, giving her little choice upon who she chooses to marry and ultimately allowing her less decision-making power than the men, who are enabled to make their own choices. Her brother’s outrage upon the discovery of her secret marriage to Antonio would have been justified as historically accurate, due to her going behind their backs in the decision and marrying below her social status. Moreover, the hypocrisy of The Cardinal’s outrage further highlights the power imbalance regarding freedom of choice as it was revealed he was having an affair with Julia while the Duchess was regarded as a ‘strumpet’, enhancing the gender imbalance as women were expected to remain abstinent while unmarried.
On the other hand, women evidently hold a large amount of power, both socially and sexually, as demonstrated through their actions. For example, both the Duchess and Eve were self-assured and confident in their arguments, with Eve being successful in convincing Adam to allow her the freedom of separation. Granted, Adam held the final decision to allow her leave however Eve successfully manipulated him with a convincing argument that exercised her freedom of independent though and free will. Furthermore, in her encounter with Satan in the form of the snake, Eve is giving sexual power due to her looks, as described as ‘better than Eden’, which briefly distracts Satan from his primary motive. However, her appearance, paired with her naivety, can be argued to contribute to her being easily deceived as Satan used flattery as his first ploy to attract Eve’s attention.
Moreover, the Duchess also holds argumentative power as she successfully initiated the marriage between herself and Antonio, going against the traditional gender norms of a man wooing a woman. The Duchess comments on this however, neglecting the power she holds through proposing as a woman, claiming it to be ‘The misery of us that are born great: We are forced to woo, because none dare woo us’. However, through her proposal Webster placed the Duchess in a position of power over her brothers due to the rule of succession, as it is revealed her will to remarry was for companionship rather than for dynastic purposes. This contrasts with Queen Elizabeth, as the ‘Virgin Queen’ never married and thus produced no male heir, whereas the Duchess already had a son from her first marriage, therefore alleviating the need for another. Webster portrays her desire for marital intimacy as healthy and natural as the Duchess argues she is not a ‘figure cut in alabaster’ but ‘flesh and blood’. The Duchess’s autonomy due to her status as a widow further allowed her to be granted more freedom than a married woman or a woman yet to marry and her decision to marry Antonio directly challenges the Jacobean view of women being compliant to male family members as Antonio holds a lower social status. Rather than debating traditional roles within a marriage, the Duchess instead exercises her power of choice and rebels against the social hierarchy, allowing Antonio and herself to take on the roles of husband and wife, rather than steward and mistress.
In conclusion, due to the misogynistic views of the seventeenth century it is unsurprising both Milton and Webster expressed these attitudes in their work. However, Webster did somewhat defy these social norms, through the Duchess being depicted as independent and actively contesting typical social expectations of marriage and social hierarchy, affirmed through her unique position of power, being a woman, ruler and widow. On the other hand, Milton provided Eve with little power, instead allowing Adam a grander, more holy status than Eve as demonstrated through his greater intellect and sense of judgement and reasoning, contrasting greatly with Eve’s naivety and rebellious nature, ultimately accusing women of being the weaker sex and thus being entrusted with less power and freedom.
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