Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Shmoop explores which of these structures fits this story like Cinderella’s slipper.
Plot Type : Tragedy
Anticipation Stage
The Duchess is widowed but still young and looking to get herself a husband. She's got her eye on her steward Antonio, even though her brothers have made it crystal clear that they're dead-set against her remarrying. They insert their spy, Bosola, into her court to keep an eye on her.
Dream Stage
Well, screw that; the Duchess goes ahead and marries Antonio in secret. Things go really well for a while—they're a great couple, and even have a few kids. The brothers are far away from the Malfi court, and even the crafty Bosola can only guess about whether or not she's having children or not.
Frustration Stage
Inevitably, though, Bosola finds out about the Duchess's children, and subsequently discovers that she's married to Antonio. He reports to the brothers, and the Duchess and her family are set on the run to escape whatever repercussions will surely follow.
Nightmare Stage
The Duchess, Cariola and two of the kids are captured by Ferdinand, who cruelly mentally tortures her. He eventually orders Bosola to have all four executed, which he does. Bosola, horrified at how things are playing out, pledges to save what remains of the Duchess's family from the evil clutches of the Cardinal and Ferdinand (you know it's bad when your villains have Evil Clutches). Antonio, not knowing that half of his family has already been murdered, decides to confront the Cardinal in hopes of reconciling with him.
Oh, and Ferdinand's gone crazy. Crazier, that is.
Destruction or Death Wish Stage
Thing go from worse to worst: Bosola accidentally kills Antonio instead of saving him, after which he promises to avenge the Duchess by killing both the brothers. He succeeds in killing them, but is himself killed in the melee. Only the eldest son of the Duchess and Antonio is left alive.