The White Devil is chockfull of shocking and misogynistic statements about women, on the part of its male characters. These don't seem to represent Webster's views, however—since he has the audience's stand-in in the courtroom scene, The English Ambassador, comment on Monticelso's rant against "whores", by saying that he seems too bitter. Flamineo, the central villain, also has a lot of negative opinions on women—but, that's no surprise since he's a bad guy. On the other hand, Isabella—a basically good character—expresses her frustration with male-dominated society, as does her foil, Vittoria.
Questions About Women and Femininity
- What do you think John Webster thinks about women? Do any of his characters speak for him?
- How do the male characters view the sexual desires of women?
- Do you think the main conflict of the play could've been avoided if the women involved were able to choose their own husbands and live a generally freer life?
- Why do the male characters view prostitutes (typically referred to as "whores") so negatively?
Chew on This
Women in Vittoria's time period were deprived of the ability to live freely and determine their own destinies.
Women in Vittoria's time were able to exercise power in different ways behind the scenes, allowing them make a significant contribution in the course of events (if not to the same degree as men).