Three Plays: The White Devil / The Duchess of Malfi / The Devil’s Law-Case

The plays of Jacobean dramatist John Webster are masterpieces of early seventeenth-century English theatre. “The White Devil” depicts a dark, sinister world of duplicity, intrigue and murderous infidelity, while “The Duchess of Malfi” tells the macabre story of a woman who marries beneath herself and sets in motion a terrible cycle of violence. Unlike these revenge tragedies, “The Devil’s Law-Case” asserts social order in a plot filled with twists of fate. Written at a time when the court of King James was rife with instability and corruption, Webster’s disturbing plays reflect this abuse of power and are known for their horrific vision of humanity – yet they are also some of the most rich, sophisticated dramas ever composed.