Short Summary of The Duchess of Malfi
By Pabitra Kumar Ganguli
The Duchess ruled the state of Amalfi. She lost her first husband early. Her cruel brothers hated her remarriage. They wanted her vast wealth. The brothers hired Bosola as a secret spy. Bosola watched the Duchess closely. The Duchess loved her honest steward, Antonio. She proposed marriage to Antonio. They married in secret. Cariola witnessed their wedding. Delio kept their secret safe.
The Duchess became pregnant. Bosola noticed the physical changes. He offered her fresh apricots. The fruit induced her labor. The Duchess gave birth to a son. Antonio locked the palace gates. He dropped a baby horoscope by mistake. Bosola found the paper. He sent the news to Rome. The letter enraged Ferdinand and the Cardinal. Ferdinand swore deadly revenge. The brothers waited for the father's identity.
The Duchess bore two more children. Bosola informed Duke Ferdinand. Ferdinand entered her bedchamber in secret. He offered her a sharp dagger. He ordered her suicide. The Duchess admitted her secret marriage. Ferdinand left in wild fury. The couple planned a quick escape. The Duchess banished Antonio in public as a trick. She foolishly trusted Bosola with the secret. Bosola betrayed the plan to Rome. The Cardinal banished the family. Antonio fled to Milan with his eldest son. Bosola captured the Duchess and the younger children.
The guards imprisoned the Duchess. Ferdinand tortured her in the dark. He gave her a dead man's severed hand. He displayed fake wax corpses of her family. Ferdinand sent madmen to terrify her. The Duchess maintained her courage and dignity. Bosola entered with executioners. The executioners strangled the Duchess with cords. They killed Cariola and the two children. Ferdinand saw the corpses. He felt guilty . Bosola regretted his evil deeds. The Duchess died with dignity.
Ferdinand lost his sanity. He suffered from lycanthropia. He acted like a wild wolf. Antonio arrived in Milan. He sought peace with the Cardinal. The Cardinal ordered Antonio's murder. Julia fell in love with Bosola. She questioned the Cardinal about the murders. The Cardinal poisoned Julia with a Bible. Bosola witnessed this crime. He resolved to protect Antonio and kill the brothers.
Antonio entered the dark palace courtyard. Bosola waited in the dark shadows. Bosola stabbed Antonio by mistake. He wept over his terrible error. Antonio died in profound grief. Bosola attacked the Cardinal. The Cardinal screamed for help. The courtiers ignored his loud cries. Ferdinand rushed into the room. He stabbed the Cardinal and Bosola. Bosola killed Ferdinand with his sword. The Cardinal and Bosola died from their wounds.
Delio entered the bloody hall. He brought Antonio's surviving eldest son. He declared the boy the true heir of Malfi. The court accepted the new ruler. Virtuous deeds outlived the evil tyrants.
