jacobean era

• Jacobean drama- body of plays written and performed during the reign of James I in England, between 1603 and 1625
• Duchess first performed in 1613
• Jacobean drama known for its exploration of tragedy through presentations of political and social unrest 
• During King James I's reign, Britain was divided religiously and politically
• cynical attitudes towards political and religious institutions conveyed through the corrupt Cardinal and violent Duke Ferdinand
• Jacobean drama often questions the social order - The Duchess of Malfi’s resolution presents a reversal of social order:

  • The nobility is killed, and the Duchess’s heir is in the hands of a minor character, Delio 
  • He ends the play, concluding that integrity and honesty will lead to a good reputation 
• • Jacobean plays explore themes of morality and question human capacity for evil
• • Typical elements of Jacobean drama include revenge, madness, and corrupted power: 
  •  evident through Ferdinand’s madness and vengeful plots, and in the Cardinal’s corrupt nature  
• Plays from the Jacobean era often include elements of the supernatural: could include ghosts and illusions, often brought about by a guilty conscience