Characters
Cards (17)
- a young widow and the ruler of the Italian town of Amalfi, is the intelligent, kind, virtuous sister of the Cardinal and the twin of Duke Ferdinand...
- the brother of the Cardinal and the twin brother of the Duchess. He doesn’t want his widowed sister to remarry; he has a turbulent nature.
- the brother of Duke Ferdinand and the Duchess. Though he is a religious figure, he is in fact just as immoral and despicable as his brother.
- the Duchess’s steward, and very capably runs the Duchess’s estate. Despite the fact that he is neither wealthy nor high-born, the Duchess considers him to be a “complete” man, and the two of them marry and have three children.
- the spy planted by Duke Ferdinand as the stable master at the Duchess’ estate. He is a man who is used to doing the dirty work for others: before the events of the play he was sent to the galleys for murder
- Antonio’s friend and is of the same social class. Totally loyal, he is privy to Antonio and the Duchess’ secret marriage, and he looks after Antonio’s sole surviving son at the end of the play.
- Castruccio’s wife and the Cardinal’s mistress. The play’s stereotypical fickle female, with constantly changing affections. Near the end of the play she is killed by The Cardinal after shortly being enamoured by Bosola.
- an old Italian lord, and his name is a pun on the word castrated. This pun is furthered by the fact that his wife, Julia, is having an affair with the Cardinal.
- A soldier and courtier in Ferdinand’s court. Of all the courtiers, he alone seems to have some sense of honor and independence of mind.
- A Roman courtier, friend of Ferdinand.
- A courtier at Amalfi.
- The Duchess’s waiting-maid. She is loyal to the Duchess throughout, and dies for it.
- A courtier at Amalfi attending the Duchess.
- Several insane people sent by Ferdinand to torment the Duchess, though she actually finds that they distract her from the torture of her thoughts that plague her when there is silence.
- They work for Ferdinand and carry out the murders of the Duchess, her children, and Cariola.
- Witnesses to the banishment of the Duchess and Antonio.
- Though they are not named and do not speak, the Duchess’s three children appear on stage a number of times. The two younger children wind up murdered, but the oldest survives and under Delio’s care seems likely to inherit his mother’s wealth and lands.