The mood of The Duchess of Malfi gets progressively darker as the play goes on. The audience experiences the violent and corrupt world of the Italian court primarily through Bosola’s moral conflict. Bosola speaks the most lines and has numerous moments alone with the audience. His desires and weaknesses frame most of the plot, but it is his relationship with the Duchess that allows for his growth. Therefore, at the play’s beginning, when he is cautiously optimistic despite his keen critical perception of the corruption that exists within the court, the audience feels a sense of possibility. However, as Bosola ends up employed by Ferdinand and the Cardinal, his life grows more confusing and violent. The audience’s understanding of the court’s order is eroded through the Duchess’s torturous downfall, and Bosola’s participation in her capture and murder brings a sense of despair.
The moments that Bosola is at his best, however, are the moments of true emotion for the audience, as they get to see him grow and reflect on his past misdeeds. Because Bosola is not a clear protagonist, or even a convincingly good person, his complications and flaws also influence the audience’s perception of what to expect. The play’s conclusion is so bloody and violent that it becomes difficult to discern any meaning from the needless—and, at times, accidental—slaughter of all of the primary characters. Therefore, the audience is left with a sense of pessimism, as they must reckon with the fact that Bosola never found redemption and instead tried to turn his life around only to die tragically alongside his employers.
