The Standards and Values by which the Court of Malfi Lives Essays

The Standards and Values by which the Court of Malfi LivesThe values that govern characters decisions in The Duchess of Malfi are diametrically opposed to the modern day ethos by which we areaccustomed to live. The play is set in a time and society wheretodays basic sociability, fair play and freedom from oppression werecompletely unheard of and unprecedented. Those in power saw no pointto their authority if they did not take full advantage of theirinfluence, nix would lookout for anyone else and peopleslivelihoods depended on kings fickle whims. Corruption was rife,fuelled by the ruthless backstabbing and do-or-die attitude. In fact,the play starts by amalgamating and spotlighting the flaws with thecourt system by referring to Antonios recent aside and comparingMalfi with the vastly different French court.Antonio is understandably a newly-converted Francophile and describes hisexperiences in glowing terms, emphasising its superiority with apithy, italicised aphorism to show that the French head-of-state fullyunderstands how his decisions require the people - should someonepoisont near the head, Death and diseases through the whole landspread (I, i, l. 14-5). Coining a superb simile in describing thecourt as kindred a common fountain (I, i, l. 12), the French communalspirit and sharing lifestyle is drawn to the audiences attention.Unlike the Duke of Calabria, the King does not punish freedom of terminology and feels duty-bound to deracinate the inveterate corruptionof the generation (I, i, l. 18).Antonio is one of the most admirable characters and one of the few inthe plays opening who displays an attractive side to theirpersonality. He clearly has positive values, as shown by... ...her classessufficiently, and several characters much(prenominal) as Rodgerigo and Castruchioseem to favour following this method. The Cardinal looks as though hehas reached his elevated maculation only by extirpating himself from his scruples and things much(prenominal) a s respect and position are clearly veryimportant in court society. A virtuous character that would stick toethical beliefs would not subsist long in this world of corruption andmercilessness. Right and wrong (only in respect to what is owed toyou) is a life-sustaining issue and it is very important to learn to salmagundi withthe right people in order to rise to the highest echelons of thecourt. Overall, the emphasis in the Italian court of Malfi seems to rest on material worldly goodness such as money, appearance and statusrather than aspects some would consider more important - spiritualwell-being, conscience and morals. The Standards and Values by which the Court of Malfi Lives EssaysThe Standards and Values by which the Court of Malfi LivesThe values that govern characters decisions in The Duchess of Malfiare diametrically opposed to the modern day ethos by which we areaccustomed to live. The play is set in a time and society wheretodays basic sociability, fair ness and freedom from oppression werecompletely unheard of and unprecedented. Those in power saw no pointto their authority if they did not take full advantage of theirinfluence, nobody would lookout for anyone else and peopleslivelihoods depended on kings fickle whims. Corruption was rife,fuelled by the ruthless backstabbing and do-or-die attitude. In fact,the play starts by amalgamating and spotlighting the flaws with thecourt system by referring to Antonios recent excursion and comparingMalfi with the vastly different French court.Antonio is clearly a newly-converted Francophile and describes hisexperiences in glowing terms, emphasising its superiority with apithy, italicised aphorism to show that the French head-of-state fullyunderstands how his decisions affect the people - should someonepoisont near the head, Death and diseases through the whole landspread (I, i, l. 14-5). Coining a superb simile in describing thecourt as like a common fountain (I, i, l. 12), the French commun alspirit and sharing lifestyle is drawn to the audiences attention.Unlike the Duke of Calabria, the King does not punish freedom ofspeech and feels duty-bound to deracinate the inveterate corruptionof the times (I, i, l. 18).Antonio is one of the most admirable characters and one of the few inthe plays opening who displays an attractive side to theirpersonality. He clearly has positive values, as shown by... ...her classessufficiently, and several characters such as Rodgerigo and Castruchioseem to favour following this method. The Cardinal looks as though hehas reached his elevated position only by extirpating himself from hisconscience and things such as respect and position are clearly veryimportant in court society. A moral character that would stick toethical beliefs would not last long in this world of corruption andmercilessness. Right and wrong (only in respect to what is owed toyou) is a vital issue and it is very important to learn to mix withthe right people in order to r ise to the highest echelons of thecourt. Overall, the emphasis in the Italian court of Malfi seems torest on material worldly goodness such as money, appearance and statusrather than aspects some would consider more important - spiritualwell-being, conscience and morals.