‘The White Devil’ – Act One.

Summary:

The White Devil by John Webster begins with a conversation between Antonelli, Count Lodovico and Gasparo. During this time we realise that Lodovico has just been banished “bloody and full of horror” murders etc. They begin by discussing all the horrific crimes he has committed and how he is going to plan his revenge. Lodovico questions his exile when Bracciano’s desire is to seduce Vittoria. Lodovico is extremely hurt and angry since Vittoria could have “got my pardon / For one kiss to the Duke.”

During the very next scene, Bracciano expresses his love for Vittoria to Flamineo (her brother) who then plans a meeting between both Vittoria and Bracciano. Camillo (Vittoria’s current husband) reveals he’s not slept with Vittoria for a long time. He begins to worry about being cuckolded by her and is ready to shut her away in their home so that she will not betray or leave him. Flamineo being humorous makes Camillo believe that Vittoria wants to sleep with him, but that he should refuse her. Furthermore, the aside talk to Vittoria reveals to the audience that Flamineo is plotting to arrange rendezvous with Bracciano.

Camillo leaves and then Bracciano enters for his assignation with his beloved Vittoria. Cornelia then enters and suddenly overhears the arrangements by them. She is appalled by their meeting.

Then Vittoria informs Bracciano of a previous dream in which she sees her husband’s and his wife’s graves. After this Cornelia instantly breaks her silence and reveals herself. She lectures them on their immoral actions and informs Bracciano of his wife’s actions. Bracciano exits, and Flamineo questions his mother for interrupting his sisters affair. He tells her they are in need of Bracciano for money, as their father have left them penniless.

Key parts of Act One:

• Banishment was the contemporary punishment for a nobleman who had committed a crime. It has been included in numerous plays in the period including many by Shakespeare.
• “Women are like curst dogs: civility keeps them tied all daytime, but they are let loose at midnight.” Here, Flamineo shows his view of women presenting context of how women were deemed the inferior sex throughout society. This challenges feminist approaches to the play.
• “Fortune’s a right whore:/If she give ought, she deals it in small parcels,/That she may take away all at one swoop” Lodovico personifies fortune as a female whore. However, fortune was frequently personified as the Roman goddess Fortuna – why is this the opposite? It becomes evident that the women throughout the play are considered the be virgins or whores. This links fortune to the other “whore” of the play, Vittoria.