Bosola

E639318

Bosola is a complex, morally conflicted malcontent and spy who serves as both villain and tragic observer in John Webster’s Jacobean tragedy "The Duchess of Malfi."

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dramatic character
fictional character
malcontent
spy
tragic figure
villain
alignmentWithDuchess initially hostile
ultimately sympathetic
appearsInGenre Jacobean tragedy
appearsInWork The Duchess of Malfi NERFINISHED
associatedWith Antonio Bologna NERFINISHED
Ferdinand NERFINISHED
the Cardinal NERFINISHED
the Duchess of Malfi NERFINISHED
characterType malcontent observer
satiric commentator
createdBy John Webster NERFINISHED
dramaticFunction bridge between court villains and innocent victims
employer Ferdinand NERFINISHED
the Cardinal
fate dies violently at the end of the play
firstAppearance The Duchess of Malfi, Act 1 NERFINISHED
hasOccupationInFiction intelligencer
soldier
languageOfWork English
literaryPeriod Jacobean era NERFINISHED
literarySignificance archetypal Jacobean malcontent
central figure in critical discussions of The Duchess of Malfi
medium stage drama
moralAlignment morally conflicted
narrativeFunction agent of retributive justice
agent of the Duchess’s downfall
tragic observer of court corruption
nationalityInFiction Italian
notableAction kills the Cardinal
later turns against his employers
mortally wounds Ferdinand
participates in the murder of the Duchess
spies on the Duchess’s secret marriage
roleInPlot eventual avenger of the Duchess
instrument of surveillance over the Duchess
spy for Ferdinand and the Cardinal
themeAssociation class resentment
conscience and guilt
corruption
moral ambiguity
revenge
workSetting Italian court of Malfi NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.