The Complexities of Evil: Bosola, the Duchess of Malfi and the Frontier of Wickedness

In a play populated by easily identifiable villains, Bosola stands out as a surprisingly complex character, one who effortlessly shifts from callous henchman to sensitive victim of others' perverted plots. Unlike Antonio and the Duchess who remain noble and sympathetic throughout the play, Bosola routinely becomes the subject of hatred and disdain. However, unlike Ferdinand and the Cardinal, he often chose some sense of justice and virtue. The unique position Bosola inhabits in the Duchess of Malfi allows him to represent what the other primary characters cannot: the complex struggle between competing forces of good and evil within each individual.

While he may be a spy and a murderer he is also a loyal servant, and finally, a victim of his master's ingratitude and betrayal. From the outset, Bosola's character is mixed. While Delio tells Antonio that Bosola had been convicted of a notorious murder, he revealed that the crime was, allegedly, a result of the Cardinal's order . Immediately, even before he had appeared on stage Bosola is portrayed as a wronged man. A killer to be sure, but with qualifiers, as he only obeyed orders from his superiors. At this early moment, Bosola assumes his place at the threshold of noble servant and wicked criminal – a place he will not completely abandon until the final scenes. For every heinous act of villainy Bosola commits there is an example of his deeper humanity. The most illustrative examples of this paradox are before and after he had, at the implied direction of Ferdinand, arranged the murder of the Duchess and Cariola. Contrary to his portrayal as a heartless devil, Bosola begs Ferdinand to "go no further in his cruelty," and resisting Ferdinand's order to once again confront the Duchess . This glimpse of compassion within Bosola shows that he is not, as the Duke is, completely without feeling and conscience. However, this moment of nobility instantly evaporates in the following