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Cover of The White Devil

The White Devil

Written by John Webster

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Tragedies (Drama)Revenge

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About this book

"The White Devil" by John Webster is a tragedy written during the early 17th century, known for its complex characters and dark themes. The play explores the corrupting nature of power and desire, centering around the tragic lives of its characters, including the ambitious Duke Brachiano and the strong-willed Vittoria Corombona, as they navigate a world rife with betrayal, jealousy, and murder. The beginning of "The White Devil" sets the stage for a gripping narrative steeped in political intrigue and personal vendettas. In the opening scenes, Count Lodovico, recently banished, laments his fate and hints at violent intentions toward those who have wronged him. Brachiano enters with his brother-in-law Camillo, establishing a connection with Vittoria Corombona, the widow of the man who Camillo allegedly murdered. The interplay among the characters reveals their ambitions, desires, and the underlying animosities that will ultimately lead to tragic consequences. The foundation laid in these opening interactions hints at the tumultuous events to follow as themes of revenge and moral corruption begin to unravel.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The White Devil, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • advanced
  • dark
  • tragic
  • vengeful

John Webster's "The White Devil" is a quintessential Jacobean tragedy, delving into the corrupting forces of ambition, lust, and revenge within a morally bankrupt Italian court. The play follows the illicit affair between Duke Brachiano and the strong-willed Vittoria Corombona, leading to a cascade of murders, betrayals, and psychological manipulation orchestrated by figures like Vittoria's Machiavellian brother, Flamineo. As a meticulously planned revenge plot unfolds, the characters are drawn into a vortex of violence, culminating in a brutal and nihilistic conclusion. Webster masterfully explores themes of justice, appearance versus reality, and the human capacity for depravity, all rendered in vivid, poetic language.

“Glories, like glow-worms, afar off shine bright, / But looked to near, have neither heat nor light.”

Key themes

The Corruption of Power and Desire
This theme is central to the play, as characters like Brachiano and Flamineo are driven by unchecked ambition and lust. Brachiano's desire for Vittoria leads him to murder his wife, while Flamineo's ambition for social advancement causes him to facilitate these crimes. The play demonstrates how power, when not tempered by morality, inevitably leads to moral decay and destructive actions, consuming both the powerful and those around them.
Revenge and Justice
The play questions the very nature of justice, portraying it not as a moral or divine retribution, but as a brutal, often hypocritical, act of human vengeance. Francisco's elaborate revenge against Brachiano and Vittoria, while ostensibly for his sister's murder, is executed with extreme cruelty and deceit, blurring the lines between avenger and villain. The play suggests that revenge is a cyclical, self-perpetuating force that ultimately consumes all involved.
Appearance vs. Reality
Webster masterfully explores the disjunction between outward show and inner depravity. Characters frequently hide their true intentions behind masks of piety, loyalty, or grief. Vittoria's trial is a prime example, where legal proceedings are reduced to a performance, and rhetoric dictates perceived truth more than actual fact. The disguises used by the revengers further emphasize this theme, as they operate under false identities to achieve their goals.

Worth discussing

How does Webster explore the concept of justice in "The White Devil"? Is any character truly just, or is all 'justice' merely an act of revenge?

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