Demonism, Damnation, and Salvation in John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi

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Abstract

Manichaean and Christian values in John Webster’s “The Duchess of Malfi” were studied with a focus on demonism, damnation, and salvation. Empirical research and references to Christian and Manichaean precepts like “Mixture” and “ontological dualism” were carried out to unravel the guiding strand in shaping the tragic and its consequences. Damnation, a Christian concept, is related to demonism and dementia. One difference between Christianity and Manichaeism relates to the understanding of the tragic. Manichaeism advances a pessimistic view of matter as endlessly evil; Christianity defends the idea of felix culpa. Webster might have been aware of similarities and divergences between Manichaeism and Christianity.