John Webster was born in London around 1578, the son of a cart-maker. Probably he was educated at the Merchant Taylors School, and certainly he received legal training at the Middle Temple, one of London’s law schools. In both of his professions, cartwright and lawyer, he was exposed to the theater: the Merchant Taylors organized many civic entertainments in London, while the Temple law schools were famous for their private theatricals. Webster began his career as a playwright in 1602. For a number of years, he collaborated on the writing of comedies, tragicomedies, and public processions. His first tragedy, The White Devil, performed in 1612, was a failure onstage; his next, The Duchess of Malfi, has distinguished itself as one of the great tragedies of the age. Webster’s last years are clouded in obscurity. He seems to have died some time in the 1630s, leaving behind drama that conveys the darkness and pessimism of late Renaissance England.
The real duchess of Malfi. Webster’s tragedy is based on a factual scandal, often told in collections of stories throughout the sixteenth century.
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