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An Immoral Criminal: Bosola starts the play as an immoral criminal. He does the dirty work for money. Ferdinand and the Cardinal, the Duchess’s corrupt brothers, hire him to spy on the Duchess. Ferdinand sets him as a stable master at the Duchess’s court. Bosola pretends to serve the Duchess but reports her actions to her brothers. Bosola says:
“Sir, I served your tyranny, and rather strove
To satisfy yourself than all the world.”
It shows that Bosola is immoral. He is ready to do anything to serve his masters. Bosola is also a contract killer. Before the events of the play, he spent time in jail for murdering a man on the orders of the Cardinal. Thus, he is a Machiavellian villain who is ready to do anything for his gain.
A Cunning Spy: Bosola is a very cunning spy. He is clever and knows how to use his words. He uses his keen observation to spy on the Duchess. For example, he finds out about the Duchess’s secret marriage and pregnancy using small clues like apricots. Bosola uses his intelligence not for good reason, but to serve corrupt masters. It is another quality of a Machiavellian villain.
Ruthless and Lacking Conscience: Bosola is a ruthless and unkind person. He unhesitatingly follows orders to torture the Duchess. His actions indicate his lack of conscience at first. Though the Duchess is kind to him, he imprisons her. To follow Ferdinand’s order, Bosola tortures the Duchess in her prison brutally. Bosola even tries to torment her psychologically. For example, he shows her wax figures that look like her dead husband (Antonio) and children. He tries to break her spirit. Bosola disguises himself as a “tomb-maker” and says she will be killed. He says:
“I am a tomb-maker.”
Eventually, Ferdinand orders Bosola to bring some executioners. The executioners strangle the Duchess and her two children.
Moral Conflict and Regret: Although Bosola is a villain, he is not completely heartless. We see moral ambiguity in his character. After the murder of the Duchess, he begins to feel regret. He admits:
“I am angry with myself now that I wake.”
This line shows his regret. It becomes a turning point for his character. This line shows that Bosola is not purely evil, which makes him more human. He becomes a complex Machiavellian villain.
Instrument of Revenge: At the end of the play, Bosola becomes the instrument of revenge. He becomes outrageous when Ferdinand refuses to pay him. He decides to take revenge on the brothers. He changes sides and plans to help Antonio by killing Ferdinand and the Cardinal. However, he accidentally kills Antonio. This fact suggests that it is not easy to suddenly become good and moral. The play ends with many deaths: Ferdinand, the Cardinal, and Bosola all die. In his final moment, Bosola realises the world is full of evil. He says.
“O, this gloomy world!
…deep pit of darkness.”
In conclusion, Bosola is a clever but immoral criminal. He lies, spies, and causes suffering without caring about right or wrong. Though he later feels guilty, his actions lead to tragedy. He follows the Machiavellian path but suffers for it in the end.
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