dead husband and children to frighten her He also sends madmen to disturb her mind These scenes are shocking and emotional which are typical features of melodrama Ferdinand s wild behavior and violent language also add to the melodramatic tone He says nbsp I would have their bodies Burnt in a coal-pit nbsp This kind of violent speech is meant to shock the audience and create fear nbsp The Duchess s Dignity Raises the Play to Tragedy Although the situations are melodramatic the Duchess s character turns them into tragedy She does not behave like a helpless victim She faces suffering with courage and dignity Even when she is about to die she remains calm and brave Before her execution she says nbsp I am Duchess of Malfi still nbsp This short line shows her strong sense of self-respect This also shows her moral strength Her calm acceptance of death gives the scene tragic greatness Her suffering becomes noble not cheap entertainment like a melodrama nbsp Moral Depth and Serious Themes Melodrama usually lacks moral depth But The Duchess of Malfi deals with serious moral issues The play questions the misuse of power the corruption of authority and the position of women in society The Duchess s only crime is that she chooses to marry for love Her brothers punish her cruelly not because she is sinful but because they are greedy and jealous This moral injustice makes her death deeply tragic The play forces the audience to think about right and wrong not just feel shock nbsp Psychological Complexity of Characters In melodrama characters are often flat But Webster s characters are psychologically complex Ferdinand is not just a villain After ordering his sister s death he feels guilt and goes mad He cries nbsp Cover her face mine eyes dazzle she died young nbsp This moment shows his inner conflict and regret Similarly Bosola is not a simple killer He feels remorse after killing the Duchess Later he turns against the Duchess s brothers This inner struggle adds tragic depth It moves the play beyond melodrama nbsp The Tragic Atmosphere and Ending The ending of the play is full of death which may seem melodramatic However the deaths are meaningful Evil characters are punished and innocence is destroyed The stage becomes a place of moral chaos Bosola s final words express deep despair nbsp O this gloomy world deep pit of darkness nbsp This tragic vision of life gives the play philosophical seriousness The audience feels pity and fear which are the true emotions of tragedy nbsp For these reasons it is largely justifiable to say that Webster has raised melodrama into tragedy in The Duchess of Malfi While the play uses shocking scenes and violent action these are enriched by moral depth psychological complexity and the noble suffering of the Duchess