In The Duchess of Malfi, the main evil villains are Ferdinand and the Cardinal. These two men employ Bosola, a nobody, to do their dirty work to keep their hands clean so to speak. The connection between Bosola and the two brother seems to be a game of chess with Bosola as their peculiar pawn. Throughout the play it would appear that Bosola acts on their behalf simply for money, not for power or a position. However, as the play comes to a close it appears that he undergoes a shift in character, which raises my main question: is Bosola evil or is he simply looking to get ahead?
Bosola remains insignificant in terms of the other characters in the play. Firstly, he is the only character to go by his last name. While the Cardinal and the Duchess are known strictly by their given title, Bosola's true identity is Daniel de Bosola. In comparison with the Cardinal and the Duchess, Bosola is not referred to in an impersonal manner due to rank or privilege. Both of these siblings are confined to their positions of power, because while they play crucial roles, their moral transformations lack depth in comparison with Bosola and Ferdinand. Bosola's treatment as an inferior calls into question the nature of his relationship with this family. It would appear that he lives in the shadows as the pawn of this powerful family. In the opening act of the play, after his exchange with the Cardinal he establishes Ferdinand and the Cardinal as bad trees producing rotten fruit over stagnant waters. It would appear that Bosola's moral compass may in fact point North, but he continues to act as their pawn all the while confronting his conscious. While I am unsure why he associates with them, I believe that he realizes the error of his ways a moment too late.
As the reader continues through the play, Bosola's true morality comes into view. At first, he presents himself as a mischievous man driven crazy with greed for gold. I would like to suggest the notion that Bosola isn't in fact evil. In his initial interactions with the Duchess, he merely gives her fruit that might arouse her morning sickness. It would be similar to a little brother playing tricks on his older sister or a boy tugging on a girl's pigtails during recess. No ill will is intended; he just seems agitating. While he undergoes a complete character shift as the stakes in the play continue to get higher, I believe he does everything out of greed. He associates himself with two men who will stop at nothing and who will pay the price to get the power they desire. I do not personally see his investment in this family apart from their wealth and power. In Act Two, Bosola is found flattering Castruccio, another man of power but who lacks common sense. It would appear that Bosola tries to attain a position in the house that deems him indisposable. Once again, I do not believe he flatters Castruccio with a malicious intent towards him, but merely to befriend a man of wealth and privilege.
The straw that breaks the camel's back creates a crack in the cool, mischievious demeanor of Bosola. He concedes to the two brothers' will only under the pretense it is all in good fun and that no harm will come to her. While he does trick the Duchess into believing her family has perished, it becomes evident he did so with a heavy heart. In his exchange with Ferdinand he says, "Must I see her again?", and is distraught that he must inflict more pain on her. It appears that Bosola has a softer side for the tortured Duchess. He undergoes distress by causing her emotional suffering, which may suggest he has fallen under her enchantment along with Antonio and Ferdinand. However, he refuses to cause her anymore harm in his own person and takes on a disguise for their final meeting. In the final moments with the Duchess, Bosola questions her on much deeper matters than he does with Cariola. The contrast between the two women would suggest that Bosola did in fact have stronger feelings for the Duchess, whether they be romantic or otherwise. Here again, I implore you to consider if Bosola had ill intent or simply carried out his contract?
Bosola's actions fall simply under his mercenary duties. In terms of morality, I believe that Bosola was driven simply by the idea of a reward. The Cardinal was driven to ruin his sister and her marriage to cleanse the family blood lines. While he didn't partake in the plans of her death, he did turn the other cheek. He allowed his brother to not only corrupt the sacrament of royalty and blood, but also the sacrament of the Ten Commandments. Ferdinand was the beast of the man whose temper and jealousy tore him to pieces. His subtle references to wolves after his sister's murder suggest that he wanted to unleash the wolf inside of him to feast on her carnage. Instead he himself went mad, driven over the edge by the removal of his obsession. Once Bosola receives word that he won't receive a reward and will be acquitted of charges that were unjustly placed on him, he removes the wool from his eyes and realizes the extent of the corruption he was submersed in. Bosola's actions while he was a hired hand simply showed that he focused solely on his advancement. However, towards the end of his employment the reader sees the man under the mask which reveals a man with a soul and a conscious, not just a cold blooded killer.
In relation to this family, Bosola is corrupt because he was involved. I do not believe that he was in fact a sociopath filled with malice and lacking remorse. In conjuncture with the final scene of Bosola's life, I believe he found his redemption and tried to right several wrongs, including the purification of the church and royalty. Sadly, he too was defeated by the corruption of Ferdinand and the Cardinal without any way of righting his wrongs.
