A Woman's Humor

"THe next humor that is incident to a Woman, is, when the Husband hauing entred very young into Lobs-pound, and there fettered himselfe by his too much folly, for a vaine hope of ticklish delights, which lasted but for a yeare or two, hath matched himselfe with a very froward and peruerse woman (of which sort there are too many) whose whole desire is to be Mis|tresseand to weare the Breeches; or at least to beare as great a sway as himselfe. But hée being craftie, and with all crabbed, will in no wise suffer this vsurped soueraigntie, but in sundrie manners withstands it."(Dekker, 1604)

This passage comes from a chapter entitled:" The humour of a curst Queane, maried to a froward Husband." I found the amount of control and individual resolve the Dutchess demonstrates to be highly interesting. Copies of the text this quote is located in were sold in 1604 (roughly eight years before the play was published). The attitude towards the woman maintaining a strong position in a relationship is highly negative. However, in "The Dutchess of Malfi," Webster causes the audience to relate and sympathize with the Dutchess. Although there is an obvious lack of support for many of the Dutchess' decisions, Webster still introduces the idea of a marriage largely governed by a woman in a somewhat positive manner. If this passage is an accurate reflection of the times, Webster decided to focus his play on a highly controversial concept.

The bachelers banquet: or A banquet for bachelers vvherein is prepared sundry daintie dishes to furnish their tables, curiously drest, and seriously serued in. Pleasantly discoursing the variable humours of vvomen, their quicknesse of wittes, and vnsearchable deceits.
Dekker, Thomas, ca. 1572-1632,, La Sale, Antoine de, b. 1388?,, Tofte, Robert, d. 1620,
London: Printed by T. C[reede] and are to be solde by T. Pauier, 1604.

http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A20038.0001.001