# Cardinal — The Duchess of Malfi character guide

> Cardinal in The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Cardinal Antonio, Cardinal Who, Cardinal Aside

**First appearance:** 0002-the-duchess-of-malfi

## Snapshot

The Duchess's elder brother, a prince of the church whose cold political calculus and private appetites make him the family's quietest, most corrosive force.

## Who they are

Where Ferdinand rages, the Cardinal calculates: he advises Ferdinand to plant Bosola as a spy and keeps his own hands visibly clean, slighting the man he secretly employs. He lectures the Duchess on honour and widowhood while keeping Julia as a mistress, and his parting shot — 'Wisdom begins at the end' — lands like a threat dressed as piety. His hypocrisy gives the play its institutional chill: the church itself is one more instrument of control.

## Relationships

### [Julia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/julia)

_romantic_

The Cardinal is Julia's lover and manipulator, using her for his own purposes while treating her with cold cruelty and ultimately murdering her.

### [Antonio Bologna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/antonio_bologna)

_rivalry_

The Cardinal is Antonio's powerful enemy, conspiring with Ferdinand to destroy Antonio and his family for marrying the duchess.

### [Ferdinand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/ferdinand)

_family_

Brothers united in their opposition to the duchess's marriage, but their alliance is strained by Ferdinand's madness and the Cardinal's cold pragmatism.

### [Daniel de Bosola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/daniel_de_bosola)

_professional_

The Cardinal employs Bosola as a spy and enforcer, but treats him with contempt and ultimately betrays him, leading to Bosola's revenge.

### [Duchess of Malfi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/duchess_of_malfi)

_family_

Brother and sister, but the Cardinal's cold, tyrannical opposition to her marriage leads him to orchestrate her imprisonment and murder.

### [Antonio Bologna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/antonio_bologna)

_rivalry_

The Cardinal is Antonio's powerful enemy, conspiring with Ferdinand to destroy Antonio and his family for marrying the duchess.

### [Julia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/julia)

_romantic_

The Cardinal is Julia's lover and manipulator, using her for his own purposes while treating her with cold cruelty and ultimately murdering her.

### [Daniel de Bosola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/daniel_de_bosola)

_professional_

The Cardinal employs Bosola as a spy and enforcer, but treats him with contempt and ultimately betrays him, leading to Bosola's revenge.

### [Ferdinand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/ferdinand)

_family_

Brothers united in their opposition to the duchess's marriage, but their alliance is strained by Ferdinand's madness and the Cardinal's cold pragmatism.

### [Antonio Bologna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/antonio_bologna)

_rivalry_

The Cardinal is Antonio's powerful enemy, conspiring with Ferdinand to destroy Antonio and his family for marrying the duchess.

### [Julia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/julia)

_romantic_

The Cardinal is Julia's lover and manipulator, using her for his own purposes while treating her with cold cruelty and ultimately murdering her.

### [Ferdinand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/ferdinand)

_family_

Brothers united in their opposition to the duchess's marriage, but their alliance is strained by Ferdinand's madness and the Cardinal's cold pragmatism.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/cardinal
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters