# Ferdinand — The Duchess of Malfi character guide

> Ferdinand in The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Ferdinand Antonio, Ferdinand That, Ferdinand Sister, Ferdinand No

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

## Snapshot

The Duchess's twin brother, a Duke whose obsessive fixation on her chastity curdles brotherly counsel into something far more frightening.

## Who they are

Ferdinand warns his widowed sister against remarriage with the family poniard in hand, calling her a 'lusty widow' and threatening that her darkest thoughts will come to light. He recruits Bosola for intelligence and later watches the Duchess's torment with a connoisseur's pleasure, demanding she be driven to despair. His jealousy is the play's darkest weather — a twin's claim on his sister that no marriage, however secret, can satisfy.

## Relationships

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

_family_

Brother and sister, but Ferdinand's incestuous obsession and tyrannical control turn their bond into a violent, destructive rivalry.

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

_professional_

Bosola is Ferdinand's hired agent and spy, carrying out his cruel orders while growing increasingly resentful of his master's tyranny.

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

_rivalry_

Ferdinand is Antonio's bitter enemy, seeking his death for marrying the duchess and defying his authority as her brother.

### [Cardinal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/cardinal)

_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.

### [Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/doctor)

_professional_

The Doctor is Ferdinand's physician, attending to his lycanthropy and madness, but unable to cure his violent obsession.

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

_social_

Ferdinand and Julia are court acquaintances, with Julia serving as a pawn in his schemes against the duchess and Antonio.

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

_family_

Brother and sister, but Ferdinand's incestuous obsession and tyrannical control turn their bond into a violent, destructive rivalry.

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

_rivalry_

Ferdinand is Antonio's bitter enemy, seeking his death for marrying the duchess and defying his authority as her brother.

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

_professional_

Bosola is Ferdinand's hired agent and spy, carrying out his cruel orders while growing increasingly resentful of his master's tyranny.

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

_social_

Ferdinand and Julia are court acquaintances, with Julia serving as a pawn in his schemes against the duchess and Antonio.

### [Cardinal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_duchess_of_malfi_se/characters/cardinal)

_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_

Bosola is Ferdinand's hired agent and spy, carrying out his cruel orders while growing increasingly resentful of his master's tyranny.

## Links

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