I wanted to start off by taking a look at the Dumb Shows that appear in Act II Scene II. I am struck by the fact that Webster chooses to frame the Dumb Shows using a conjuror. Why does he use magic as the means for Bracciano's voyeurism? Why doesn't Bracciano just spy on the action of the Dumb Show (like Vindice does at the beginning of The Revenger's Tragedy)? Are we meant to associate this scene with a similar device that appears in Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay? Why is this the only appearance of magic in the piece?
I am also interested in Flamineo's odd position in the play. He is both Vittoria's brother and her bawd. How does his position as her brother complicate our reading of his character? It's easy to focus on the horrible deeds committed by Bracciano and Vittoria, but isn't Flamineo the true villain of the piece? Isn't he more of a 'white devil' than the other two?
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