Significance of the title

The title reflects who the play is about. The Duchess of Malfi tells the story of the Duchess—who is never named—and her attempts to live in peace with her loving husband and children, attempts that ultimately fail due to the machinations and greed of her hostile brothers.

No

The Duchess of Malfi talks about the exploitation of the rights of the duchess by her two brothers.Though the duchess only appears from Act 1;Scene 2, unlike any other characters she is the sole reason the play lives .It is her sexuality and her body that is exploited and her right to remarry that is restricted.Her confession of her love and secretly marrying Antonio and having physical relation with him is a mutiny and revolt against her brothers.Hence the title''The Duchess of Malfi''.