The Spanish Tragedy: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Spanish Tragedy," a seminal work in the revenge tragedy genre, features a complex interplay of characters driven by love, betrayal, and the quest for vengeance. Central to the narrative is Hieronimo, a father whose profound grief over his son's murder propels him into a spiral of madness and revenge. He cleverly orchestrates a play within the play to enact his revenge on the culprits, including the treacherous Lorenzo, who manipulates events for his gain. Bel-Imperia, Hieronimo's ally, is portrayed as a multifaceted character, torn between her love for Andrea and her desire for vengeance following the death of her second lover, Horatio. The character of Andrea, a ghostly presence, highlights the themes of unfulfilled love and the longing for justice. Other significant figures include Balthazar, the murderer of Andrea, and Isabella, Hieronimo's wife, who succumbs to madness after her son's death. Together, these characters navigate a world rife with deception and moral ambiguity, ultimately leading to a harrowing conclusion where justice is sought but only achieved through tragedy. This rich exploration of character motivations and consequences underscores the play's enduring significance in the study of dramatic literature.
The Spanish Tragedy: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Thomas Kyd
First published: c. 1594
Genre: Play
Locale: The Spanish and Portuguese courts
Plot: Tragedy
Time: Sixteenth century
Revenge, the master of ceremonies, forming a chorus with the Ghost of Andrea.
The Ghost of Andrea (ahn-DRAY-ah), Bel-Imperia's slain beloved. He complains bitterly at the delay of the revenge of his death. He still loves Bel-Imperia and his friend Horatio, who succeeds him as her lover. At the end, he is satisfied with the vengeance accomplished.
Hieronimo (ee-ehr-OHN-ee-moh), the marshal of Spain and father of Don Horatio. A proud and devoted father, he pleads for his son's rights in the capture and ransom of Don Balthazar. He is driven almost to madness by the murder of his son (in the later additions to the play, he suffers actual insanity). To avert suspicion from his planned revenge, he feigns madness, thus foreshadowing Hamlet. Despairing of justice for himself, he still acts as a just judge. He is gifted as a dramatic writer and actor, furnishing a pageant for the triumph at the beginning of the play and executing his plan for revenge in a play written and acted by himself with Bel-Imperia and the murderers of his son as supporting actors.
Bel-Imperia (behl eem-PEHR-ee-ah), the daughter of Don Cyprian and sister of Lorenzo. She is a somewhat enigmatic character, devoted to the memory of Andrea and apparently capable of love, even passion, for Horatio, but cold-blooded-ly using her love to further her revenge. She scorns her suitor Balthazar, and after the murder of Horatio, she joins forces with Hieronimo and acts a bloody part in his play within the play.
Horatio (hoh-RAY-shee-oh), the best friend of the slain Andrea. Courageous and noble, he has captured the slayer of his friend. He loves Bel-Imperia, and because of this love he is trapped and murdered.
Lorenzo (loh-REHN-zoh), Don Cyprian's Machiavellian son. A cold-blooded, ambitious, and treacherous man, he tries to promote a marriage between his sister and the Portuguese prince. Finding that Horatio is in the way of this match, he engineers his murder; then, for security, he has one of his murdering tools kill the other and go to the gallows for the second death. He keeps Hieronimo from the king's ear and undermines the old man with lies, but he underestimates him. Hieronimo arranges the play within the play so that his own hand can cut down Lorenzo.
The king of Spain, Don Cyprian's brother. He is a fair and just ruler, but he does not learn of the truth in time to help Hieronimo.
Don Cyprian (SEE-pree-ahn), the Duke of Castile. He marvels at the realism of the action in Hieronimo's play, not realizing that the deaths of his two children are real. At the end of the play, Hieronimo stabs him, too, before killing himself.
Balthazar (bahl-TAH-sahr), the young Prince of Portugal, killer of Andrea, and captive of Horatio. Released into Lorenzo's custody by the king, he woos Bel-Imperia sedulously in spite of her obvious distaste for him. He is involved in the murder of Horatio and plays into Lorenzo's hands by insisting on the hanging of Pedringano. By so doing, however, he helps destroy both Lorenzo and himself, for Pedringano's death leads to Hieronimo's discovery of the murderers.
The Viceroy of Portugal, the father of Don Balthazar. Grieved over the supposed death of his son and deceived by Viluppo, he almost has his innocent follower Alexandro executed; however, he learns the truth in time to release Alexandro and executives Viluppo.
Viluppo (vee-LEW-poh), an envious, treacherous villain in the Portuguese court.
Pedringano (peh-dreen-GAH-noh), Bel-Imperia's servant. Terrified by Lorenzo, he betrays to him the secret meeting of Bel-Imperia and aids in the murder of Horatio. At Lorenzo's instigation, and with a written commission from him, he kills Serberine, his partner in the murder. He foolishly believes that Lorenzo has procured a pardon for him and insults his judge Hieronimo and the hangman. At the height of his self-confident impudence, he is hanged; however, he leaves behind evidence incriminating Lorenzo in the murder of Horatio.
Serberine (SEHR-behr-een), Balthazar's servingman. He shares in the murder of Horatio and is killed by Pedringano on Lorenzo's orders. The watch, having been alerted by Lorenzo, apprehends Pedringano immediately after the murder of Serberine.
Isabella (ihz-uh-BEHL-uh), Hieronimo's wife. An adoring mother, she is driven mad by the murder of Horatio and cuts down the arbor in which he has been hanged.
A general, the commander of the Spanish forces against Portugal. He gives to the king the account of the death of Andrea and the capture of Balthazar by Horatio.
Christophil (krees-toh-FEEL), Bel-Imperia's custodian during her imprisonment by Lorenzo.
The Portuguese ambassador, who returns from Spain with news of Balthazar, thus saving Alexandro's life.
Bazulto (bah-SEWL-toh), an old man whose son has been murdered. Hieronimo shows compassion for him as a fellow sufferer.
A hangman, a simple man who is amazed at Pedringano's impudence in the face of death, later fearful of the consequences of the hanging. He delivers Lorenzo's commission for the murder to Hieronimo.
Perseda (pehr-SEH-dah), an Italian lady (acted by Bel-Imperia).
Soliman (sohl-ee-MAHN), the Turkish emperor (acted by Balthazar).
Erasto (eh-RAHS-toh), the Knight of Rhodes, Perseda's lover (acted by Lorenzo).
The Bashaw (bah-SHOH), the sultan's treacherous follower (acted by Hieronimo). He, Perseda, Soliman, and Erasto are characters in Hieronimo's play within the play, in which he gets revenge and discloses the murder of Horatio.