Venice Preserved: Or, A Plot Discovered: Analysis of Major Characters
"Venice Preserved: Or, A Plot Discovered" is a tragedy that explores complex themes of love, betrayal, and political intrigue through the lives of its major characters. At the center is Jaffeir, a Venetian citizen disowned by his father-in-law, Priuli, after secretly marrying his daughter, Belvidera. Stripped of wealth and comfort, Jaffeir's sense of honor becomes tangled with his desire for revenge, leading him to consider joining a conspiracy against the Venetian Senate. Pierre, Jaffeir's philosophical friend, grapples with his own moral paralysis amidst the political corruption, ultimately finding himself entwined in the unfolding conspiracy.
Belvidera, depicted as noble and sensitive, endures the trials of her marriage and ultimately suffers deeply from the events surrounding her husband’s choices. Priuli, a bitter senator, harbors animosity towards Jaffeir and faces his own tragic fate following Belvidera’s demise. The conspirator Renault is driven by ambition and manipulates Jaffeir's loyalty, revealing the darker aspects of human motivation. Other characters, such as the eloquent senator Antonio and the Greek courtesan Aquilana, add layers to the narrative’s exploration of love and conflict. Together, these characters navigate a web of emotions and allegiances, culminating in a tragic commentary on personal and political loyalties in Venice.
Venice Preserved: Or, A Plot Discovered: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Thomas Otway
First published: 1682
Genre: Play
Locale: Venice
Plot: Tragedy
Time: The Renaissance
Jaffeir (JAF-yur), a Venetian citizen who wins the undying animosity of Priuli by secretly marrying his daughter, Belvidera. After three years of being thus disowned, Jaffeir and his wife are heartbroken and penniless, their only joy being in their deep love for each other and for their baby son. When their household is seized at the father-in-law's vindictive order, Jaffeir is most amenable to a suggestion that he avenge the abuse to his wife by joining a conspiracy against the Senate of Venice. Revolted by the crudity of the conspirators, he informs the council of their plans and thus incurs the scorn of his noble friend Pierre. Jaffeir has woven a tangled web by abusing his wife and betraying his friend. He can regain his self-respect only by stabbing his friend and himself.
Pierre (pyehr), a gentle philosopher and an honored citizen of Venice. By his own candid estimate, he is a villain; though he sees how the government is enslaving the people, he remains passive and does little to correct the situation. Intrigued by the conspirators'plot, Pierre concludes that he is as free to be a foe as to be a friend of Venice. His decision is inspired as much by his desire for personal vengeance as by any sense of altruism. Sensing his contempt for the bullying cowardice of the conspirators as they imply Jaffeir's disloyalty to the conspiracy, he nevertheless continues with the cause. Complex circumstances conspire to shatter the friendship of Jaffeir and Pierre, but in the end the men reunite. In a gesture of mutual forgiveness, Pierre, on the executioner's stand, asks Jaffeir to stab him. This act saves Pierre from the wheel; more important, it serves to deceive the Senate.
Belvidera (behl-vee-DAY-rah), Jaffeir's beautiful, noble, and sensitive wife. Even though she suffers the hurt of Jaffeir's abuse, to prove his honor to the conspiracy, she forgives him and begs to be informed of the revolutionary scheme. She is loyal to Jaffeir when he reports to the council and swallows her pride when she seeks her father's aid in saving Pierre. Visited by the ghosts of Jaffeir and Pierre, she dies of grief.
Priuli (pree-EW-lee), a leading senator of Venice and the father of Belvidera. He so bitterly despises his daughter's marriage to Jaffeir that he wishes her dead. After Belvidera's death, Priuli condemns himself to self-exile with the closing lines “bid all Cruel Fathers dread my Fate.”
Renault (ray-NOH), a reformer. Scheming and relentless, he is the chief of the conspirators against Venice. He reveals his contemptible character by his attempts to compromise the lovely Belvidera when Jaffeir, at first convinced of the rightness of the conspiracy, gives his wife over to Renault as a token of his loyalty. Such is Renault's compelling power that Jaffeir, learning of his conduct, says he will endure personal indignity for the success of the plot against the council. Execution on the wheel, after the conspiracy is discovered by the Senate, seems a suitable end for Renault. The other conspirators are willing to be led by Renault, but they question his pressing Pierre so hard concerning Jaffeir's honor. They, too, are executed for treason.
Antonio (ahn-TOH-nyoh), a leader and eloquent speaker of the Senate. In his contemptibleness and senility, he lends an aura of satire to the play. Bitter rivalry and mortal jealousy exist between Antonio and Pierre because of their various interests in a common mistress. Antonio is a weak character in his childish adoration and preoccupation with the mistress, who threatens to kill him as a way to make him promise to save Pierre, whom she loves and who loves her. Antonio consents but, like Priuli's, his decision comes too late.
Aquilana (ah-kwee-LAH-nah), the exciting and exotic Greek courtesan whom Pierre loved but lost to lecherous Antonio. In her effort to save Pierre, Aquilana shows a noble strain of character.
Afriar, who tries to comfort Pierre before his death. He is alternately scorned and ignored by Pierre because of his sanctimonious prating.