The Revenger’s Tragedy Plot Review

Act One 1. Vindice tells us that the Duke poisoned the woman he loved, because she wouldn’t sleep with him. Vindice swears he will have revenge on the Duke and his family for this. Hippolito reveals that the Duchess’s youngest son raped Lord Antonio’s wife.

2. The trial: the Duchess begs for mercy for her youngest son. The judges decide to defer judgment, and order the youngest son to be locked away for now. Ambitioso quietly promises “a trick to set thee free”, whereas Spurio (the Duke’s bastard son) wants him executed, so that he has fewer rivals. The Duchess is angry with the Duke for not intervening and saving her son, and swears revenge on him. The Duchess seems to be in love with Spurio, and encourages him to also seek revenge on the Duke. Spurio plays along with the Duchess, though he does want to kill the Duke, the Duke’s son, and the Duchess’s children!

3. Vindice is disguised so that Hippolito can get him into the Duke’s court. Both Vindice and Lussorioso reveal (in asides) that they will be manipulating each other. Lussorioso wants Vindice to persuade a virgin to sleep with him – unfortunately, the woman Lussorioso is after is Vindice’s sister.

4. We find out that Lord Antonio’s wife, the woman raped by the Duchess’s son, has killed herself, writing “Better die virtuous than live dishonoured” as a note. The other nobles, including Hippolito, offer tributes to the deceased woman, swear to kill the Duchess’s son if the judges show mercy to him.

Map of plotters

The Duke

Vindice

The Duchess

Lussurioso Ambitioso, Supervacuo

The youngest

son

Antonio

Spurio

Personal desire for vengeance – good reason?

Plotting out of frustrated ambition – selfish reason?

Alliances

Vindice

The Duchess

Lussurioso Ambitioso, Supervacuo

The youngest

son

Spurio

Genuine alliances

Faked alliances

Hippolito

Summaries Prepare a brief summary on your designated scene/scenes, to deliver to the rest of the class.

You can use the questions in the booklet to help you.

Make sure the plot summaries in your booklet have been completed – you can do this for homework if you haven’t got through them already.

Keeping track of the characters

Create a character diagram, such as a family tree, to show who everyone is.

Include details of alliances, vendettas and plots – for example, different coloured lines between the characters.

CSI Italy There are rather a lot of gruesome deaths in the play…

Make a list of who is killed by whom, and how.

Include attempted murder and suicide, for detail!