Antonio Character Analysis in The Revenger’s Tragedy

Antonio is a nobleman at the Duke’s court. He doesn’t appear much in the play, but he has an important role. Firstly, like Vindice, he suffers considerable tragedy: Junior Brother, the Duchess’s youngest son, rapes Antonio’s wife, subsequently driving her to commit suicide because of the shame. After the bloodbath at the play’s end, Antonio is surprised to find himself leader of the realm now that the Duke and the other contenders are all dead. His first act in charge is to send Vindice and Hippolito to their deaths, hoping this will put an end to the treason and tragedy that has so consumed the court.

Antonio Quotes in The Revenger’s Tragedy

The The Revenger’s Tragedy quotes below are all either spoken by Antonio or refer to Antonio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Duchess, it is your youngest son, we’re sorry,
His violent act has e'en drawn blood of honour
And stained our honours,
Thrown ink upon the forehead of our state
Which envious spirits will dip their pens into
After our death, and blot us in our tombs."

Related Characters: The Duke (speaker), The Duchess, Antonio, Junior Brother, Spurio

Page Number and Citation: 1-6

Explanation and Analysis:

Junior Brother, the Duchess’ son from a relationship prior to the Duke, stands trial for raping the wife of Lord Antonio. This quote illustrates the Duke’s attitude toward justice: it isn’t a universal standard that humanity needs to uphold, but rather the mere expression of what’s good for the court—or, more accurately, what’s good for the Duke himself. He isn’t concerned with the horror of Junior Brother’s deed, but for how it will look to the public. In fact, it’s more his posthumous reputation that he’s worried about. It also shows the audience that it is the Duke who decides Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inven

SECOND JUDGE: Confess, my lord,
What moved you to’t?

JUNIOR BROTHER: Why, flesh and blood, my lord.
What should move men unto a woman else?

LUSSURIOSO: O do not jest thy doom; trust not an axe
Or sword too far. The law is a wise serpent
And quickly can beguile thee of thy life.

Related Characters: Lussurioso (speaker), Junior Brother (speaker), Antonio

Page Number and Citation: 46-50

Explanation and Analysis:

The judges ask Junior Brother why he decided to rape Lord Antonio’s wife, and his answer reveals a lot about the immorality rife in the Duke’s court. Essentially, Junior Brother’s reply portrays the view that rape is a natural action—it isn’t “wrong” or “evil” because it is simply the expression of the laws of nature. Not only is lust considered justification for rape, then, but it is also suggested that lust is the only force behind a man’s attraction to a woman. Women are mere sites for the satisfaction of men’s lust. Junior Brother’s devaluation of “flesh and blood” mirrors Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint

I marked not this before:
A prayer book the pillow to her cheek;
This was her rich confection, and another
Placed in her right hand with a leaf tucked up,
Pointing to these words:
Melius virtute mori, quam per dedecus viyere.
True and effectual it is indeed.

Related Characters: Antonio (speaker), Junior Brother

Page Number and Citation: 13-18

Explanation and Analysis:

This quote comes after Antonio reveals to his fellow noblemen that his wife committed suicide because of the shame she felt at being raped by Junior Brother. This is both because of the shame itself and the sense that her honor has been violated (honor is linked to chastity/sexual loyalty throughout the play). This is also the only expression of any genuine religious engagement in the play—Antonio’s wife has been consulting her faith to try to help her recover from the rape. The Latin phrase translates to “it is better to die in virtue than live in disgrace,” advice which Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Ev

ANTONIO: Bear 'em to speedy execution. […]

VINDICE: May not we set as well as the duke's son?
Thou hast no conscience: are we not revenged?
Is there one enemy left alive amongst those?
When murderers shut deeds close this curse does seal 'em:
If none disclose 'em, they themselves reveal 'em!
This murder might have slept in tongueless brass
But for ourselves, and the world died an ass.
Now I remember too; here was Piato
Brought forth a knavish sentence once:
No doubt, said he, but time
Will make the murderer bring forth himself.
'Tis well he died, he was a witch.—
And now my lord, since we are in for ever:
This work was ours, which else might have been slipped;
And if we list we could have nobles clipped
And go for less than beggars. But we hate
To bleed so cowardly: we have enough—
I'faith we're well: our mother turned, our sister true,
We die after a nest of dukes! Adieu.
Exeunt [Vindice and Hippolito, guarded)

ANTONIO: How subtly was that murder closed! Bear up
Those tragic bodies; 'tis a heavy season.
Pray heaven their blood may wash away all treason.

Related Characters: Antonio (speaker), Vindice (speaker), Lussurioso, Castiza, The Duke, Hippolito, Gratiana

Related Symbols: Natural Phenomena

Page Number and Citation: 106-130

Explanation and Analysis:

These are the closing words of the play, coming after the bloodbath that has killed numerous characters. Antonio has arrived on the scene, and, because the Duke has no relatives left, is next in line to the throne. When he expresses his disbelief at what has happened, Vindice can’t help but brag that the events that have transpired are largely down to his scheming. Instead of being grateful or impressed, however, Antonio immediately orders the executions of Vindice and Hippolito. This makes Antonio an ambiguous figure—it’s not clear if he wishes to rid the court of the vengeful brothers in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem

Antonio Character Timeline in The Revenger’s Tragedy

The timeline below shows where the character Antonio appears in The Revenger’s Tragedy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...(and the Duke’s stepson), Junior Brother, is rumored to have raped the wife of Lord Antonio, a court nobleman. Vindice says he must make “speedy travel.” Vindice and Gratiana briefly discuss... (full context)

Antonio enters with another nobleman and Hippolito. Antonio’s wife has committed suicide by poison after her... (full context)

Hippolito gives Antonio his heartfelt condolences, which Antonio accepts gratefully. Antonio explains the circumstances of the rape. It... (full context)

Antonio vows to avenge his wife’s death, and asks the other men present to commit to... (full context)

...re-enter, cunningly calling for help: “Pistols! Treason! Murder! Help! Guard my lord / The Duke!” Antonio and guards enter. Vindice and Hippolito seize the Fourth Man, alleging him to be the... (full context)

Hippolito addresses Antonio, telling that the “hope / Of Italy” now rests in his hands. Antonio vows to... (full context)

Vindice announces to Antonio that it was he and Hippolito who orchestrated the murder of the Duke, bragging that... (full context)

Vindice appeals to Antonio, saying that the murders served him well—but Antonio counters that “you that would murder him... (full context)

Vindice and Hippolito are dragged away by guards, leaving Antonio alone on stage. He expresses his disbelief at the recent bloody events and hopes Hippolito... (full context)

Antonio Character Analysis

Antonio Quotes in The Revenger’s Tragedy

Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes

Act 1, Scene 4 Quotes

Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes

Antonio Character Timeline in The Revenger’s Tragedy