Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Spanish Tragedy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Revenge and Justice
Class, Gender, and Society
Love and Madness
Betrayal
Summary
Analysis
The Viceroy of Portugal enters with two attendants, Alexandro and Villuppo. Alexandro confirms that the Portuguese Ambassador has been dispatched to Spain to deliver the tribute payment. The viceroy is clearly upset that Portugal has lost the war, and he falls to the ground, moaning. Fortune has stolen the viceroy’s crown, and his son, Balthazar, has surely been killed as well. No, Alexandro says. It is more likely that Balthazar has been taken prisoner and is alive in Spain. Balthazar’s ransom alone will keep the Spanish from killing him, Alexandro says.
A viceroy is someone who rules in place of a king, which means the viceroy does not rule by birthright. During the time Kyd wrote The Spanish Tragedy, Portugal was going through a succession crisis, as two kings had died without living heirs. The presence of the viceroy in the play implies that this fictional Portugal is having similar problems. While Alexandro doesn’t know it, Villuppo is getting ready to betray him to the viceroy.
Themes
Literary Devices
Villuppo interrupts. He saw Balthazar killed in battle: he watched as Alexandro shot the prince in the back. Alexandro immediately speaks up and says that Villuppo’s accusation is a lie. The Viceroy silences them both and asks what became of Balthazar’s body. Villuppo claims it was taken by the Spanish. Alexandro asks the viceroy for the chance to speak and defend his innocence, but the viceroy immediately dismisses him. Alexandro will be imprisoned, and if Balthazar is confirmed dead, Alexandro will die as well. Alexandro is hauled off by two attendants and the viceroy exists, leaving Villuppo alone. He has told such a lie, Villuppo claims, in hopes of obtaining a reward.
Villuppo selfishly betrays Alexandro for his own glory and recognition. Balthazar is obviously not dead and is being held prisoner by the Spanish, but the viceroy has no way of knowing this until the ambassador returns with news. The Portuguese subplot revolves around Villuppo’s betrayal, which suggests that betrayal is common in Portugal just as it is in Spain. Thus, Kyd implies, betrayal is everywhere.
Themes
