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
Bel-Imperia enters with Horatio. She says that she must know how Andrea died, and Horatio agrees to tell her, provided she excuse his “tears and sighs.” During battle, Andrea came up against Balthazar. Their fight was long and great, but Nemesis, struck with jealousy of Andrea’s bravery, cut his life short, and Balthazar overtook him. Horatio arrived too late, but he was able to take Balthazar prisoner. Horatio claimed Andrea’s body and performed his funeral rites in mourning. Horatio then removed the scarf tied to Andrea’s arm, which he know wears in honor of his friend.
Horatio’s “tears and sighs” are evidence of the great love he has for Andrea, as is the scarf that he takes from Andrea’s body to remember his friend in death. This scarf, which was given to Andrea by Bel-Imperia is symbolic of love and returns several times throughout the play. Nemesis is the Greek goddess who enacts retribution against those with excessive pride, and this passage implies that Andrea was guilty of hubris, which directly led to his death.
Themes
Literary Devices
Bel-Imperia tells Horatio that she knows the scarf well. She gave it to Andrea before he left for war, and he promised to wear it for her. Now, she wants Horatio to keep the scarf and wear it in her honor as wells as Andrea’s. Horatio agrees and vows to faithfully serve Bel-Imperia, but now he must excuse himself, as Bel-Imperia’s father, the Duke of Castile, has put Horatio in charge of Balthazar.
The scarf that Bel-Imperia initially gives Andrea and now Horatio is symbolic of love within the play—love between Bel-Imperia and Andrea, Andrea and Horatio, and Horatio and Bel-Imperia. Later in the play, it will come to symbolize revenge. This dual meaning reflects the similarities of love with madness or vengeance, as these passionate emotions are closely tied within the play.
Themes
After Horatio exits, Bel-Imperia claims that Horatio is her “second love,” but she can’t fully giver herself to him until she avenges Andrea’s death. On the other hand, loving Horatio does further her revenge. Balthazar is clearly interested in Bel-Imperia and has even spoke of marriage, but she has resisted him with contempt. She will love Horatio, Andrea’s friend and Balthazar’s captor, to spite Balthazar.
Interestingly, as Andrea looks on at Bel-Imperia and Horatio’s budding romance, he seems to approve of their coupling. As the alternative is Balthazar, Andrea’s killer, it makes sense the Andrea would rather see Bel-Imperia with his good friend, Horatio.
Themes
Lorenzo enters with Balthazar, and Lorenzo asks Bel-Imperia why she seems so sad. Bel-Imperia tells her brother that she prefers to be alone, but Lorenzo says that the price has come to visit her and profess his love. Balthazar confirms this. He can think of nothing but Bel-Imperia and her beauty. Bel-Imperia goes to leave, dropping her glove, and Horatio appears and picks it up. She gives it to him for his trouble, and Lorenzo turns to Balthazar, telling him not to worry. Woman are funny, Lorenzo says, but Bel-Imperia will eventually come around to Balthazar’s advances.
Bel-Imperia despises Balthazar, and she won’t come around to his advances. Lorenzo likely knows this, which is why he consorts with Balthazar to kill Horatio and eliminate his competition for Bel-Imperia’s love. It is likely that Balthazar and Lorenzo are already scheming to ensure that Bel-Imperia marries Balthazar. As the viceroy plans to make Balthazar king, this means that Bel-Imperia would be the queen.
Themes
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Horatio says that the King of Spain is coming to feast at banquet with the Portuguese Ambassador, and Balthazar is excited to receive news of his country. Trumpets sound, and the king enters with the ambassador and the banquet. The king tells the ambassador that Balthazar has been treated well, and they all sit for the banquet. The King of Spain looks around for Hieronimo, who has promised to entertain them with a play. Suddenly, Hieronimo enters with several knights, who perform a masque. The king thanks Hieronimo and offers him a drink. He takes the cup sitting in front of Horatio and gives it to Hieronimo. They drink and exit.
A masque is a type of play popular during the 16th and 17th centuries that usually involves dancing and masked actors. This passage establishes Hieronimo as a poet and playwright, which sets the stage for the production of the play-within-a-play at the end of the last act, which two characters will use to seek revenge against those who have betrayed him.
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