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 several nobles, including Villuppo. The viceroy laments the tragic death of his son, Balthazar, and bemoans the fact that they are left without a suitable heir. They will wait no longer to execute Alexandro, the viceroy says, and Alexandro enters, flanked by armed guards. Alexandro again says he is innocent, but the viceroy will not be swayed. He orders the guards to bind Alexandro to the stake and burn him.
Alexandro is a nobleman and part of the upper class, which is why the viceroy doesn’t kill Alexandro right away after he is accused of killing Balthazar. If Alexandro had been of a lower class, it is likely he would have been executed much sooner, and he would have already been dead by the time Balthazar was discovered alive.
Themes
Suddenly, the Portuguese Ambassador enters, having just returned from Spain. Balthazar is alive and being treated well in the court of Spain, the ambassador says. The ambassador hands the Viceroy of Portugal several letters proving his claims, and the viceroy immediately orders the guards to release Alexandro. The viceroy asks Villuppo why he lied and betrayed Alexandro, and Villuppo admits he did it only for reward and glory. The viceroy tells Villuppo that he will be severely punished as a traitor, and he orders the guards to take him away. Alexandro exits with the ambassador and the viceroy, who promises to publically reward Alexandro for his loyalty.
Villuppo’s betrayal of Alexandro is not personal and seems almost random. Villuppo has nothing against Alexandro—he simply wants to make himself look good to the viceroy, and he is willing to sacrifice Alexandro’s life to do it. Villuppo must know that his betrayal will result in Alexandro’s death, but he doesn’t give this any consideration when he first decides to betray him. This again underscores how frequent, and easy, betrayal is in 16th-century society.
Themes
