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 King of Spain enters, along with the Duke of Castile, the Viceroy of Portugal, Lorenzo, Balthazar, and Bel-Imperia. The king welcomes the viceroy to Spain and informs him that Balthazar and Bel-Imperia will be married tomorrow. The viceroy says he is pleased about the upcoming marriage, and they all exit, except for Castile and Lorenzo. Castile tells Lorenzo that he wants to talk to him. He doesn’t want anything to jeopardize Bel-Imperia’s happiness or wedding—including Lorenzo’s misunderstanding with Hieronimo—and he urges Lorenzo to fix whatever disagreement he has with Hieronimo.
The Duke of Castile’s request for Lorenzo to fix whatever beef he has with Hieronimo again suggests that Castile, like the king, is fond of Hieronimo and even respects him. However, his fondness doesn’t mean that Hieronimo is likely to get justice. No matter how much the king and Castile like Hieronimo, they will never side with him against Lorenzo, which again suggests that justice is difficult to achieve for the lower classes.
Themes
Literary Devices
Balthazar and Bel-Imperia enter, and Castile tells Bel-Imperia to cheer up. “It is not now as when Andrea lived,” Castile says. “We have forgotten and forgiven that, / And thou art graced with a happier love.” Hieronimo enters, and Castile says that he knows Hieronimo is angry because Lorenzo has denied him access to the king, but Castile is hoping that Hieronimo can forgive him. Hieronimo draws his sword, but Lorenzo swears he never gave him cause for such treatment. Castile tells them to embrace and be friends. Hieronimo agrees to be friends with them all, and Lorenzo says he hopes that Hieronimo has forgotten his grudge. They all exit except for Hieronimo. “Pha!” Hieronimo says, as he exits alone. He knows Lorenzo can’t be trusted.
Castile’s comment to Bel-Imperia again suggests that he did not approve of Don Andrea because he was of a lower social standing, and this further suggests that Castile would not approve of Horatio either—had Castile known about Bel-Imperia and Horatio’s relationship. Drawing his sword on Lorenzo makes Hieronimo appear even more insane, as if he is challenging Lorenzo to a duel. Hieronimo’s “Pha!” clearly means that he doesn’t really forgive Lorenzo, and he knows that Lorenzo will betray him as soon as he gets the chance.
Themes
