Revenge Character Analysis

The personification of revenge. Revenge and the Ghost of Andrea serve as the chorus of the play, as they observe the action and occasionally comment. After Andrea is killed by Balthazar and swears revenge in the afterlife, Revenge is ordered by Proserpine, the queen of the underworld, to take Andrea through the gates of horn and show him Balthazar’s upcoming death at the hands of Bel-Imperia, Andrea’s grieving lover who has sworn revenge on his behalf. The gates of horn and ivory are a literary device used since antiquity to separate true dreams from false dreams. True dreams are said to come through the gates of horn, whereas false dreams come through the gates of ivory. In ordering Revenge to take Andrea through the gates of horn, Proserpine means to show Andrea the truth behind what he seeks in desiring revenge against Balthazar. Kyd ultimately argues that revenge is God’s responsibility—and the law’s, which derives its power from God—and is not for mortal men to pursue. As Andrea looks down on the play, waiting for Bel-Imperia to avenge his death, Revenge urges Andrea to be patient and even falls asleep waiting. Revenge’s delayed action gives the characters time to reconsider their desire for vengeance and instead leave justice to God and the law; however, Revenge is patiently waiting either way. At the end of the play, Revenge is there to send Balthazar—and everyone involved in the murder of Horatio—down to the “deepest hell” as punishment for their wrongdoing.