Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Passion, Lust, and Bloodlust
Desire vs. Duty
Injustice
Religious Piety vs. False Idols
Female Sexuality vs. Social Expectation
Summary
Analysis
Puttana and Giovanni are outside Annabella’s chambers. Puttana is in great distress, saying that Annabella is undone. Giovanni asks if she is dead, but Puttana tells him instead that Annabella is pregnant. She worries that it is too late for them to repent now. Giovanni asks how she knows, and Puttana tells him not to question her. She says that he cannot let a doctor see her or else they will be found out.
Annabella’s pregnancy is a turning point in the play, as now there is proof of her sexual indiscretion, for which she can be severely punished. Giovanni, on the other hand, can still escape punishment as long as no one reveals that he was the one who got her pregnant. Annabella is now caught in the dilemma of having to marry someone quickly to cover up her pregnancy, but having already broken her wedding vows by being pregnant with another man’s child.
Themes
Giovanni asks how Annabella’s condition is. Puttana says that she is fine, but that this fainting and vomiting will continue to happen. He tells Puttana not to let the doctor visit Annabella and to tell Florio that it was only food poisoning. Giovanni asks Puttana to make some excuse for him until he returns. Puttana agrees, and they both exit.
Puttana is also caught in a dilemma of expectations. Her loyalty towards the two siblings is expected of her in her job as Annabella’s guardian. However, her complicity in the relationship and pregnancy is judged quite severely later.
Themes
