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
The scene opens on the Friar and Annabella as she is praying and weeping to him. He says he is glad to see her penance, because she is almost “condemned alive.” He scares her with a terrifying description of Hell and goes on to say that she would rather that Giovanni’s kisses were daggers than go to Hell.
Anabella asks if there is any way that she can redeem herself. The Friar says that she must marry Soranzo to save her soul. She agrees to do it.
Annabella turns away from her desire and faces her duty as a young woman by following society’s expectations and marrying Soranzo.
Themes
Florio and Giovanni enter. The Friar asks if Soranzo has come, and Florio says that he is waiting downstairs and is overjoyed to be marrying Annabella. Giovanni sees his sister weeping and fears that the Friar is false. Annabella says that she has resolved to marry Soranzo. Soranzo and Vasquez enter. The Friar joins Annabella’s and Soranzo’s hands, and she vows to live with him. They decide to marry very soon.
Annabella’s conflicted feelings come not only from foregoing Giovanni’s love (a decision that leaves both of them heartbroken)—she also knows the danger that might befall her if Soranzo finds out about her pregnancy. Nevertheless, she decides to marry him so as to extract herself from a sinful life.
Themes
