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Annabella
One of Annabella’s suitors who eventually becomes her husband. Soranzo is said to be wealthy, handsome, and noble. His character arc is similar to those of Giovanni and Annabella in that his passions drive him to ruin. Unlike the siblings, however, his “sins” are driven mostly by bloodlust rather than sexual desire. Initially his love for Annabella is strong, but when he discovers that she has had premarital sex, he is overcome only by the need to get revenge on whichever man impregnated her. He threatens Annabella violently to reveal the name of her lover, and when Vasquez tells him that it was Giovanni, he vows to get revenge. In his character one can also see the hypocrisy and double standard with which society treats women, as he had also had a relationship with a married woman, Hippolita, prior to falling in love with Annabella. Thus he is guilty of the very crime for which he threatens Annabella (that is, before he discovers that her crime is much more socially taboo). Soranzo’s eventual fate makes him another example of a character whose passions ultimately lead to his downfall, as he is killed by Giovanni as revenge for marrying his sister.
Soranzo Quotes in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
The 'Tis Pity She's a Whore quotes below are all either spoken by Soranzo or refer to Soranzo. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes
I would not, for my wealth, my daughter’s love
Should cause the spilling of one drop of blood.
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Act 2, Scene 2 Quotes
Do you know me now? Look, perjured man, on her
Whom thou and thy distracted lust have wronged.
Thy sensual rage of blood hath made my youth
A scorn to men and angels;
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Act 3, Scene 2 Quotes
These scornful taunts
Neither become your modesty or years.
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Yet know –
Thus far I give you comfort – if mine eyes
Could have picked out a man, amongst all those
That sued to me, to make a husband of,
You should have been that man.
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Act 3, Scene 4 Quotes
RICHARDETTO: Her sickness is a fullness of her blood –
You understand me?
FLORIO: I do – you counsel well –
And once within these few days will so order’t
She shall be married, ere she know the time.
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Act 3, Scene 7 Quotes
Now guide my hand, some angry Justice,
Home to his bosom.
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Act 4, Scene 1 Quotes
Burn, blood, and boil in vengeance. Oh, my heart!
My flame’s intolerable! – May’st thou live
To father bastards; may her womb bring forth
Monsters; and die together in your sins,
Hated, scorned and unpitied!
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Act 4, Scene 3 Quotes
Yet will I not forget what I should be,
And what I am: a husband. In that name
Is hid divinity. If I do find
That thou wilt yet be true, here I remit
All former faults, and take thee to my bosom.
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Act 5, Scene 2 Quotes
VASQUEZ: Let not your pity betray you till my coming back:
Think upon incest and cuckoldry.
SORANZO: Revenge is all the ambition I aspire;
To that I’ll climb or fall. My blood’s on fire!
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Soranzo Character Timeline in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
The timeline below shows where the character Soranzo appears in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 2
Florio, Donado, and Soranzo come upon Grimaldi and Vasquez as they fight. Florio asks for an explanation as to...
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...the argument is as Annabella and Puttana enter on the balcony of the house, unseen. Soranzo chimes in that he asked Vasquez to challenge Grimaldi because he and Grimaldi are rivals...
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Florio questions Soranzo’s actions, stating that Soranzo already has Annabella’s heart and so he should not worry about...
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...also bows too submissively (with a pun on being sexually inadequate). She says she prefers Soranzo because he is wise, rich, a nobleman, handsome, healthy, generous, loving, and sexually capable (she...
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Act 2, Scene 2
The next scene finds Soranzo in his study, reading a book of poetry by Jacopo Sannazaro. One of the poems...
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Vasquez interrupts Soranzo’s poetry, upsetting him. He asks what’s wrong, and Vasquez enters with Hippolita, who is dressed...
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As Soranzo tries to argue with Hippolita, she tells him not to try to talk his way...
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Hippolita continues into a monologue explaining how Soranzo had wronged her. She asks him if he did not swear that he wanted nothing...
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Soranzo argues that the vows he made to Hippolita were unlawful, and that it would be...
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Vasquez says that Soranzo is behaving like a scoundrel. Hippolita says that she will have vengeance and begins to...
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Hippolita says that she no longer has an interest in Soranzo and goes on to try to flatter and seduce Vasquez with promises that he could...
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Act 2, Scene 3
Richardetto asks Philotis if she knows whether the marriage plans between Annabella and Soranzo have progressed. She tells him that Florio intends to give his daughter to Soranzo, but...
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...must admit that there is an obstacle between him and Annabella. He tells Grimaldi that Soranzo has Annabella’s heart, and states that he will help Grimaldi. He will find out the...
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Act 2, Scene 6
...where he has been, describing how Annabella got rid of her foolish suitor. Florio says Soranzo is the only man he likes, and then exits for dinner.
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Act 3, Scene 2
Florio, Giovanni, Annabella, Puttana, Soranzo, and Vasquez are all gathered. Florio says that although there have been many suitors and...
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Annabella asks what Soranzo wants. He says it must be obvious that he loves her. He asks her if...
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Soranzo is taken aback by Annabella’s bluntness and asks her if she cannot love. She says...
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Annabella tells Soranzo plainly that if she loved him, she would be nicer to him. She says that...
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...falls ill and starts to faint, and Giovanni immediately exits the balcony to come down. Soranzo calls for help within the house. Florio, Giovanni, and Puttana enter. Giovanni takes her in...
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Vasquez enters and finds Soranzo alone. Soranzo tells him of Annabella’s refusal of his advances, and how she immediately fell...
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Act 3, Scene 4
...married at once to cure her of this sickness. He says that she will marry Soranzo and that he will send someone to find the Friar tonight so that they can...
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Act 3, Scene 5
Grimaldi enters, saying that if the doctor keeps his word, Soranzo will die before marrying Annabella. Grimaldi understands that his plot is not the most virtuous,...
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...Richardetto he will and exits. Richardetto is giddy with the prospect of getting revenge on Soranzo.
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Act 3, Scene 6
...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.
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Florio and Giovanni enter. The Friar asks if Soranzo has come, and Florio says that he is waiting downstairs and is overjoyed to be...
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Act 3, Scene 7
Meanwhile, Grimaldi is still on watch with his sword drawn, waiting for Soranzo. However, it is Bergetto and Philotis, disguised, who pass him next, followed by Richardetto and...
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Act 3, Scene 8
Vasquez informs Hippolita that Soranzo and Annabella are going to be married in two days. Hippolita wishes that they would...
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...tells him she will be his even though he is a servant. She says that Soranzo would laugh to see her weep, but that he can laugh and enjoy his revels...
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Act 3, Scene 9
...Cardinal, saying that he did not mean to hurt Bergetto, but instead wanted to avenge Soranzo. He reveals that he killed Bergetto mistakenly. He goes on to say that although it...
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Act 4, Scene 1
Time jumps ahead to just after Annabella and Soranzo have been married, at their wedding banquet. The Friar tells them to feast and enjoy...
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...grieving at his nephew’s death, and Florio urges him to drown his sorrows in wine. Soranzo toasts to Giovanni, his new brother, and to his own and Annabella’s happiness. Giovanni refuses...
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A noise is heard offstage. Vasquez tells Soranzo that some young maidens of Parma wanted to perform a masque (a performance with music...
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...only thing she wants is to address the rumors in Parma. She joins Annabella’s and Soranzo’s hands and says that she is glad that they have been married. Soranzo is pleased...
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...asks one more thing: that they will join her in a toast to symbolize absolving Soranzo of the vows he once made to Hippolita. She calls to Vasquez to give her...
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...He reveals that he has given her a poisoned cup and explains Hippolita’s plot against Soranzo. He says that he knew it would have been treacherous to turn against Soranzo, but...
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...been justice. As Hippolita succumbs to the poison, she curses Annabella’s womb and swears that Soranzo will father bastards. She dies.
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The guests remark at how vile Hippolita was. Soranzo thanks Vasquez for his loyalty and takes Annabella home. The Friar remarks to Giovanni that...
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Act 4, Scene 2
...he acknowledges that his vengeance is not finished, as he wants to get revenge on Soranzo as well.
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Richardetto explains that already the marriage between Annabella and Soranzo is souring, as there are rumors that they fight and that she scorns his love....
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Act 4, Scene 3
Soranzo enters with his clothes unfastened, his sword drawn, and dragging Annabella behind him. He has...
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Annabella argues that Soranzo pursued her, and that she denied him many times. She tells him that if he...
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Soranzo remains unmoved and continues to call Annabella a whore. He demands to know by whom...
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Soranzo threatens Annabella violently, saying that if she does not reveal the man’s name he will...
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At that moment, Vasquez enters and sees Soranzo pointing his sword at Annabella. He steps between the two. Vasquez argues that it would...
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Soranzo affirms that Annabella should not live. Vasquez argues again that it is an unfair demand...
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Soranzo cries out that he really did love Annabella, and if she had been virtuous, he...
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Annabella is taken aback by these words, admitting that they wound deeper than his sword. Soranzo puts his sword away and apologizes. He says he will not forget that he is...
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Soranzo turns to Vasquez, saying that he is hungry for revenge and will eventually make Annabella...
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...how to find out who impregnated Annabella, Puttana enters, crying. Vasquez sympathizes with her that Soranzo can be furious and demanding. He admits that Soranzo could almost kill Annabella with unkindness....
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Vasquez tells Puttana that all Soranzo wants is to find out who did it, and then he wouldn’t be angry anymore—as...
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...out this information, and that it is so damning. He starts to leave to tell Soranzo, but Giovanni enters, looking for Annabella. Vasquez tells him that she is in her chamber...
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Soranzo enters after Giovanni leaves. Soranzo tells Vasquez that he dealt with Annabella gently. Vasquez asks...
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Act 5, Scene 1
...chamber and is not even allowed to see Putttana, and that he should not trust Soranzo. The Friar agrees to do so.
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Act 5, Scene 2
Vasquez enters, expressing his shock to Soranzo at what has come to pass: first Soranzo married a whore who threw herself onto...
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Soranzo begins to develop another scheme. He says that he will bid Annabella to dress in...
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Act 5, Scene 3
Vasquez enters and invites Giovanni to Soranzo’s birthday feast, telling him that Florio will also attend. Giovanni agrees to come. Vasquez questions...
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...Giovanni is resolute, telling the Friar that he will go, and resolves to strike against Soranzo as Soranzo is surely plotting against him. The Friar says that he has no wish...
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Act 5, Scene 4
Soranzo, Vasquez, and the Banditti enter. Vasquez commands them to be merciless and bloody. He tells...
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Soranzo asks Vasquez if the guests will all come. Vasquez assures him they will and reminds...
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Giovanni enters and Soranzo welcomes him. Giovanni asks how Annabella is, and Soranzo tells him that she is still...
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Act 5, Scene 5
...and Giovanni are lying on the bed. He asks why she has repented, wondering if Soranzo is a more experienced lover than he is. Annabella tells him not to joke when...
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...child owed him both its life and its death. He says that he has prevented Soranzo from executing any plots against Annabella. He urges himself to stand up to commit his...
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Act 5, Scene 6
The play jumps back to Soranzo’s birthday feast, where the Cardinal, Florio, Donado, Soranzo, Richardetto, and Vasquez are taking their places...
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...the truth. Florio dies in shock. The Cardinal berates Giovanni for breaking his father’s heart. Soranzo asks Giovanni if he plans to survive the murders he has committed. Giovanni tells him...
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Soranzo, barely alive, says he is pleased to see his wrongs avenged on Giovanni. He tells...
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...he has no intention of killing them, as he has now paid his duty to Soranzo’s father. He explains that he was brought from his native Spain to Italy by Soranzo’s...
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