Soranzo’s servant and confidant. Prior to the beginning of the play, Vasquez promised Soranzo’s father that he would serve his son faithfully. Vasquez’s loyalty is unquestionable even though his morals are less secure. Vasquez serves as a counterexample to the passionate characters of Giovanni, Annabella, and Soranzo, as he is perhaps the most logical of the play. With his level-headedness, he is able to see through Hippolita’s attempts to manipulate and seduce him. He convinces her that he is plotting with her against Soranzo, but in the end he kills her with her own poison. He advises Soranzo not to torture Annabella in order to find out who got her pregnant, and instead finds out the information from Puttana with verbal tact. Although he is not the most ethical character, he demonstrates that characters that are defined by duty and not by passion win the day, as he survives almost all the other characters.
Vasquez Quotes in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
The 'Tis Pity She's a Whore quotes below are all either spoken by Vasquez or refer to Vasquez. 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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Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin Publishers edition of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore published in 2014.
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
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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Explanation and Analysis:
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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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Vasquez Character Timeline in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
The timeline below shows where the character Vasquez 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
The second scene opens on Grimaldi and Vasquez in front of Florio’s house. Vasquez has his sword drawn, challenging Grimaldi to fight him....
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Florio, Donado, and Soranzo come upon Grimaldi and Vasquez as they fight. Florio asks for an explanation as to why they’re fighting and scolds...
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...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 for Annabella’s love, and Grimaldi has...
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...about what Grimaldi says about him. He says it is natural for losers to complain. Vasquez states that Grimaldi’s words were so villainous that they would make even a gentle person...
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Act 2, Scene 2
Vasquez interrupts Soranzo’s poetry, upsetting him. He asks what’s wrong, and Vasquez enters with Hippolita, who...
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...him of causing her husband’s death. She refuses to let Soranzo interject into her tirade. Vasquez tries to speak with her, saying that she is not within reason, but he doesn’t...
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...sins in bringing her husband to his death even though he was a great man. Vasquez tells Soranzo that he is being unkind in not keeping his promise. Soranzo tells Vasquez...
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Vasquez says that Soranzo is behaving like a scoundrel. Hippolita says that she will have vengeance...
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...longer has an interest in Soranzo and goes on to try to flatter and seduce Vasquez with promises that he could be the master of her estate, her wealth, and herself....
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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 many offers...
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Vasquez enters and finds Soranzo alone. Soranzo tells him of Annabella’s refusal of his advances, 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...
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Vasquez reaffirms his commitment to Hippolita’s plot. She tells him she will be his even though...
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Act 4, Scene 1
A noise is heard offstage. Vasquez tells Soranzo that some young maidens of Parma wanted to perform a masque (a performance...
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...to symbolize absolving Soranzo of the vows he once made to Hippolita. She calls to Vasquez to give her a cup of wine. Unbeknownst to her, he gives her a poisoned...
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Hippolita is confused that Vasquez seems to be going against their plan. He reveals that he has given her a...
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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 what has...
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Act 4, Scene 3
At that moment, Vasquez enters and sees Soranzo pointing his sword at Annabella. He steps between the two. Vasquez...
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Soranzo affirms that Annabella should not live. Vasquez argues again that it is an unfair demand to ask Annabella to confess the “authors...
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Soranzo turns to Vasquez, saying that he is hungry for revenge and will eventually make Annabella tell him who...
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Vasquez tells the audience that he had suspected that there would be issues a while ago,...
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While Vasquez muses on how to find out who impregnated Annabella, Puttana enters, crying. Vasquez sympathizes with...
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Vasquez tells Puttana that all Soranzo wants is to find out who did it, and then...
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As soon as Puttana says Giovanni’s name, Vasquez calls on the Banditti (a gang of Italian outlaws and robbers). He tells them to...
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Vasquez is overjoyed at having found out this information, and that it is so damning. He...
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Soranzo enters after Giovanni leaves. Soranzo tells Vasquez that he dealt with Annabella gently. Vasquez asks for privacy in order to tell him...
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Act 5, Scene 2
Vasquez enters, expressing his shock to Soranzo at what has come to pass: first Soranzo married...
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...says that he will bid Annabella to dress in her bridal robes, and then asks Vasquez if the Banditti are ready to wait in ambush. Vasquez vaguely assures him that they...
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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....
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Act 5, Scene 4
Soranzo, Vasquez, and the Banditti enter. Vasquez commands them to be merciless and bloody. He tells them...
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Soranzo asks Vasquez if the guests will all come. Vasquez assures him they will and reminds Soranzo of...
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Act 5, Scene 6
...play jumps back to Soranzo’s birthday feast, where the Cardinal, Florio, Donado, Soranzo, Richardetto, and Vasquez are taking their places at the table. They begin to eat, and Soranzo realizes Giovanni’s...
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...the past nine months, but she became pregnant. Florio says that he is lying, and Vasquez goes to find Annabella.
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Vasquez returns and confirms that Giovanni is telling the truth. Florio dies in shock. The Cardinal...
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Vasquez says that he can no longer stand by and watch. He launches at Giovanni, and...
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...barely alive, says he is pleased to see his wrongs avenged on Giovanni. He tells Vasquez not to let Giovanni live, and then dies. Giovanni thanks Vasquez for stabbing him, saying...
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Donado and the Cardinal worry that they will be murdered as well. Vasquez assures them that he has no intention of killing them, as he has now paid...
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The Cardinal asks if anyone else was complicit in this incest. Vasquez tells the Cardinal of Puttana, and says that he blinded her and kept her alive...
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