SPANISH TRAGEDY

By Thomas Kyd
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• The Spanish Tragedy (revised edition, 1989) is a play by English dramatist Thomas
Kyd.
• It was written between 1582 and 1592, when the first known performance took
place.
• Kyd was a popular dramatist in his day, although most of his plays have been lost.
• The Spanish Tragedy is one of very few extant (still existing) plays that can with
certainty be attributed to him.
• The play is important not only for its own merits but also because it is the first
example of a revenge tragedy.
• It is a type of play that was to become extremely popular on the Elizabethan
stage during the last decade of the sixteenth century and beyond.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

• The exact date on which Thomas Kyd was born is unknown, but he
was baptized on November 6, 1558, at a church in London.
• His father, Francis Kyd, was a successful scrivener, that is, a man who
copied documents.
• Kyd's father was sufficiently well off to send his son to the Merchant
Taylors' School, which had a reputation for high academic standards.
• Kyd entered the Merchant Taylors' School when he was seven years
old, in 1565.
• Kyd may have remained at Merchant Taylors for eight to ten years,
however his date of departure is unrecorded.
• By 1583, he had begun writing plays for the company of actors known
as the Queen's Company.
• Kyd wrote for this company until 1587, although none of his plays has
survived.
• In 1587 or 1588, Kyd entered the service of a lord, possibly the earl of
Sussex, as a secretary or tutor.
• In 1588, he published a translation of Tasso's Padre di Famiglia, under
the title ‘The Householder's Philosophy’.
• The Spanish Tragedy, the play on which Kyd's fame rests, was written
between 1582 and 1592.
• It was the first example of an Elizabethan revenge tragedy and enjoyed
great popularity during Kyd's lifetime and beyond.
• In 1591, Kyd shared his lodgings with the dramatist Christopher Marlowe.
• In 1593, Kyd was arrested and questioned about whether he had any role in
writing pamphlets that incited violence against foreigners in London, who
were being blamed for outbreaks of the plague and a rise in
unemployment.
• Heretical writings were found at his lodgings, but Kyd claimed they
belonged to Marlowe.
• He was subjected to torture during his brief period of imprisonment, but he
was not convicted of any crime.
• After his release, Kyd wrote ‘Cornelia’, an adaptation of a play by the
French playwright Robert Garnier.
• It was published in 1594.
• In his dedication, Kyd commented about the bitter times and great
suffering he had endured.
• Kyd died later that year, at the age of thirty-six.
• He was buried on August 15, 1594.
PLOT SUMMARY
Act 1 scene 1

• The Spanish Tragedy begins with the ghost of Andrea, a Spanish nobleman, and the
personified abstraction of Revenge.
• Andrea explains that he was killed in battle against the Portuguese.
• This deprived him of his secret love, Bel-Imperia, and his ghost has now emerged
from the underworld to seek revenge.
• Revenge promises the ghost of Andrea that he will witness his killer, Prince Balthazar,
killed by Bel-Imperia.
• At the Spanish court, a general explains that during the battle, Balthazar was defeated
in single combat by Horatio and taken prisoner.
• This ensured Spain's victory, and Portugal has agreed to pay Spain tribute.
• Balthazar is treated leniently, being merely detained in Spain as the guest of Lorenzo.
• At the Portuguese court, the viceroy of Portugal is deceived by Villuppo into believing
Balthazar is dead.
• Back in Spain, Horatio tells Bel-Imperia of the circumstances of Andrea's death.
• Bel-Imperia transfers her affections from Andrea to Horatio, who was Andrea's friend.
• She also vows to have vengeance on Balthazar.
• Balthazar, encouraged by Lorenzo, declares his love for Bel-Imperia, but she rebuffs
him.
• The king of Spain holds a banquet, attended by the Portuguese ambassador, to
celebrate the new alliance between the two countries.
• The ghost of Andrea complains to Revenge at seeing Balthazar so well received at the
Spanish court.
• Revenge tells him that friendship will soon turn into enemity.
• The Ghost of Andrea and Revenge enter.
• In life, Don Andrea was a Spanish courtier, and he served the court with duty
and honor.
• He was secretly in love with Bel-Imperia, and she loved him as well, but their
relationship was cut short by Andrea’s death during the latest conflict with
Portugual.
• Directly after Andrea’s death, Charon denied Andrea’s passage over the river
Acheron because proper funeral rites had not been performed.
• Then, three days later, Andrea’s dear friend, Horatio, performed the funeral
ritual, and Andrea was allowed to pass into the afterlife to sit before Minos,
Aeacus, and Rhadamanth.
• According to Minos, Andrea “both lived and died in love,” and Aeacus suggested they
send him to the fields of love, but Rhadamanth disagreed.
• Andrea died in war, Rhadamanth reminded them, and he must therefore be sent to
the martial fields with Achilles’ Myrmidons and Hector.
• As Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanth could not agree on where to send Andrea, they
sent him to the court of Pluto, where Pluto allowed Proserpine to decide Andrea’s
fate.
• Proserpine ordered Revenge to take Andrea through the gates of horn, which has
brought them to the present moment.
• Now, Revenge says, Andrea shall see his murderer, Balthazar, killed by Bel-Imperia.
• Revenge and Andrea will watch the events unfold, and serve as the Chorus of the
tragedy.
Summary of Act 1 scene 2

• The King of Spain enters, along with his brother, the Duke of Castile; a
general; and Hieronimo, the Knight Marshal of Spain.
• The general informs the king that they have been victorious in war and have
suffered few loses.
• The Portuguese general says, will pay “tribute” and “homage.”
• The general goes on to tell the king about the battle.
• Both Spain and Portugal were well-equipped, and they were locked in battle
for hours, until the brave Don Andrea broke through the Portuguese’s line.
• The Portuguese began to retreat.
• Their prince, Balthazar, killed Andrea and “insulted” him.
• The general tells the King of Spain, that Hieronimo’s son, Horatio,
challenged Balthazar and easily knocked the prince from his horse.
• He took Balthazar prisoner, and the Portingales retreated.
• A trumpet sounds to announce the return of the soldiers.
• Horatio enters with Lorenzo, another soldier and the son of the
Duke of Castile, holding Balthazar as their prisoner.
• They bring Balthazar before the king, who welcomes the prince to his
country.
• The king addresses Horatio as well, and he thanks him for his duty and
for honoring Spain.
• The King of Spain tells Balthazar that if the truce between Spain and Portugal
is honored, peace between the two countries is sure to grow.
• The king says, Balthazar will remain their prisoner, and while he won’t be
free, he will be kept in luxury.
• Both Lorenzo and Horatio are restraining Balthazar, so the king asks which
one of them subdued the prince.
• Lorenzo and Horatio both claim to have taken Balthazar prisoner.
• Lorenzo claims to have captured Balthazar’s horse, but Horatio claims to have
knocked Balthazar from his horse in the first place.
• Lorenzo then says he is the one who secured Balthazar’s weapons, yet
Horatio says he was the one to disarm Balthazar.
• The King of Spain asks Balthazar if he surrendered to Lorenzo or
Horatio.
• Balthazar claims to have surrendered to both.
• As such, the king says that both Horatio and Lorenzo shall be
rewarded.
• He awards Lorenzo, his nephew, Balthazar’s weapons and horse, and
he tells Horatio that he will be rewarded Balthazar’s ransom.
• As they all exit, the king says they shall feast with their prisoner as
their guest.
Summary Act 1 scene 3

• The Viceroy of Portugal enters with two attendants, Alexandro and Villuppo.
• Alexandro confirms that the Portuguese Ambassador has been dispatched to
Spain to deliver the tribute payment.
• The viceroy is clearly upset that Portugal has lost the war, and he falls to the
ground, moaning.
• Fortune has stolen the viceroy’s crown, and his son, Balthazar, has surely
been killed as well.
• Alexandro says that Balthazar has been taken prisoner and is alive in Spain.
• Balthazar’s ransom alone will keep the Spanish from killing him, Alexandro
says.
• Villuppo interrupts and says he saw Balthazar killed in battle: he watched as Alexandro
shot the prince in the back.
• Alexandro immediately speaks up and says that Villuppo’s accusation is a lie.
• The Viceroy silences them both and asks what became of Balthazar’s body.
• Villuppo claims it was taken by the Spanish.
• Alexandro asks the viceroy for the chance to speak and defend his innocence, but the
viceroy immediately dismisses him.
• Alexandro will be imprisoned, and if Balthazar is confirmed dead, Alexandro will die as
well.
• Alexandro is dragged off by two attendants and the viceroy exists, leaving Villuppo
alone.
• He has told such a lie, Villuppo claims, in hopes of obtaining a reward.
Summary of Act 1 scene 4

• Bel-Imperia enters with Horatio.

• She says that she must know how Andrea died, and Horatio agrees to tell
her, provided she excuse his “tears and sighs.”
• During battle, Andrea came up against Balthazar.
• Their fight was long and great, but Nemesis, struck with jealousy of Andrea’s
bravery, cut his life short, and Balthazar overtook him.
• Horatio arrived too late, but he was able to take Balthazar prisoner.
• Horatio claimed Andrea’s body and performed his funeral rites in mourning.
• Horatio then removed the scarf tied to Andrea’s arm, which he now wears in
honor of his friend.
• Bel-Imperia tells Horatio that she knows the scarf well.
• She gave it to Andrea before he left for war, and he promised to wear it for her.
• Now, she wants Horatio to keep the scarf and wear it in her honor as well as Andrea’s.
• Horatio agrees and vows to faithfully serve Bel-Imperia, but now he must excuse
himself, as Bel-Imperia’s father, the Duke of Castile, has put Horatio in charge of
Balthazar.
• After Horatio exits, Bel-Imperia claims that Horatio is her “second love,” but she can’t
fully gives herself to him until she avenges Andrea’s death.
• On the other hand, loving Horatio does further her revenge. Balthazar is clearly
interested in Bel-Imperia and has even spoken of marriage.
• Bel-imperia has resisted him with contempt.
• She will love Horatio, Andrea’s friend and Balthazar’s captor, to spite Balthazar.
• Lorenzo enters with Balthazar, and Lorenzo asks Bel-Imperia why she seems so sad.
• Bel-Imperia tells her brother that she prefers to be alone, but Lorenzo says that the
prince has come to visit her and profess his love.
• Balthazar confirms this.
• Balthazar says he can think of nothing but Bel-Imperia and her beauty.
• Bel-Imperia goes to leave, dropping her glove, and Horatio appears and picks it up.
• She gives it to him for his trouble, and Lorenzo turns to Balthazar, telling him not to
worry.
• Women are funny, Lorenzo says; Bel-Imperia will eventually come around to
Balthazar’s advances.
• Horatio says that the King of Spain is coming to feast at banquet with the Portuguese
Ambassador.
• Balthazar is excited to receive news of his country.
• Trumpets sound, and the king enters with the ambassador and the banquet.
• The king tells the ambassador that Balthazar has been treated well, and they all sit for
the banquet.
• The King of Spain looks around for Hieronimo, who has promised to entertain them with
a play.
• Suddenly, Hieronimo enters with several knights, who perform a masque.
• The king thanks Hieronimo and offers him a drink.
• He takes the cup sitting in front of Horatio and gives it to Hieronimo.
• They drink and exit.
summary of Act 1 scene 5

• The Ghost of Andrea grows increasingly angry.

• Balthazar, his murderer and the supposed prisoner of Spain, sits at
banquet in luxury.
• Revenge tells Andrea to be patient.
• Revenge will soon turn their joy to sadness
ACT 2 SUMMARY

• Lorenzo, trying to advance Balthazar's cause with Bel-Imperia, gets her

servant Pedringano to admit that Bel-Imperia is in love with Horatio, because
he has seen letters she sent to him. He promised Pedringano gold and land in
the following lines “Now to these favors will I add reward/Not with fair
words but store of golden coin/And lands and living joined with dignities.
• Lorenzo promises Balthazar that he will get rid of Horatio, leaving Balthazar
free to win Bel-Imperia's love.
• In scene 2, Balthazar and Lorenzo, helped by Pedringano, spy on Bel-Imperia
as she and Horatio discuss their love for each other.
• The new lovers arrange to meet in secret at night, in a garden on Horatio's
father's land, where they will not be disturbed.
• The duke of Castile agrees to the marriage of his daughter to Balthazar.
• Lorenzo and Balthazar, informed by Pedringano, surprise Horatio and Bel-Imperia
at their secret meeting.
• They hang and stab Horatio and abduct Bel-Imperia.
• The disturbance arouses Hieronimo from his bed, and Hieronimo cuts down
Horatio and laments his murder.
• Isabella, Hieronimo’s wife, joins him mourning for Horatio.
• Hieronimo vows revenge.
• Meanwhile, the ghost of Andrea is again irritated, because he has seen his friend
Horatio killed rather than seeing Balthazar dying.
• Revenge replies that he only has to wait, and he will see Balthazar brought low.
Summary of Act 2 scene 1
• Lorenzo enters with Balthazar and again Lorenzo tells the prince not to worry.
• Bel-Imperia will soon accept Balthazar’s love, Lorenzo promises.
• Balthazar disagrees. He confesses that it is his own fault that Bel-Imperia
does not love him.
• Lorenzo isn’t so sure.
• Lorenzo says that perhaps Bel-Imperia loves someone else.
• Lorenzo claims that he has a plan, and calls Pedringano, his sister’s servant,
into the room.
• Lorenzo tells Pedringano that he will reward him with gold coins if he tells
them who loves Bel-Imperia.
• One evening, Bel-Imperia has her servant, Pedringano, guard the
garden gates while she visits with Horatio, but Pedringano betrays her
and alerts Lorenzo and Balthazar to the secret meeting.
• Lorenzo and Balthazar enter the garden, along with a disguised
Pedringano and Balthazar’s servant, Serberine.
• The men hang Horatio from an arbour and stab him to death.
• Bel-Imperia yells for Hieronimo, and the four attackers carry her away,
leaving Horatio’s body hanging in the garden.
• Hieronimo and his wife, Isabella, find their son dead in the garden
and grieve their loss.
• Hieronymo removes Horatio’s scarf and, drenching it in his son’s
blood, vows to keep it until Horatio’s death is avenged.
• Isabella warns Hieronimo to be patient—revenge is ultimately
heaven’s responsibility, she says.
• Andrea’s ghost looks on furiously. He is waiting for Balthazar’s death,
but instead he has witnessed the death of his best friend and the
abuse of the love of his life. Revenge, too, tells Andrea to be patient.
Balthazar’s death will come soon enough.
• As the Spanish plot unfolds, there is drama in the Portuguese court as
well.
• After Balthazar is taken prisoner by Horatio, the Portuguese don’t
know what has come of Balthazar, and they fear he may be dead.
• Villuppo, a nobleman, tells Balthazar’s father, the Viceroy of Portugal,
that Balthazar has been shot in the back by Alexandro, another
Portuguese nobleman.
• The viceroy immediately arrests Alexandro and sentences him to
death upon the confirmation of Balthazar’s death.
• When the Portuguese Ambassador returns from Spain with news that
Balthazar is alive, Villuppo confesses that he lied to earn glory and
recognition.
• The viceroy releases Alexandro with an apology and a public reward,
and Villuppo is tortured and executed for his betrayal.
• Back in Spain, Bel-lmperia, who witnesses the brutal murder of her
lover, sends a letter (written in blood) to Horatio’s father Hieronymo
informing him that it was Balthasar and Lorenzo who murdered his
son, and Hieronymo vows revenge on the two men.
• Hieronymo sets out to prove the truth of the matter from Bel-Imperia
but Lorenzo tells him that Bel-Imperia has been sent away on account
of a “disgrace.”
• Lorenzo is suspicious that Serberine has betrayed them to Hieronymo.
So pays Pedringano to kill Serberine, but arranges for the authorities
to catch Pedringano in the act.
• After Pedringano is imprisoned for Serberine’s murder, Lorenzo
refuses to obtain his pardon from the king and allows Pedringano to
be hanged, thereby eliminating everyone who knows about Lorenzo
and Balthazar’s murder of Horatio—except, of course, for Bel-Imperia.
• Isabella has now become mad after Horatio’s death, and she commits
suicide in the garden where Horatio was murdered.
• It seems as though Hieronymo is going mad, too.
• He vows to take the case of Horatio’s murder to the king and seek
justice through the appropriate legal channels, but Lorenzo blocks him
at every turn.
• Lorenzo tells the king that Hieronymo is going insane and is only
looking to take Balthazar’s ransom money, which rightly belongs to
Horatio.
• The king knows nothing of Horatio’s murder and dismisses Hieronymo’s
complaints as the ramblings of a madman.
• The Viceroy of Portugal comes to Spain for the upcoming wedding of
Balthazar and Bel-Imperia, and the King of Spain asks Hieronymo—a well
known poet and playwright—to stage a play (Soliman and Perseda) as
entertainment. Hieronimo agrees, and after enlisting the help of Bel-Imperia,
they convince both Lorenzo and Balthazar to act with them in the play.
• The play’s plot mirrors the events surrounding Horatio’s murder (a sultan is
driven to murder a noble friend through jealousy over a woman).
• (Again, this is a clear precursor to the ‘Murder of Gonzago’ play-within-a-play
in Hamlet.)
• Hieronymo says the play tells the story of a wedding between a
Spanish knight and a beautiful Italian woman, and it ends in murder
and suicide.
• During the play, Bel-Imperia stabs and kills Balthazar before stabbing
herself.
• Hieronymo similarly kills Lorenzo, confesses that the deaths are real,
and runs offstage to hang himself.
• Hieronymo is apprehended and told to confess again under the threat
of torture, and he bites off his own tongue so he can’t be compelled
to talk.
• He says “Now do I applaud what I have acted/Now to express the
rupture of my part/First take my tongue and afterwards my heart.
[He bites out his tongue.]
• When the Duke of Castile gives Hieronymo a knife to mend his pen as
per ordered by the king, instead of writing his confession, Hieronymo
stabs Castile to death with the knife and then later stabs himself.
• The Ghost of Andrea and Revenge look at all this, pleased with the
destruction of Lorenzo, Balthazar, and Castile, in addition to
Pedringano and Serberine, who will now all live in eternal agony in
the “deepest hell.”
• Andrea goes on happily to the afterlife, where he will meet Bel-
Imperia, Horatio, Hieronymo, and Isabella.