The Spanish TragedyThe Spanish Tragedy

Melissa Gorski & Anne StoneMelissa Gorski & Anne Stone

Kyd’s lifeKyd’s life

Born in London on November 6, 1558Born in London on November 6, 1558 Lived a very discreet life; he was a Lived a very discreet life; he was a

private manprivate man Connections to Connections to Spanish TragedySpanish Tragedy

– Social class, class mobilitySocial class, class mobility– Life reflects his workLife reflects his work

Battle of AlcantaraBattle of Alcantara

Historical events are mirrored in the playHistorical events are mirrored in the play Victorious battle of Spain over PortugalVictorious battle of Spain over Portugal

– Battle which seems to be represented in the Battle which seems to be represented in the playplay

““Was’t Spanish gold that bleared so thine eyesWas’t Spanish gold that bleared so thine eyes

That thou couldst see no part of our deserts?That thou couldst see no part of our deserts?

Perchance because thou art Terceira’s lord,Perchance because thou art Terceira’s lord,

Thou hadst some hope to wear this diadem,Thou hadst some hope to wear this diadem,

If first my son and then myself were slain:” If first my son and then myself were slain:” (1.3.80-84)(1.3.80-84)

Writing CareerWriting Career

Known for creation of revenge tragedy Known for creation of revenge tragedy on stageon stage

The Spanish TragedyThe Spanish Tragedy is the only play is the only play that critics safely assume is written by that critics safely assume is written by Kyd.Kyd.

Others learned:Others learned:– Revenge plotRevenge plot– Doubt as a motiveDoubt as a motive– Play within a playPlay within a play– Various themesVarious themes

Ur-HamletUr-Hamlet

A lost play written A lost play written before 1589before 1589

Critics claim Critics claim Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s HamletHamlet is based on “Kyd’s is based on “Kyd’s Ur-Ur-Hamlet”Hamlet”

Many similarities Many similarities between Hieronimo between Hieronimo and Hamlet and Hamlet – suggest that suggest that

Shakespeare read Kyd’s Shakespeare read Kyd’s playsplays

POSER!

Relationship to MarloweRelationship to Marlowe

……Oops, that was the wrong Oops, that was the wrong MarloweMarlowe

Controversy: Did Controversy: Did Marlowe set up Marlowe set up Kyd? Did Kyd Kyd? Did Kyd return the favor?return the favor?

Cutts: “Cutts: “The Spanish The Spanish TragedyTragedy thus thus identifies the identifies the revenger as a kind revenger as a kind of author and of author and writing is one of the writing is one of the weapons available weapons available to him”to him”

Revenge TragedyRevenge Tragedy

Drama is which the Drama is which the dominant motive is dominant motive is revenge for real or revenge for real or imagined injury.imagined injury.– Who has real Who has real

injury?injury?– Who has imagined Who has imagined

injury?injury?

SenecaSeneca

Revenge drama originally comes Revenge drama originally comes from the tragedies of Senecafrom the tragedies of Seneca

Influences Elizabethan dramaInfluences Elizabethan drama– MoralistMoralist– SpeechesSpeeches– ““Moralized pattern of crime and Moralized pattern of crime and

punishment”punishment”– Heavenly justiceHeavenly justice

Society’s definition of Society’s definition of revengerevenge

Justice affected directly on a person Justice affected directly on a person or a family without the intervention or a family without the intervention of civil authoritiesof civil authorities

““Divine vengeance”Divine vengeance” ““Public vengeance”Public vengeance” ““Private vengeance”Private vengeance”

Role of governmentRole of government

Old system of governmentOld system of government– Practiced self-government Practiced self-government – An eye for an eyeAn eye for an eye

New system of governmentNew system of government– Developed state justice to increase Developed state justice to increase

power not to maintain law and orderpower not to maintain law and order– Crimes avenged by God/KingCrimes avenged by God/King

Audience reactionAudience reaction

Would society be ready for a revenge Would society be ready for a revenge play that is gruesome and appears play that is gruesome and appears immoral?immoral?

Death vs. playDeath vs. play

Stage and scaffold are closely relatedStage and scaffold are closely related– Tyburn sold seats and also rented rooms Tyburn sold seats and also rented rooms

overlooking the sceneoverlooking the scene– Majority stood aroundMajority stood around– Hangings: spectacles as tragedy: public Hangings: spectacles as tragedy: public

theatrestheatres– Permanent structuresPermanent structures

HieronimoHieronimo

““That this is fabulously counterfeit,That this is fabulously counterfeit,

And that we do as all tragedians do:And that we do as all tragedians do:

To die today, for fashioning our scene,To die today, for fashioning our scene,

The death of Ajax or some Roman peerThe death of Ajax or some Roman peer

And in a minute, starting up again, And in a minute, starting up again,

Revive to please tomorrow’s audience” Revive to please tomorrow’s audience” (4.4.77-82).(4.4.77-82).

Kyd plays on audiences’ Kyd plays on audiences’ voyeurismvoyeurism

- Horatio hanging.- Horatio hanging.

- Pedringano hanging.- Pedringano hanging.

- Villupo presumably tortured and - Villupo presumably tortured and hangedhanged

- Hieronimo bites his tongue out.- Hieronimo bites his tongue out.

Gender and marriageGender and marriage

- lower social scale members might claim - lower social scale members might claim their heart over their wish to rise in class their heart over their wish to rise in class so that their love of a woman would so that their love of a woman would overpower their desire for rank or wealth.overpower their desire for rank or wealth.

- Flip side: advantageous marriages could - Flip side: advantageous marriages could satisfy personal aspirations for individuals, satisfy personal aspirations for individuals, and this was justified in the time. and this was justified in the time. Choosing rank over love was common.Choosing rank over love was common.

- Men who won women of higher rank over - Men who won women of higher rank over more conventional suitors of higher class more conventional suitors of higher class could revenge himself upon those who had could revenge himself upon those who had otherwise humiliated him. otherwise humiliated him.

OthernessOtherness

Upperclass are the Upperclass are the others!others!

Thank you. The End.Thank you. The End.