The Revengers Tragedy Essay - 818 Words

The Revengers Tragedy What type of tragedy is this? A tragedy, by definition, is a disastrous, distressing and very sad event. The Revengers Tragedy, however, does not display all of these characteristics. It is macabre and grotesque and delights in gory descriptions of blood, violence, death and murder, but it is not a sad story. It is more likely to evoke feelings of disbelief and incredulity at the plot than to cause its audience to feel any kind of sadness. In all, there are thirteen revenge actions, five without motivation, and it seems that the tragedians aim was to use revenge as a dramatic device to arouse revulsion rather than sadness at the wasted lives. Middleton takes†¦show more content†¦(act 1, scene 1). Vindices inextinguishable urge to take revenge causes a dislocation of the society in which he lives. People deceive each other, murder each other, and have affairs with one another, and everybody is totally corrupt. In the end, the only way to restore normality and peace is for there to be absolute destruction of all the characters involved. We can compare this with the sophisticated concepts of fate and destiny behind the tragedy of Hamlet. Vindice reacts to anger and hatred, and these fiery feelings force him to be violent and devious in his revenge. Hamlet, however, believes that we are all pre-destined to our own fates, and that we are nothing but puppets in the hands of God. Revenge in this play is presented as a force that has the ability to change direction, and destroy the avenger as well as the original victim. Vindice is utterly relentless in his pursuit of the truth, and once the idea of revenge enters his mind, it is as if blinkers have been attached to the sides of his face. Everything he does is connected in some way with his battle for revenge, and he fails to acknowledge the existance of anything else. He is stained with a bloodlust exceeding the bloodlust of his opponent (act 5, scene 2). The poison, revenge, does not stop once it has turned on the one who created it.Show MoreRelatedThe Revengers Tragedy Essay1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe Revenger’s Tragedy, assumedly written by the playwright Cyril Tourneur, is a rich and compelling theatric play which functions as a social commentary for the Jacobean period when it was written. Themes such as the immorality and fickleness of women, and the subversion of personal justice over public justice serve as a multifaceted reflection of society’s values during that iniquitous era. These key ideas help secure this tragedy as a classic which has lasted throughout the ages, due to its constantRead More Revenge in Hamlet and The Revengers Tragedy Essay3238 Words   |  13 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this study of revenge and revengers in two Elizabethan revenge tragedies the two plays I shall look at are Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, and The Revengers Tragedy, by Thomas Middleton. I shall look first at the playwrig hts handling of the characters of the revengers, and then at the treatment of the revengers by other characters in the plays. Although having similarities in their underlying themes, and in their adherence to conventions, these two plays present contrasting pictures ofRead MoreThematic Concepts of Women and Justice in The Revengers Tragedy1754 Words   |  8 Pagesplay The Revenger’s Tragedy represents the social and literary context of England in the early 1600’s. In this way, it also ‘holds the mirror up to nature’ (Hamlet, Act III, Scene ii). 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This article, Shakespeare and Psychoanalysis: Tragic Alternatives: Eros and Superego Revenge in Hamlet., written by Joanna Montgomery Byes focuses on the psychological origins of revenge and in what part does the socialized and/or individual superego play in creating the revenge tragedy in Hamlet. It reminds us thatRead MoreEssay on Vengeance in Shakespeares Hamlet - The Theme of Revenge1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theme of Revenge in Hamlet    In Shakespeares tragedy,  Hamlet, the thoughts of revenge are introduced early in the play. At the end of the first act, Hamlet meets the ghost of his deceased father. He is brought to see him by Horatio and Marcellus, who saw the ghost yesternight (Shakespeare 1.2.190). During this exchange of words between the Ghost and Hamlet, the Ghost tells Hamlet, [s]o art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. (Shakespeare 1.5.5). He is telling Hamlet to listen closely