Review of the plot of the play, with notes on Act One

1. The Revenger’s
Tragedy
Plot Review

2. Act One
1. Vindice tells us that the Duke poisoned the woman he loved, because she wouldn’t
sleep with him. Vindice swears he will have revenge on the Duke and his family for this.
Hippolito reveals that the Duchess’s youngest son raped Lord Antonio’s wife.
2. The trial: the Duchess begs for mercy for her youngest son. The judges decide to defer
judgment, and order the youngest son to be locked away for now. Ambitioso quietly
promises “a trick to set thee free”, whereas Spurio (the Duke’s bastard son) wants him
executed, so that he has fewer rivals. The Duchess is angry with the Duke for not
intervening and saving her son, and swears revenge on him. The Duchess seems to be in
love with Spurio, and encourages him to also seek revenge on the Duke. Spurio plays
along with the Duchess, though he does want to kill the Duke, the Duke’s son, and the
Duchess’s children!
3. Vindice is disguised so that Hippolito can get him into the Duke’s court. Both
Vindice and Lussorioso reveal (in asides) that they will be manipulating each other.
Lussorioso wants Vindice to persuade a virgin to sleep with him – unfortunately, the
woman Lussorioso is after is Vindice’s sister.
4. We find out that Lord Antonio’s wife, the woman raped by the Duchess’s son, has
killed herself, writing “Better die virtuous than live dishonoured” as a note. The other
nobles, including Hippolito, offer tributes to the deceased woman, swear to kill the
Duchess’s son if the judges show mercy to him.

3. Personal desire for
vengeance – good
reason?
Map of plotters
Plotting out of
frustrated ambition –
selfish reason?
Vindice
The
Duke
The
Duchess
Spurio
Lussurioso
Ambitioso,
Supervacuo
Antonio
The
youngest
son

4. Genuine alliances
Alliances
Hippolito
Faked alliances
Vindice
The
Duchess
Spurio
Lussurioso
Ambitioso,
Supervacuo
The
youngest
son

5. Summaries
Prepare a brief summary on your designated scene/scenes,
to deliver to the rest of the class.
You can use the questions in the booklet to help you.
Make sure the plot summaries in your booklet have been
completed – you can do this for homework if you haven’t
got through them already.

6. Keeping track of the
characters
Create a character diagram, such as a family tree, to
show who everyone is.
Include details of alliances, vendettas and plots – for
example, different coloured lines between the
characters.

7. CSI Italy
There are rather a lot of gruesome deaths in the play…
Make a list of who is killed by whom, and how.
Include attempted murder and suicide, for detail!