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The motif of revenge in art and literature predates Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy by a very long time; and yet, when the play debuted on the London stage some time before 1592, it left a major mark, thoroughly influencing the meaning of revenge for English theater and shaping the course of theater history. In this course, we will read The Spanish Tragedy closely, paying attention to its construction and language, its characters and settings, and, of course, to the ways in which it portrays the causes and consequences of revenge. Doing so, we will find that Kyd’s idea of revenge not only serves to underpin an entertaining stage spectacle but raises deeper questions about the nature of justice and human agency in the world. Beyond the play text itself, will engage with some important early modern ideas and beliefs against which the notion of revenge, at this time and beyond, can be better understood. Assessment/requirements: regular attendance, participation, and the completion of intermittent tasks. |
- Kursleiter/in: Sarah-Jane Briest