The Spanish Tragedy Summary

Spanish Tragedy

• Andrea, a Spanish nobleman, was killed in a battle between Spain and Portugal, before this he won the love of Bel-Imperia.
• The three judges of hell were indecisive about Andrea's final destination, resulting in Pluto's wife sending him back to the world.
• The Spirit of Revenge and Andrea serve as the Chorus in the play.
• Villuppo falsely accuses Alexandro of killing Balthazar, leading to a death sentence for Alexandro.
• Bel-Imperia loves Horatio and seeks revenge for Andrea's death, while Balthazar is in love with Bel-Imperia.
• Lorenzo employs Pedringano to spy on Bel-Imperia, who reveals her love for Horatio.
• A marriage is proposed between Balthazar and Bel-Imperia to unite Spain and Portugal.
• Horatio and Bel-Imperia's meeting is disrupted when Pedringano, Lorenzo, Balthazar, and Serberine murder Horatio.
• Hieronimo vows revenge after discovering Horatio's body, keeping his son's handkerchief as a reminder.
• Alexandro maintains his innocence, and Villuppo is condemned to death upon confirmation of Balthazar's survival.
• Bel-Imperia informs Hieronimo via letter that Lorenzo and Balthazar murdered Horatio.
• Lorenzo orders Pedringano's execution to silence him, but Pedringano is defiant until the end.
• Hieronimo uncovers that Lorenzo and Balthazar were behind Horatio's murder.
• Hieronimo's pursuit of justice is ignored by the distracted King of Spain.
• During a welcome party for the Portuguese viceroy, Hieronimo, Lorenzo, and Castile exchange false pleasantries.
• Bel-Imperia and Hieronimo form an alliance to exact revenge.
• Hieronimo orchestrates a play where the actors are killed in reality.
• Hieronimo describes his son’s murder in the play.
• Hieronimo bites out his tongue to avoid revealing information.
• Hieronimo stabs Castile and himself before the court.
• Andrea is satisfied with the completed revenge, and the fates of the characters are decided in the afterlife.

Jew of Malta

• Governor Ferneze receives a demand from Turkish leader Calymath for ten years' worth of tribute, setting a one-month deadline.
• Ferneze decides to seize half the estate of the Jewish community, including Barabas, or demands their conversion to Christianity.
• Barabas's wealth is confiscated, and his mansion becomes a nunnery.
• Barabas plans to retrieve hidden treasure from their former home using Abigail, who pretends to seek refuge in the nunnery.
• Mathias and Lodowick, both in love with Abigail, discover her presence in the nunnery.
• Barabas retrieves his gold, and Ferneze seeks an alliance with Spain.
• Barabas acquires a ruthless slave named Ithamore, and they conspire together.
• Abigail is forced by Barabas to entertain Lodowick despite her true feelings for Mathias.
• Barabas instigates a duel between Mathias and Lodowick by sending forged letters.
• Mathias and Lodowick duel and are both killed; Barabas mocks their deaths from a balcony.
• Ithamore tells Abigail about the deception, and she is horrified, prompting her to enter a convent and renounce her father.
• Barabas plans to poison Abigail and the nuns using a slow-acting powder, instructing Ithamore to leave poisoned rice at the convent.
• Abigail dies after revealing Barabas's role in Mathias and Lodowick's deaths.
• Friars Jacomo and Bernardine try to get Barabas to confess, but Barabas gives false confessions and manipulates the friars.
• Barabas orchestrates the murder of Bernardine with Ithamore's help.
• Bellamira lures Ithamore with a letter, and Pilia-Borza demands money.
• Barabas disguises himself as a French lute-player, giving Bellamira a poisoned bouquet.
• Bellamira and Pilia-Borza inform Ferneze of Barabas's crimes.
• Ithamore confesses everything, and Barabas pleads for justice, hoping the poisoned flowers will take effect.
• The poisoned Ithamore, along with Bellamira, and Pilia-Borza die, and Barabas feigns death to escape.
• Barabas allows Turkish troops to seize Malta, and is made governor by Calymath.
• Barabas proposes a plan to Ferneze to kill Calymath and the Turks.
• Barabas dies in his own trap, cursing Christians and Turks alike.
• Ferneze regains control of Malta.

Revenger's Tragedy

• Vindice mourns Gloriana's death, poisoned by the Duke, plotting revenge with his brother Hippolito.
• Lussurioso seeks a pander and Vindice disguises himself as one named Piato.
• Junior is arrested for raping Antonio’s wife, angering the Duchess who seduces Spurio to use him in her plot against the Duke.
• Vindice, as Piato, is hired to seduce Castiza, Vindice's sister.
• Castiza resists, but Gratiana accepts gold in exchange for her daughter’s chastity.
• Antonio's wife commits suicide, driving Antonio to seek revenge.
• Lussurioso is imprisoned for treason after Vindice tricks him.
• Lussurioso is freed after Ambitioso and Supervacuo cause Junior’s death instead.
• Vindice and Hippolito kill the Duke using a poisoned skull.
• Lussurioso and his stepbrothers continue to scheme against each other.
• Lussurioso hires Vindice to kill Piato.
• Vindice dresses the Duke's corpse as Piato and makes it seem like the pander killed him.
• Gratiana repents, reaffirming Castiza's virtue.
• Lussurioso becomes Duke and banishes the Duchess.
• Vindice, Hippolito, and two nobles assassinate Lussurioso and his men.
• Spurio kills Ambitioso, and another lord kills Spurio.
• Vindice frames the last survivor for the murders.
• Antonio is declared ruler.
• Vindice confesses his crimes.
• Antonio orders the execution of Vindice and Hippolito.