“The Spanish Tragedy” by Thomas Kyd was a highly popularized play during it’s time period. The play, which created its own genre of plays called “Revenge Tragedies”, was able to remain among the top within it’s category during the time period. Why is it that “The Spanish Tragedy” was able to transcend through the time period with countless audiences watching the play, sometimes numerous times.
 
I asked myself this question when I read the play. The play, although written in the late 16th century, was not hard to follow. Yes, the language and various characters popping in and out did have me lift and eyebrow or two at certain moments, but I easily followed the plot for the most part. The play, thus far, is broken down into two major themes for me: love and revenge. These two themes are among the strongest of emotions. It takes an enormous amount of energy and passion to love someone in the way that Bel-Imperia, and Don Andrea do. Even the familial love between Horatio, Isabella and Hieronimo has a strong presence in the play. At the opposite end of the spectrum, it takes a great amount of hate to plot revenge towards another individual- much like the hatred that Hieronimo has for his son’s murderer. Although “The Spanish Tragedy” exaggerates these emotions in a theatrical way, they are still relatable to the audience and readers.
 
In the opening of “The Spanish Tragedy”, audiences are already given a taste of the deep range of emotions as Don Andrea reflects on his death: “In secret I possessed a worthy dame,…/ Which hight sweet Bel-Imperia by name./ Death’s winter nipped the blossoms of my bliss,/ Forching divorce betwixt my love and me.” Here, audiences are introduced to the tragic love story that will be prominent throughout the play.  There is no obvious hope for Don Andrea and Bel-Imperia since he speaks from his grave. However, the sentiments that he pours to the audience are pure and given the title pages that were reviewed in class, audiences during the 16th century enjoy the dramatics and over exaggeration that we all may not experience in everyday life. In essence, it allows one to live vicariously through another character. Even in the 21st century, audiences can relate to those four centuries ago. We watch action movies to see stunts that can never be performed in real life, or romantic comedies to see couples clumsily meet and fall in love. “The Spanish Tragedy”, despite the sadness, offers a compelling soap opera that allows audiences to feel the same sense of love that Don Andrea has for Bel-Imperia. Or perhaps, they are interested in Don Andrea’s quest for revenge for his murderer. Regardless of precisely why audiences are drawn to the plot, the similarity lies in the feeling of excitement, empathy and action that one gets from living vicariously with the characters.