The Revenger's Tragedy: The State of Play (Arden Shakespeare The State of Play)

The Revenger's Tragedy (1606), now widely attributed to Thomas Middleton, is a play that provides a dark, satirical response to other revenge tragedies such as Hamlet . With its over-the-top and highly theatrical approach to revenge, The Revenger's Tragedy has emerged as one of the most compelling examples of a drama by one of Shakespeare's contemporaries. This collection of ten newly-commissioned essays situates the play with respect to other Middleton and Shakespeare works as well as repertory, showcasing recent research about the play's engagement with issues such as religion, genre, race, language and performance. The Revenger's Tragedy treads a line between macabre humour and moral commentary. Thomas Middleton's aptly named play begins with a man called Vindice holding the skull of his dead fianceé and vowing to avenge her death. The tragedy that unfolds features complicated plot twists in which the licentious Duke and his corrupt family, who are guilty of rape, poisoning, and much more, become the victims of torture and murder. This edition offers a comprehensive analysis of diverse critical attitudes towards the play, with special attention to its authorship and its ambiguous theological orientation. A thorough discussion of The Revenger's Tragedy's rich performance history shows how it has consistently reflected cultural preoccupations with violence and vigilante justice Introduction -- 1. Vindice and Vice - The Revenger's Tragedy as Morality Play -- 2. Playing with Hell: The Revenger's Tragedy and the Infernal -- 3. Calvinism and the Problematic of Character in The Revenger's Tragedy -- 4. Satirical Ethics and Efficacy in The Revenger's Tragedy -- 5. Chaste Whiteness and National Identity in The Revenger's Tragedy -- 6. 'Cause I love swearing': Genre, Language and Performance in The Revenger's Tragedy -- 7. 'The Dramaturgy of The Revenger's Tragedy -- 8. The 1607 Quarto and Stage Directions -- 9. Objects and Gender: The Revenger's Tragedy in Performance and on Film -- 10. 'Deny advancement, treasure, the duke's son?': The De-Commoditized Female in Twenty-First-Century Revenger's Tragedy Performance -- Afterword -- Notes -- Index