The Revenger's Tragedy

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To what extent do revenge tragedies challenge the moral values of the societies from which they come??

Revenge tragedy is a specific genre as a tragedy. It is also known as 'blood revenge' or 'blood lust'. The plot obviously revolves around revenge as well as a commendable man's life ruined. The key divergence of revenge tragedy from other tragedies would be due to the reference of the main protagonist as the 'hero' as they find themselves in situations they have not caused. Thus, protagonists are forced to become avengers seeking retribution through their sense of honour. This pride or 'hubris' leads them into a paradox- no matter what the choices they make they are damned. Revenge tragedies within different texts are conveyed to the audience through the social and moral values of society in their particular contexts. While applying revenge tragedies to moral values in societies, it is able to also challenge such values at a high level. Medea composed by Euripides and The Revenger's Tragedy by Tourneur are classical revenge tragedy that employs such challenging actions that alarm the society in its respective contexts.

The status of women in Greek society had very few rights. In the eyes of men, the main purposes of women in Greek society were to do housework such as cooking, cleaning and bearing children. They could not vote, own property or choose a husband as well as having to be represented by men in all legal proceedings. In some ways the women of Greek society were almost like slaves. From this it is evident that women were of insignificance in society than what was required of them.

Moral values in society in Medea's context were of a patriarchal society. Such values consisted of, wife taking care of her husband and children, no committing adultery (this rule applied to women), the gods and goddesses gave laws to certain chosen leaders, respect for the law was also important. However, laws were also allowed to be changed by man if need be. The Greeks also believed in a notion of balance where revenge was of normality.

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As Euripides employs the genre through the moral ethics of society, the audience is able to acknowledge that Medea challenges the morale of Greek society by first of all making the main protagonist a female, a demi-god and foreigner in such a great patriarchal society. Men were the centre of attention not to say, men for other than the reasons mentioned above had misogynistic view of women in its context. Another factor that demonstrates revenge tragedy challenging its context is by the composer. Euripides conveys the playwright through the eyes of a female and further importantly creates her figure as 'heroic'. The killing of her children clearly identifies the extremity that this genre arrives to in challenging the context as women and killing were not accepted. The chorus tends to be the voice of the society going against Medea's desire to murder her children and convey to the audience the acts of morality that Medea is opposing.

Furthermore, Medea possesses its reputation as a role model for women in that particular society, which have been suffering from oppression. This maybe positive for the female society but regardless of that fact, it is once again challenging the values as 'men' are the only heroic figures and 'men' set examples. Medea's characterisation also challenges the values as her non-Greek and barbarian actions contrast to that of a woman in Greek society. A final point on Medea and its challenge against morale is the fact Medea is given a male orientated attribute towards her actions and this also dares the patriarchal society and makes man look like the inferior sex.

The Revenger's Tragedy by Tourneur follows the footsteps of Medea in challenging its context. This playwright was set in the Jacobean times. The context was of a world that was full of moral bankruptcy, sexual permissiveness and sexual gratification and lack of honesty with corruption. Women were good for only one thing, sex.

Moral values consisted of honour and respect, no committing adultery or rape and virginity classed as a chaste and utmost purity. Men in society had a misogynistic view upon women. People had strayed from god in these times and moral values were not upheld.

The context is challenged by love and esteem in revenge tragedy as this was a time where the country was corrupt. The head of the country that, acts as God's envoy on earth should symbolise all that is just and moral. This is not the case as the genre tends to challenge this by creating the characters with immoral and corrupt natures. The natural order must also be followed as it is what morality revolves around. The natural order in The Revenger's Tragedy is corrupt in the start and this challenges the values in the Jacobean context. Moral values are also challenged when Vindice sets out on retribution for his betrothed wife. As revenge takes its toll, Vindice lacks sense of judgement and takes the law into his own hands, thus challenging the moral value of respect for the law. Vindice comes to a point where he starts to enjoy the torture of others and this too dares the moral values. One of the clearest challenge of the morale of Jacobean time would be of the duchess. She possesses no morals at all. She excuses her son for committing rape and unashamedly has an affair with her step-son, Spurio. In fact, it is she that has pursued Spurio, sending him

"Many a wealthy letter…Swelled up with jewels".

She believes her social position will protect her from people being suspicious and boasting

"Who is't that dares suspect…?"

The Revenger's Tragedy, challenges the moral values thorough the characterisation more than their actions.

Another text that is also classed as a revenge tragedy is the film, The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola. This is set in America in 101, a time where law was established thoroughly and moral values were of significant similarity to that of today. Don Vito the Godfather of the Corleone Family has a vendetta that he settles in Italy and then his sons carry out Vendettas for the family.

"Italy is full of vendettas; don't leave home without your rifle".

Moral values challenged in this film through revenge are by first of all having revenge take place in a society that does not believe in revenge and all matters are to go through court. The moral value is challenged at such a high scale that to the Corleone family, the moral aspects seemed trivial.

The family business of alcohol and gambling and gang-wars clearly show how revenge tragedy dares to obliterate any moral values that may come in the way. Killing and deaths become normal in the Corleone family as well.

Values such as life, not committing adultery, abiding laws and regulations and living like a sensible citizen are completely out of the question.

Lastly, revenge tragedy is such a fascinating genre that it is able to be explored through moral values of a society in a particular context but also challenge the morale and ethics of such a context simultaneously. Through the texts mentioned above we are able to see that the values are challenged by the characterisation of the protagonists, their actions but most of all it depends on the context of society it is representing. Thus it can be stated that moral values can be challenged at different levels such as Natural order and law in society (The Godfather), noble people of certain contexts (The Revenger's Tragedy) as well as to the boundaries of gender (Medea).

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