The Spanish Tragedy

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and analyzes the source text’s depiction of violence, murder, self-harm, and death by suicide. 

Hieronimo, the protagonist of The Spanish Tragedy, is a man whose moral integrity, sense of justice, and mental wellness are shattered by the violent murder of his son, Horatio, plunging him headlong into a tragic quest for revenge. Hieronimo is the Knight Marshal of Spain, a position that signifies his commitment to justice and the law: He oversees the trial of Pedringano and citizens petition him to plead their cases before the king. In addition to being a judicious keeper of the peace, Hieronimo is a skilled playwright: His masques and dumbshows delight the court, and his play, The Tragedy of Soliman and Perseda, serves as the ultimate vehicle of his revenge. These qualities make Hieronimo a well-respected man in the court, even if his social position is lower than the other courtiers. 

Hieronimo’s initial characterization is that of a rational, law-abiding figure, who trusts in the established systems of justice. This trust, however, is shattered after the brutal murder of his son. His loss throws Hieronimo into a state of profound grief and marks the beginning of his psychological unraveling.