Thomas Kyd (1558-1594)

Wrote The Spanish Tragedy, first extant Elizabethan revenge tragedy with Machiavellian characters.


Characters:

1. Don Andrea - dead Spanish nobleman, promised revenge for his death by Pluto and Proserpine, one-time lover of Bel-Imperia
2. Balthazar - Portuguese prince, captured by Lorenzo and Horatio, supposed to marry but was killed by Bel-Imperia
3. Bel-Imperia - loved by Don Andrea, loves Horatio, sister of Lorenzo, kills Balthazar
4. Hieromino - Knight Marshal of Spain, father of Horatio, kills Lorenzo and Lorenzo's father
5. Lorenzo - son of Duke of Castile, brother of Bel-Imperia, captures Balthazar with Horatio, with Balthazar responsible for Horatio's death, killed by Hieromino
6. Horatio - son of Hieromino, lover of Bel-Imperia, responsible for capture of Balthazar, killed by Lorenzo and Balthazar
7. Pedringano + Serberine - servants of Balthazar and Lorenzo who help them kill Horatio
8. Villupo - Portuguese lord who accuses Alexandro of Balthazar's death
9. Alexandro - Portuguese lord accused of Balthazar's death, but actually innocent

Plot summary

• The ghost of Don Andrea is promised revenge by Pluto and Proserpine upon descent to the underworld. Andrea has been killed in a battle between Portugal and Spain.
• Horatio and Lorenzo have captured Balthazar in battle. They argue over who was the one responsible for his capture. 
• The Viceroy of Portugal, Balthazar's father, is tricked by Villupo into believing that Alexandro is responsible for Balthazar's death.
• Balthazar, captive in Spain, falls in love with Bel-Imperia, who is in love with Horatio. 
• Balthazar and Lorenzo plot Horatio's murder with the aid of Pedringano and Serberine.
• Hieronimo, almost insane with grief, receives a letter from Bel-Imperia identifying Horatio's murderers as Balthazar and Lorenzo.
• A marriage is arranged between Balthazar and Bel-Imperia for diplomatic relations. 
• Hieronimo, in charge of entertainment, stages a play. The plot is about a sultan who is driven to murder a friend through jealousy over a woman. Hieronimo's character stabs Lorenzo's character, and Bel-Imperia's character stabs Balthazar's character, before killing herself. Hieronimo reveals that the knives are all real. He then stabs the Duke of Castile (Lorenzo's father) and finally himself.
• Andrea finally has revenge. Hieronimo, Bel-Imperia and Horatio all go to Heaven, the rest go to Hell.