The Spanish Tragedy
hieronimo demands justice for horatios murder. has justice been served at the emd of the play
classical drama
classical drama
Much of the play centers around questions of justice and injustice. The King must justly divide the reward for Balthazar's capture; the Viceroy punishes Alexandro for injustice (which is itself later revealed to be unjust); Hieronimo is called upon to grant justice as the Marshall of Spain, but the King does not serve justice when it comes to Horatio's murder. Through all of the above-as well as other instances-the play returns to the ancient question of justice. Perhaps most famously in The Republic, Socrates discusses its elusive nature: what exactly is justice? Although Hieronimo believes that it can be found in heaven, justice is inextricably linked to revenge in the play-and revenge comes from the underworld. As such, it remains an obscure principle.