Why have gore-filled stories about revenge and tragedy entertained man since ancient times? This paper will attempt to answer this question as well as define what a revenge tragedy is and analyze how the genre has evolved over time. Three revenge tragedy stories will be analyzed; The Spanish Tragedy (1588), Titus Andronicus (1593), and Scarface (1983). There are numerous different definitions for the revenge tragedy genre. For this paper, I decided to merge a couple different definitions to define the genre as accurately and as completely as possible. Revenge tragedy is a form of drama in which the dominant motive is revenge for a real or imagined injury and provides the driving force of the action. It is usually characterized by bloody deeds, intrigue, insanity, high melodrama, and the death of the protagonist.
             The revenge tragedy drama was established on the English stage by Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. The Spanish Tragedy tells the tale of a Spanish Courtier named Andrea who is killed in battle by the prince of Portugal, Balthazar. The gods allow him to return from the underworld with the spirit of Revenge. Balthazar is under the custody of Lorenzo and Horatio. Balthazar falls in love with Andrea's lover Bel-Imperia who now loves Horatio. Lorenzo and Balthazar scheme together and have Horatio killed and Bel-Imperia imprisoned. When Horatio's father Hieronimo learns of his son's death he is consumed by grief and begins his quest for vengeance. Hieronimo learns who murdered his son and devises a play in which they would act with him. During the play, he slays his son's murderers (with help from Bel-Imperia) and commits suicide.
             Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare's first tragedies. Titus, a respected Roman General, sacrifices the queen of the Goths son which awards Titus Tamora's hatred. Tamora eventually ends up becoming queen and targets Titus's family. Titus thirsts for revenge after his remaining sons are murdere...