The Revenger's Tragedy Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

  • Freedom's just another name for nothing left to lose. Vindice's sister Castiza starts out this scene, and she's pondering the fact that she's poor. She's a virtuous person, and she's lamenting the fact that sin and wealth seem to go together, while virtue and poverty also seem linked.
  • Dondolo shows up and tells Castiza that a man wants to speak with her. She hopes the man is there to bring news of her brother. Little does she know the man is her brother in disguise. It's all very Mission Impossible. Really impossible, since Castiza has no interest in the offer he brings.
  • Vindice gives her a letter from the Duke's son. Castiza boxes his ear, gives a spunky speech about how much she loves virtue and hates the Duke's son, and declares that her name will be linked with honor, while the women who consort with the Duke's son will be shamed. Castiza's not putting up with any dirty dealing.
  • Vindice, unlike most siblings, is thrilled that his sister hit him. He exclaims "It is the sweetest box/That e'er my nose came nigh" (2.1.44-45). Since he actually wants Castiza to be chaste, he's delighted that she's refused Lussurioso's message, even if that means she shoots the messenger—figuratively speaking.
  • Vindice then tests his mother, still in disguise. (Just imagine him in a trench coat with cool spy gadgets stuck in his pockets.) He asks her to convince Castiza to sleep with the Duke, pointing out that they are poor and that the Duke has plenty of money.
  • To Vindice's dismay, his mother proves less firm than Castiza. She's embarrassed about it, but she says she will take money in exchange for pressuring Castiza to have sex with the Duke's son.
  • The mother calls Castiza in. Vindice is secretly disgusted by his mother's choice, and he's hoping Castiza holds out against her. We're in bad reality TV territory here, with conflicting loyalties and high stakes. Which choice will Castiza make? Tune in to Revenge Realities next week to find out.
  • Castiza is shocked when her mother suggests that she accept Lussurioso's offer, and she and her mother have strong words. Castiza leaves, and their mother tells Vindice that she'll keep working to convince Castiza. Major drama going down here, folks.