The Spanish Tragedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Spanish Tragedy
Title page of the 1615 edition
Written by	Thomas Kyd
Characters	Revenge Ghost of Andrea King of Spain, etc.
Date of premiere	1580s
Place of premiere	London, England
Original language	English
Subject	Revenge
Genre	Tragedy
Setting	Spain and Portugal during the Renaissance

The Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo is Mad Again is a famous play. It was written by Thomas Kyd. This play is a tragedy, which means it tells a very sad story. It was probably written in the 1580s.

What is The Spanish Tragedy About?

This play tells a story of revenge. It is about a father named Hieronimo. He seeks justice for his son's murder. The play shows the terrible things that happen. It was very popular when it was first performed.

The story involves the royal families of Spain and Portugal. It includes a war between these two countries. After the war, a prince is killed. His father, Hieronimo, tries to find out who did it. He wants to make them pay for their actions.

When Was the Play Written?

The exact date The Spanish Tragedy was written is not known. Most experts think it was in the 1580s. A writer named Ben Jonson mentioned the play. This suggests it was performed between 1584 and 1589. It was likely staged before 1588.

How it Influenced Other Plays

The Spanish Tragedy was very important. It had a big influence on other playwrights. These were writers who wrote plays during the Elizabethan era. Many later plays copied its style.

One famous play that may have been influenced is Hamlet. This play was written by William Shakespeare. Some parts of Hamlet are similar to The Spanish Tragedy. Both plays feature a main character seeking revenge. They also both include a play-within-a-play.

Images for kids

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  Title page of the 1615 edition

See also

In Spanish: La tragedia española para niños