“The Cenci” can be considered a revenge tragedy due to its central theme of vengeance. The play revolves around the Cenci family’s desire for revenge against the patriarch, Count Cenci, who has committed heinous acts against them. The characters’ pursuit of revenge drives the plot forward, leading to a series of dramatic events and moral dilemmas. The play explores the psychological and moral consequences of seeking revenge, showcasing the tragic consequences that unfold as a result. The themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of human nature are all intertwined in this captivating revenge tragedy.
“The Cenci,”as a revenge tragedy explores the theme of vengeance and the tragic consequences it entails. The play follows the story of the Cenci family, specifically the ill-fated Beatrice, who seeks revenge against her tyrannical father, Count Cenci. Shelley skillfully employs various elements and techniques that are characteristic of revenge tragedies to justify this classification.
One notable characteristic is the presence of a morally ambiguous protagonist seeking retribution. Beatrice, though initially portrayed as virtuous, becomes consumed by her desire for revenge. This is evident when she asserts, “To better in my will the deeds of hell” (Act III, Scene I). Her actions go against conventional moral values, blurring the line between justice and vengeance. Beatrice is a victim of incestuous rape causing her to commit a patricide. She has written a petition to the Pope but her petition is returned unopened causing her to lose all sense of hope and justice. This scenario adds another dimension that institute Beatrice’s character where she is consumed by her inner desire to kill his father quickly without a second thought leading to impetuous behaviour in her character. It is likely caused because of the fate that drives the plot triggering the tragic flaw in her character.
The revenge tragedy also incorporates fate in the play. Beatrice’s loss of hope after her petition was unopened and returned does indeed add to the theme of fate in “The Cenci.” It’s as if the universe conspires against her, pushing her towards committing patricide. The frustration and desperation she feels may have indeed fueled her inner desire to take such drastic measures. This inner turmoil and imbalance within Beatrice’s character could have contributed to her impetuous actions and the tragic events that unfold. The interplay between fate and the characters’ choices adds depth and complexity to the narrative, showcasing the profound impact of external circumstances on their inner desires and actions.
Furthermore, Shelley incorporates elements of violence and bloodshed, which are quintessential to revenge tragedies. In Act IV, Scene II, the murder of Count Cenci occurs, presented in a gruesome and graphic manner. The brutality of his death serves to emphasize the magnitude of Beatrice’s revenge and the tragic consequences that follow. Olimpio and Marzio strangles the Count and he is thrown out of the room off the balcony where he is entangled in a pine tree. Shelley’s tragic plot is not only driven by the choices of the character but it is with the unexpected events that unfolds in the play. The unexpected event is that Savella, a papal legate comes to arrest Count Cenci with a murder charge and an execution orders against Cenci but Cenci is already been murdered by Beatrice and her conspirators. The unfolding of the unexpected events in the play could change the course of history and it would have saved Beatrice from being executed.
Shelley is creative in showing humanism is powerful in the play. The choice of Count Cenci drives the plot initially where he refuses to give up his property and he refuses to admit his wrongdoings against his own daughter. His action of putting Beatrice and her stepmother in the prison resembles similarly with Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale adding a layer of incredibility and irony in the plot structure. The fate also drives the plot of the play causing Beatrice to be driven by her desire to commit a patricide. The play also hints the tension to cease the tragedy of Count Cenci when Marzio and Olimpio morally struggles to kill him implying the moral conflicts to be served with justice or vengeance. Their moral conflicts is symbolical to delay the tragedy to serve justice for the family members but Beatrice hammartia and her imperiousness caused the tragedy leading to her own doom later.
Additionally, Shelley explores the theme of justice and its distortion through revenge. In Act V, Scene II, the characters engage in a debate, questioning the morality of vengeance and the notion of divine justice. This dialectic showcases the philosophical depth of the play and further supports its classification as a revenge tragedy.
In conclusion, P.B Shelley’s “The Cenci” can indisputably be labeled as a revenge tragedy. The elements of morally ambiguous protagonists, violence, and a profound exploration of justice all contribute to its classification. Through these elements and their manifestation in the text, Shelley engages the audience and prompts them to reflect on the tragic consequences that arise from an unrelenting desire for revenge.
