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Act 1, Scene 5
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Spanish Tragedy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Revenge and Justice
Class, Gender, and Society
Love and Madness
Betrayal
Summary
Analysis
Lorenzo enters with Balthazar and again tells the prince not to worry. Bel-Imperia will soon accept Balthazar’s love, Lorenzo promises. Balthazar disagrees. He confesses that that is his own fault that Bel-Imperia does not love him, but Lorenzo isn’t so sure. Perhaps Bel-Imperia loves someone else, Lorenzo says, and Balthazar shudders at the thought. Lorenzo claims that he has a plan, and calls Pedringano, his sister’s servant, into the room. Lorenzo tells Pedringano that he will reward him with gold coins if he tells them who loves Bel-Imperia.
Pedringano, who should be loyal to Bel-Imperia as her servant, betrays her easily enough for a few gold coins and Lorenzo’s special treatment. This, too, underscores how common betrayal is and suggests that anyone can be tempted to betray another, regardless of the circumstances. This passage also reflects Balthazar’s love for Bel-Imperia. Despite the dishonor Balthazar display throughout the play, he does appear to actually love Bel-Imperia, even though he goes about expressing it in the wrong way.
Themes
At first, Pedringano tells Lorenzo and Balthazar that he doesn’t know who loves Bel-Imperia. Lorenzo draws his sword, and Pedringano says that Bel-Imperia is in love with Horatio. Lorenzo doesn’t believe it, and Balthazar, speechless, is taken aback. Pedringano insists it is true. He claims that he read the letters Bel-Imperia entrusted him to deliver to Horatio, and he knows for a fact that Bel-Imperia loves Horatio, not Balthazar.
Pedringano doesn’t actually betray Bel-Imperia until Lorenzo draws his sword and threatens Pedringano’s life. However, as Pedringano continues to betray Bel-Imperia, he does so only for money and not to save his life as he initially does. Balthazar is visibly affected by Bel-Imperia’s relationship with Horatio, which again reflects Balthazar’s strong love for her.
Themes
Pedringano exits, leaving Lorenzo and Balthazar alone. Balthazar is upset, but he is also pleased. He is upset that Bel-Imperia, whom he deeply loves, seems to hate him; however, Balthazar is pleased to know who his competition is. Now, Balthazar knows where to focus his revenge—on Horatio—and he vows to either win Bel-Imperia’s love or lose his life trying. Lorenzo tells Balthazar it is time to go and win Bel-Imperia’s favor, which can only “be won by [Horatio’s] remove.”
