Thomas Kyd born in 1558, London was an English dramatist best known for his popular play “The Spanish Tragedy”. It was one of the most influential revenge plays of the Elizabethan times.
Kyd’s journey as a playwriter began in 1583 and he came up with his most significant masterpiece “The Spanish Tragedy” in 1587 that will change the course of history in Elizabethan drama.
Thomas Kyd writing style was subtle somewhat crude and obscure and lacked the poetic brilliance of his contemporaries like Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. But, most importantly they exhibited intense climax scenes, fascinating on-stage presence full of tragedy and melodrama.
The characters of his plays were real, complex and earnest and reflected the pride, zealousness and intellectual thinking that flourished during the Elizabethan age.
Thomas Kyd Plays
Contents
The Spanish Tragedy
The Spanish Tragedy originally called “Hieronimo is mad againe” is one of Kyd’s greatest creations and was written between the ten-year gap of 1582 to 1592.
A revenge tragedy, the play revolves around the main characters of Don Horatio, Bellimperia, a grieving Hieronimo, Balthazar and the personified representation of the characters of the Ghost of Andrea and “Revenge”.
The beautiful act begins with the opening scene of the Ghost of Andrea and Revenge witnessing Bellimperia avenging the death of her deceased lovers Andrea and Horatio.
Andrea’s loyal friend Horatio recounts to Bellimperia how his friend was killed in the battle of Spain in the hands of Balthazar. Soon, the two fell in love. In the meantime, Balthazar proposes his love for Bellimperia and the King of Spain arranges a marriage between Balthazar and Bellimperia.
Bellimperia rejects the marriage proposal as she is in love with Horatio. Enraged Balthazar joins hands with Lorenzo, Bellimperia’s brother and brutally murders Horatio.
In the final act of the play, Hieronimo, Horatio’s father plans to seek revenge along with Bellimperia and stages a masquerade where the duo avenges the death by killing Lorenzo and Balthazar.
The bloody tragedy evokes horrific murderous scenes, love, betrayal, and revenge that is gripping and mesmerizing at the same time.
Soliman and Perseda
Soliman and Perseda written in 1588 is a classic example of romantic tragedy and one of the masterpieces of Thomas Kyd.
Perseda a young maiden of the Rhodes Island is smitten by a young Knight Erastus. Erastus emerges victorious in a tournament arranged by the Island Governor but loses his beloved’s gift a bejeweled necklace which leads to the untimely death of the Knight Ferdinando.
To escape punishment, Erastus is forced to leave his Island and Perseda. Erastus meets Soliman the Magnificent and wins his trust by his loyalty and valor.
In the meantime, Soliman seeks to invade Rhodes Island and capture Perseda with whom he is hopelessly in love. Erastus reunites with Perseda.
A jealous Soliman murders Erastus in hopes to unite with Perseda but in return plots his own downfall.
Here the story takes a turn. Perseda swears to avenge the death of her lover and fights Soliman disguised as a warrior.
In the battle, Perseda is severely wounded in the hands of Soliman but she pleads for one last kiss.
Little did Soliman knew that Perseda has indeed poisoned her own lips. Soliman was squirming in pain and was lying in his own deathbed in the hands of his love.
The play celebrates the love between two young lovers and how they are destined to die in the hands of their adversary.
Edward III
Published in 1596, Edward III is a historical play written partly by Thomas Kyd and partly by William Shakespeare. The historical drama portrays the life and major life events of King Edward III.
The first part of the play shows how King Edward was besotted by the Countess of Salisbury and will do anything to win her love even at the cost of the life of his own wife. Eventually, the Countess forbids this immoral act and threatens to take her own life if Edward does not stop his pursuit immediately. Ashamed by his act Edward decides to devote his entire time and energy in the duties of his kingdom.
The second part of the play displays the events at the Battle of Crecy and the Battle of Poitiers and how England emerged victoriously.
A careful study of the play suggests that many of the characters and incidents do not match the actual events and may have been modified to suit the essence of the drama.
Arden of Faversham
Arden of Faversham was first published anonymously in London in the year 1592 and later reprinted in 1599 and again in 1633. The author is still unknown but is believed to be Thomas Kyd or William Shakespeare.
The story revolves around a shocking crime that took place in the household of a prominent resident in the small town of Faversham, in Kent England.
On the dreadful night of February 14, 1551, Thomas Arden a wealthy citizen of Faversham was brutally murdered by his wife, her lover, and a henchman. The incident was so traumatic that it shocked the entire town of Faversham.
It was for the first time that a play was written based on a domestic tragedy and no doubt it intrigued and captivated the audiences.
Cornelia
Cornelia is the only work of Thomas Kyd that has been published bearing his name proving the authenticity of his work. It is based on Cornélie a French play by Robert Garnier first published in 1574. Kyd’s Cornelia was published in two editions one in 1594 and the second on in 1595.
In this play, Kyd has adapted a more elite or aristocratic form of drama. The play is set against the backdrop of Roman civil wars and Caesar’s victory. The story depicts numerous events that narrate the rise and fall of the Roman empire.
King Leir
King Leir was anonymously published for the first time in 1605, but the true authorship of the play has been accredited twice to Thomas Kyd.
The story is about King Lear of Britain who decides to divide his power and kingdom among his three daughters Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. He plans to leave the largest part of the kingdom to his favorite child Cordelia who he thinks loves him the most.
Cordelia however, does not favor his father’s decision and simply confesses her love for him. The King is disheartened and infuriated and disowns Cordelia.
The story gradually unfolds when the King of France pleased by Cordelia’s honesty and virtue decides to marry her even when she has lost all her fortune.
In the later part of the play, King Leir learns about the true nature of her deceitful daughters Regan and Generil. In the end, Cordelia is executed by the order of her sisters and King Leir repents and is maddened with grief at the sight of his deceived daughter.
