Theatricality of Retribution : Masques in Revenge Plays

Early modern English revenge plays often reach a climax when vengeance is carried out in a masque. Those spectacular settings allow characters seeking revenge to maintain justice in the public\u27s eyes and publicize their autonomy through punishing actions.This paper analyzes the nature of publicity and the spectacular quality of the plays-within-a-play in three works. It compares The Malcontent by Jacobean satirist playwright John Marston with The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd and The Revenger\u27s Tragedy by Thomas Middleton.The analysis also explores the early modern idea of the public. From the viewpoint of cultural history, some riots and many collective protestor actions such as skimmingtons in early modern society mimicked prominent theatrical characteristics. They therefore provide hints regarding the mentality inherent in the representations of justice, morality and liberty in revenge plays. Theatricality used to achieve retribution is a key to exploring these concepts