『스페인 비극』에 내재된 정치적 아이러니

Abstract

It seems that the popularity of The Spanish Tragedy results from its violence and sensationalism, which are the typical characteristics of Renaissance English dramas. But we can find an important political background in the play, considering that the stage of this violence and sensationalism is the kingdom of Spain. The Spanish Tragedy seems to be written in 1587, right before the Spanish Armada incident. Kyd portrayed a tragic incident in the Spanish court, and the English audience including the ruling class must have been satisfied with the painful loss and disorder of Spain and Portugal. However, we should not forget the political irony embedded in the outward mocking of the Spanish court. The issue of revenge and justice in the Spanish court arouses more complicated idea, which exemplifies the general condemnation and subversion against unfair and unjust kings and states. It is really ironical that Hieronimo, the tragic protagonist in The Spanish Tragedy, is a judge in Spain. It represents the ironical situation of the Spanish law and justice. The kings and the royal family members of Spain and Portugal are not the traditional tragic heroes who recognize their faults and recover their nobilities. They are melodramatic characters who deserve their misfortunes and foolish ones who do not know even the reasons of their destruction. This is the main reason the revenge tragedy of Hieronimo who aspires justice results from. Hieronimo’s horrible revenge is primarily the embodiment of a private desire to revenge for his murdered son Horatio. But it is also a public desire to revenge on the Spanish court that “exiled justice”. A subversive revenge on unjust and corrupt deeds of the ruling class is not applied only to the Spanish court; this issue can be also applied to the English court. If Machiavellian villain and the unjust decision of the king are presented for Spain and Portugal, why not for England? Even though The Spanish Tragedy could gain popularity by mocking and criticizing the tragic misfortune in the kingdom of Spain, it could also reflect the skeptical view of the absolute hierarchical and moral order including the state of English court.