The Kydian Formula for Revenge Tragedies

Developed by Thomas Kyd (1558 - 1594)

Thomas Kyd, who developed the forumula for revenge plays, is considered to be the founder of the middle class tragedy as well as the revenge play.  He wrote a lost version "Hamlet," which is widely believed to be the model for William Shakespeare's tragedy.  The only surviving play attributed to him is "The Spanish Tragedy" (1587), the most popular and influential tragedy of Elizabethan times.  It was even more popular than Shakespeare's plays, and it continued to be performed throughout the Elizabethan period.

The Formula:

1.  The fundemental motive is revenge.

2.  The revenge is accomplished with an accomplis who committs suicide after the

revenge is achieved.

3.  The ghost of the slain watch the revenge on the person who killed him.

4.  The revenger goes through justifiable hesitation before committing to revenge as a

solution.

5.  Madness occurs due to the grieve of a loss.

6.  Intrigue is used against and by the revenger.

7.  There is bloody action and many deaths that occur throughout the entire play.

8.  The accomplices on both sides are killed.

9.  The villain is full of villainous devices.

10. The revenge is accomplished terribly and fittingly.

11. Minor characters are left to deal with the situation at the end of the play.