Unraveling the Tragic Intrigue: An In-Depth Analysis of Thomas Otway's 'Venice Preserved' - englit.in

Venice Preserv'd is an English Restoration play written by Thomas Otway, and the most significant tragedy of the English stage in the 1680s. It was first premiered in 1682, with Thomas Betterton as Jaffeir and Elizabeth Barry as Belvidera. The play was soon printed and enjoyed many revivals through to the 1830s. It tells the story of Jaffeir, who becomes embroiled in a conspiracy to overthrow the corrupt Senate of Venice. This decision leads to conflicts with his lover Belvidera and his friend Pierre's complicated relationship with a courtesan. In 2019, the Royal Shakespeare Company staged a modern adaptation, Venice Preserved, at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The story of "Venice Preserved" is partly founded upon St. Real's History of the Conspiracy of the Spaniards against the Republic of Venice, in 1618. Thomas Otway's Restoration revenge tragedy draws on motifs of sexual perversion and political corruption. In Prasanna Puwanarajah's fast-paced version, Blade Runner meets Gotham in a dark, dystopian fantasy. The Licensing Act of 1737, known as the "Act for the Better Regulation of Common Plays," came later, but even during the late 17th century, there were various restrictions on what could be portrayed on stage.

At the beginning of the play, Jaffeir, a noble but impoverished Venetian, has secretly married Belvidera, the daughter of a proud senator named Priuli, who has cut off her inheritance. Jaffeir's friend Pierre, a foreign soldier, stokes Jaffeir's resentment and entices him into a plot against the Senate of Venice. Pierre introduces Jaffeir, " No, he has sent commission to that villain, Renault,

To give the executing charge." To get their trust, Jaffeir must put Belvidera in Renault's care as a hostage. That night, Renault attempts to rape Belvidera, but she escapes to Jaffeir. Jaffeir then tells Belvidera about the plot against the Senate. 

Jaffeir follows Belvidera's plan, but the Senate breaks its word and condemns all of the 

conspirators to death. In remorse for betraying Pierre and losing his honor, Jaffeir threatens to kill Belvidera, "Jaffeir-to kill thy father--/ Have a care, and shrink not even in thought, 

For if thou dost. Belvidera-I know it — thou wilt kill me." Pierre is crestfallen because he is sentenced to die a dishonourable death by hanging, not the death of a soldier. He forgives Jaffeir and whispers to kill him honourably before he is executed. Just as Pierre is about to be hanged, Jaffeir rushes up to the gallows and stabs him; as a form of atonement, he then commits suicide. Belvidera then goes insane and dies.

Throughout the play, The play explores the decadence and corruption of the Venetian Senate, where those in power abuse their authority for personal gain. This corruption is a central issue that drives the plot.The play is a tragedy, and it explores the tragic consequences of political corruption and betrayal. It highlights the downfall of characters who are entangled in a corrupt political system.Venice Preserved" is a tragic exploration of the moral dilemmas individuals face in the face of political corruption, where personal loyalties and the pursuit of power can have devastating consequences.

In conclusion, "Venice Preserved" by Thomas Otway is a significant work of Restoration drama, written in a historical context characterized by political turbulence, the Restoration of the monarchy, and the regulation of the theater. The play's themes of political intrigue, love, betrayal, and sacrifice are emblematic of the complex and morally ambiguous nature of Restoration drama. It stands as a reflection of the theatrical and cultural norms of the late 17th century in England and continues to be studied and performed as a classic of that era.