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Act 3, Scene 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Passion, Lust, and Bloodlust
Desire vs. Duty
Injustice
Religious Piety vs. False Idols
Female Sexuality vs. Social Expectation
Summary
Analysis
Meanwhile, Grimaldi is still on watch with his sword drawn, waiting for Soranzo. However, it is Bergetto and Philotis, disguised, who pass him next, followed by Richardetto and Poggio. Grimaldi mistakes Bergetto for Soranzo and stabs him, then flees. Bergetto cries out for a “flesh-tailor” and Philotis realizes that someone has stabbed him. Richardetto tells Poggio to get the officers and some lights. Poggio returns with the officers.
Grimaldi attempts to take revenge on Soranzo, but his mistake introduces another theme into the play: the laws in this society may be relatively feeble (as is seen when the officers are unable to bring Grimaldi to justice), but vigilante justice can be just as ineffectual and destructive.
Themes
Richardetto commands the officers to find Bergetto’s murderer, and they leave. Richardetto tries to stop Bergetto’s bleeding but is unsuccessful. Bergetto dies, saying farewell to Poggio. Poggio cries out, and Richardetto tells him that they will try to find out who murdered him.
As Bergetto dies, there are several ironies at play that condemn both bloodlust and vigilantism: first, Richardetto’s desire for vengeance led to the murder of his niece’s fiancé; second, when Bergetto calls out for a doctor, Richardetto is unable to help because he is only disguised as one in order to carry out his revenge plot.
Themes
