Line #30 Theatre/TisPityShesAWhore


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tis_pity_jowl.png]]
2	Written in 1633, '''Tis Pity She's A Whore'' is a Jacobean tragedy by John Ford (a different Creator/JohnFord).
3
4	To put it plainly, it's ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] BrotherSisterIncest.
5
6	It's [[RambunctiousItalian set in Italy because it's about sex and emotions]]. Two young lovers are in a SecretRelationship. The boy has a friar as confidant; the girl has a saucy nurse. It all ends in tragedy.
7
8	Here though, the two forbidden young lovers--Giovanni and Annabella--are brother and sister, and the play explores the social ramifications of incest. Several sub-plots (not Shakespeare's) are woven into the story that involve Anabella's other suitors, an assassination attempt, and an unexpected return from the dead.
9
10	Trendsetter of one pattern in TheJoyOfX fun: ''''Tis Pity She's a(n) X''' is ever so popular as it creates very memorable and hilarious titles.
11
12	If you want to see it, there's a BBC radioplay staring Creator/JessieBuckley and Creator/DamienMolony available [[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b09lsqs5 here]].
13
14	----
15	!! This play provides examples of:
16
17	* AbhorrentAdmirer: Bergetto, an idiot who believes that a traveler really owns a horse with a head where its tail should be and compliments Annabella by saying that he likes her almost as much as he likes parmesan cheese. Sometimes portrayed with AmbiguouslyGay mannerisms. Contrary to the trope, however, he isn't actually interested in Annabella, only courting her at his uncle's insistence.
18	* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: And how. Giovanni is understandably a bit nervous about confessing his love to his own sister. He goes so far as to take out his dagger and offer it to Annabella, asking her to either return his love or kill him. After initially seeming surprised and disturbed, she declares that she was already in love with him, too.
19	* AnyoneCanDie: In this story, nobody goes safe. That's partly because the cast features several murderous characters, and partly because only some of them manage to avoid accidentally murdering the wrong person by ''pure incompetence.''
20	* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Giovanni in the final scene.]]
21	* BrotherSisterIncest: Giovanni/Annabella--the main plot of the show.
22	* DarkerAndEdgier: '''Tis Pity'' is commonly described as "like ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet''... but they're brother and sister." Jacobean tragedy, as a whole, tended toward bucketloads of murder, rape, torture, insanity, and--yes--incest, as playwrights tried to shock audiences who were increasingly used to disturbing themes on stage. See ''Theatre/TheDuchessOfMalfi'' and other plays.
23	* ADeadlyAffair: Their relationship and its fallout leaves most of the major characters dead.
24	* DirtyOldWoman: Putana--yes, it's a MeaningfulName.
25	* EyeScream: Poor [[spoiler: Putana]].
26	* RambunctiousItalian: Like ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'', it's set in Italy because it's about emotions and sex.
27	* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler: Grimaldi]] is let off completely scot-free for the murder of [[spoiler: Bergetto]]. Lampshaded.
28	--> ''[[spoiler: Is this a churchman's voice?]] Dwells justice here?''
29	* LiteralMinded: Soranzo says he's heartsick in love. Annabella calls for medical help.
30	-->'''Soranzo:''' I'm sick, and sick to th' heart.\
31	'''Annabella:''' Help, ''aqua vitae''.\
32	'''Soranzo:''' What mean you?\
33	'''Annabella:''' Why, I thought you had been sick.\
34	'''Soranzo:''' Do you mock my love?
35	* LoveDodecahedron: Richardetto is married to Hippolita, who's in love with Soranzo, who's only interested in Annabella now, who's got a thing with Giovanni.
36	* LoveIsLikeReligion: Near the beginning, Giovanni angstily monologues:
37	-->'''Giovanni:''' O that it were not in religion sin\
38	To make our love a god, and worship it
39	* MetaphoricalMarriage: Giovanni and Annabella get down on their knees, exchange reciprocal vows, share a kiss, then rise and go consummate their union.
40	* MoodWhiplash: From comedic to tragic when [[spoiler: Bergetto is murdered by Grimaldi.]]
41	* NatureAdoresAVirgin: Discussed by Giovanni, who snarkily questions why a woman's virginity is so prized after TheirFirstTime with Annabella. The sexual DoubleStandard is something of a continuous undercurrent in the show. Ford seems to be aware of the irony that Hippolita and Annabella are branded whores for engaging in extra-marital sex while their male lovers are never taken to task.
42	-->'''Giovanni:''' I marvel why the chaster of your sex\
43	Should think this pretty toy called maidenhead,\
44	So strange a loss, when being lost, 'tis nothing,\
45	And you are still the same.
46	* ServileSnarker: Vasques, particularly in the second half of the show.
47	* TitleDrop: The final verse of the play.
48	-->'''Cardinal:''' Of one so young, so rich in nature's store\
49	Who could not say, 'tis pity she's a whore?
50	* WomanScorned: Hippolita recruits Vasques to help her get bloody revenge on Soranzo at his wedding to Annabella, only to be HoistByHerOwnPetard courtesy of Vasques's backstabbing. She delivers a chilling curse in her dying words.
51	* YouCantFightFate: An opinion repeatedly expressed by Annabella and Giovanni, among others.
52	-->'''Giovanni:''' Tis not, I know, my lust, but ’tis my fate, that leads me on.
53

Context Theatre / TisPityShesAWhore