‘As foul as thou art’: Reading Early Modern Revenge Drama as a Prison Abolitionist

Early modern English plays "The Spanish Tragedy" (1592), by Thomas Kyd, and "The Maid’s Tragedy" (1619), by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, are two examples of how revenge drama reframes justice and provides a radical space for othered and marginalized members of society to find the closure they are otherwise denied.

Current issueContent EditorsApril 29, 2026prison abolitionretributive justice early modern studies revenge drama revenge tragedy, prison abolition, retributive justice, early modern studies, revenge drama, revenge, revenge tragedyComment