The Duchess of Padua

Roles

• Duchess - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Female

About this piece

The Duchess expresses her love for Guido after she kills the Duke

Summary

After receiving a mysterious letter from a stranger, Guido travels to Padua and meets Count Moranzone. The Count tells him the story of his family, how his father was betrayed by the Duke of Padua, and later executed, and his mother died upon hearing the news of his father's death. The Count urges him to revenge his family and kill the Duke. After being introduced to the Duke, Guido becomes his close servant and meets the Duchess. They fall in love and declare their love for each other. When the time comes to kill the Duke, Guido tells the Duchess that he must avenge his father's death and they have to part forever. Guido, however, later decides to spare the Duke and tells Count Moranzone, who expresses his disappointment. In the meantime the Duchess, upset by Guido parting from her, takes the matter in her own hands and kills her husband. When she tells Guido that she did it for him, Guido rejects her. In this monologue the Duchess expresses her love for Guido and begs him to understand that she killed her husband only to be closer to him.

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