Pity She's A Whore Character Analysis

Flawed characters often more memorable than the moral lessons which we learn as readers and audiences. This is because we can relate more to them as the imperfections/flaws of the characters often mirror our own. Characters can be unlikeable and still be interesting, and it is their flaws, which often are born out of some defect, that make them interesting. In the Songs of innocence and Experience Blake comments on the flaws in society like the flaw in religious institutions such as the church, the mistreatment of children and the flaw in parents etc. Whereas, in ‘Tis’ Pity She’s a Whore’ by John Ford there are plenty of flawed characters, as is often a typical convention of a revenge tragedy. From these flawed character we learn more in their …show more content…
The Cardinal chooses his fate he sends Grimaldi to ‘his Holiness’ [the Pope’s] protection’ as form of ‘justice’. A common punishment which was used in the 16th and 17th century. In her essay, Lisa Hopkins commented on the abrupt imperative “know‟ as she claims it is empowered by its immediate proximity to the declaration of the Cardinal’s “status as nuncio from the Pope‟. The main argument for choosing such a punishment is because he is no “common man” but a man of “noble” blood. This highlights the flaw of the Jacobean era, a religious man who follows Christianity where one of the commandments include “thou shall not murder” sends a murderer to Rome for protection because he is of “noble” blood makes no sense. In the Jacobean society there was no justice system so high authortive figures made decisions as such. Corinne S. Abate states this is because men like the cardinal were “morally compromised men amid a morally compromised society”. Similarly, children are exploited by religious charity to benefit the rich and wealthy. In such a “fruitful and rich land” how can the real needs of children be ignored and when charity is provided it is grudging to do it without