Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

The Duke and Pretty Much His Entire Freaking Evil Family

Where to start? This play has so many candidates for antagonist you could stub your toe on one. If we had to pick one, though, we'd say the Duke is the primary antagonist, since he's responsible for the crime that sets everything in motion—poisoning Vindice's fiancée. That said, the Duke's family is right there with him, scheming and plotting and raping and being about as terrible as they come. So to be fair, Lussurioso, Junior, Ambitioso, Supervacuo, Spurio, and even the Duchess could all be considered antagonists, too.

You know what they say about the family that plots evil together… and against each other… and on behalf of each other… Yup, they all end up dead (or banished).