Character Analysis
The play presents Graziana in a mixed light but eventually ends up giving her approval. Her son seems impressed with her at the beginning, but unfortunately, she's poor, and this makes it harder for her to resist the baddies in the play. Worried about how to support herself in her old age, especially with her husband dead, Graziana can't resist the allure of Lussurioso's promise of money. In exchange, she's willing to pressure her daughter to have sex with Lussurioso, which isn't the greatest way to get nice Mother's Day cards. Check her out:
Peevish, coy, foolish! But return this answer:
My lord shall be most welcome, when his pleasure
Conducts him this way. I will sway mine own;
Women with women can work best alone.
(2.1.264-267)
Remember: Castiza's poor, too. It'd be nice if her mom would back her, right? Ugh. Eventually, though, after her children test her in various ways, Graziana comes around and supports Castiza's decision to remain chaste. Phew. There's a touching family reconciliation (at least after her sons put the daggers away), and Graziana and Castiza end the play happy with each other. Too bad Vindice and Hippolito get themselves executed—it's almost an actually happy ending for this bunch.