Revenge Tragedy:

Revenge tragedy is a kind of tragedy that presents a quest for vengeance and
results in bloodshed and mutilation. It is modelled on the Senecan tragedy. It
was popular in England during the late 16th and 17th centuries with the
Elizabethans and Jacobeans. The essential elements of this kind of tragedy are:
1) Its plot is about a secret murder, usually of a benevolent ruler. 2) The
ghost of the murdered person visits younger kinsman and reveals the
truth.
2) The younger kinsman, usually a son, starts a quest for revenge.
4) The story involves disguise, intrigue, insanity, incest,adultery, rape,
infanticide, suicide and gruesome murders on the stage.
5) Its typical characters are: a ghost, a cruel tyrant, a faithful male servant, a
reliable female, etc.
6) It aims at exploring corruption in court, evil of absolute power and court
intrigues.
7) Its highly rhetorical style is marked by the use of epigram, stichomythia
(sharp dialogues), hyperboles, etc.
8) Its action is markedly sensational.
9) It uses philosophical soliloquies.
Kyd’s Spanish Tragedy, John Webster’s Duchess of Malfi and Shakespeare’s
Hamlet are famous revenge tragedies. Revenge tragedy and Senecan tragedy
are famous almost similar only with the difference that revenge tragedy allows
murders on the stage while Senecan tragedy reports off-stage murders.