'Tis Pity She's a Whore

“I hate thee and thy lust; you have been too foul” Act 2 Scene 2

“Incest and murder have so strangely met” Act 5, Scene 6

“tis Annabella’s heart” Act 5, Scene 6

After reading ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore by John Ford, all I could think about was how the female characters in the play were treated. The men in the play talk about revenge and justice interchangeably. Meanwhile, the female characters take cautious steps through deceit to ensure that they stay alive, regardless of what they desire most. Also, every female character dies or is sent to a convent. After my brief outrage, I reminded myself not only what time period the play was written in, but also that the play exists in a world of its own. However, this observation illuminated some interesting images in the play. I found that the through line was passion, and more specifically, the steps each character takes to protect his/her passion. Because of this, and the setting and societal standing of the characters, I would recommend that the posters use a jewel tone color palette.

The image of Annabella’s letter written in her own blood is a strong choice for a poster because it reflects her passion to warn her lover, Giovanni. Another interesting choice is Hippolita’s raised glass at Annabella and Soranzo’s wedding ceremony, the toast she thought would bring her justice; the glass that would poison and kill her. The glass could appear golden and the liquid glowing in an illustration. A final bold image for a poster would be the image of Lady Justice. The figure is extremely recognizable, drawing in an audience, while simultaneously implying the play’s theme of the plight of women within this society.