'Tis Pity She's A Whore

A2 Love Through The Ages Wider Reading

'Tis Pity She's A Whore

John Ford- 1633

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMh68TgXizY

'Tis Pity She's A Whore is a tragedy written by John Ford during the Renaissance Era. It is a tale of morality, religion, relationships and incest. All of these themes were underpinned by the strict moral and social codes of the time, often evaded in the play in the name of love and lust.

Male dominance is a key feature of the play - there are no female characters left by the end and male superiority is embodied heavily in the final symbol (one of the most famous in dramatic history) of Giovanni walking with his lover and sister, Annabella's heart pierced on the end of his sword. Through this symbol, Giovanni and the male species himself, are represented as being driven to destruction and madness by lust. It is also a rather ironic symbol of macho chauvinism - the woman's heart (both physically and metaphorically) being the prize. As Giovanni waves Annabella's heart in Soranzo's face, he is marking the fact that he won her like a prize - a piece of meat to be presented like a trophy. All because he, as her brother, could not have her spiritually under the eyes of god in marriage, he took her physically - though when the physical act of sex was not enough - he needed to physically own her heart. He describes his actions as though he is profoundly justified "Left me to the fame/ Of a most glorious executioner".
Ford's play is more often than not described as a tragedy. Although, it could be argued, like a renaissance Tarantino, his scenes to descend into an almost comedic bloodbath, not only the final scene, but also with Putana.  And the final line, spoken by the Cardinal "Of one so young, so rich in nature's store/ Who could not say, 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE?" is ironically comedic in itself. He's basically saying "I liked Annabella, shame she's a slut."
What's clear more than anything through the play is how easily women are written off, often from their subjections to men. Putana, Annabella's dark tutoress and adviser is disgustingly raped and dismembered, Annabella is murdered, Hippolyta is poisoned by Vasques and only Philotis escapes by being sent away as a nun. This could be a comment on Renaissance society - a society ruled completely by men. A woman's reputation swings on her relationships with men and the only way to escape destruction is to avoid sex and interaction with male figures completely, like Philotis.