Abdelazer

ABDELAZER: A TRAGEDY
By Aphra Behn
First Produced in 1676
RESTORATION DRAMA
Abdelazer is Aphra Behn’s only pure tragedy. Based on Lust’s Dominion, accredited to Derkker, Day and Hamilton, Abdelazer was performed on July 3rd 1676. The story revolves around the Moor, Abdelazer, who was onces a captive and a slave in Spain but who has gained royal favour and military honour. He has married a Spanish noblewoman and like the villain of Titus Andronicus, has become the lover of the queen. He plots to revenge the ousting of his father by the Spanish and, in the process, destroys most of the royal family and its court.