* A protagonist consumed by revenge. The main character of a revenge tragedy is typically someone who has been wronged in some way and is seeking vengeance. This wrong may be real or perceived, but it is always something that the protagonist feels strongly about.
* A plot driven by revenge. The plot of a revenge tragedy is typically centered around the protagonist's quest for revenge. The protagonist may be willing to do anything to achieve their goal, even if it means sacrificing their own life.
* Violence and bloodshed. Revenge tragedies are often violent and bloody. This violence may be physical, emotional, or both.
* A sense of doom and despair. Revenge tragedies often have a sense of doom and despair. The protagonist is often aware of the fact that their quest for revenge is likely to end in their own destruction, but they are unable to stop themselves.
* A tragic ending. Revenge tragedies typically end in tragedy. The protagonist either achieves their goal and dies in the process, or they fail to achieve their goal and die in vain.
Some of the most famous revenge tragedies include:
* William Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
* Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex"
* Euripides' "Medea"
* Seneca's "Thyestes"
* Thomas Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy"
* Christopher Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta"
* John Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi"
* Cyril Tourneur's "The Revenger's Tragedy"
* Aphra Behn's "The Rover"