Sons and Mothers

Todays act seems to support what I was going for last week when I discussed the importance and sanctity of familial relations in these plays. Hippolito and Vindice's choice to spare their mother shows a distinct conscience that I think is important to understand what the playwright is going for. Their inability to break the bond of blood that they share with her, Middleton's choice to have them forgive, is an important point that illuminates the need for righteous vengeance, not simply the wild, unfocused, animal need to kill those that harm your own. It is this that separates Hippolito and Vindice from the animals that on first glance they may resemble. It shows a certain (perhaps Christian?) morality that I think many people ignore when studying these plays.
I also think that it is important to note that Vindice loses his disguise in this act. There's a message there, that perhaps in the final act he will be able to exact his revenge upon Lussurioso without need of another persona. This would allow his revenge to take on an air of legitimacy, since he will be able to show his true face to the duke-to-be without having to lie about who he is. If names are power, then Vindice's ability to use his own when he kills Luss. then would make his retribution that much sweeter.