The Two Foscari (Byron)

The Two Foscari is a historical tragedy in verse by Lord Byron, published in 1821. It forms part of his series of plays known as the "closet dramas," intended more for reading than for stage performance. The play is set in Venice in the 15th century and revolves around the tragic fate of Doge Francesco Foscari and his son Jacopo Foscari.

The plot centers on Jacopo's unjust banishment from Venice, driven by political rivalries and the machinations of Loredano, a vengeful senator seeking retribution against the Foscari family. Despite his father's powerful position as Doge, Francesco Foscari is unable to prevent his son's suffering due to the constraints of the Venetian political system and the Council of Ten. Jacopo is recalled to Venice on false charges, tortured, and then banished again. This second banishment, combined with the emotional toll of his son's ordeal, leads to Francesco Foscari's forced abdication and subsequent death, followed shortly by Jacopo's demise.

The play explores themes of political corruption, paternal love, injustice, and the conflict between personal feelings and civic duty. Byron uses the story of the Foscari to critique the nature of power and the often ruthless political realities beneath the surface of seemingly stable states. The characters are driven by strong passions and conflicting loyalties, leading to a series of tragic events that highlight the vulnerability of even the most powerful individuals in the face of systemic injustice.

The Two Foscari has been adapted into an opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi, with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, first performed in 1844. Verdi's opera focuses on the emotional and dramatic aspects of the story, particularly the relationship between Francesco and Jacopo Foscari.