book summary: Lucrèce Borgia by Victor Hugo

July 5, 2025 by Mylene in Book summary

Lucrezia Borgia is a prose play written by Victor Hugo, premiered in 1833, emblematic of Romantic drama.

Hugo, then 31 years old, was at the peak of his theatrical career following the success of Hernani (1830). The play draws inspiration from the historical figure of Lucrezia Borgia (1480–1519), daughter of Pope Alexander VI, often portrayed in popular legend as a venomous, manipulative, and incestuous woman. True to Romantic aesthetics, Hugo rehabilitates this character, crafting her as a complex heroine, a victim of her era and her family.

Lucrezia Borgia: A Work Blending Emotion, Reflection, and Spectacle

Structure: The play, in three acts, takes place in Venice and Ferrara during the 16th century.

Themes: The play explores redemption, motherhood, the duality of good and evil, and the condition of women in a society that judges them without nuance. Hugo portrays Lucrezia as a victim of her era and family, while endowing her with emotional depth.

Literary Significance: Lucrezia Borgia embodies Hugo’s Romanticism, with its passionate characters, dramatic twists, and social critique. The play shocked audiences with its boldness (notably its allusions to incest) but solidified Hugo’s reputation as a leading dramatist.

Gennaro: The Nobleman Without a Family

Below, Maffio, Gennaro’s best friend, highlights how fortunate Gennaro is to not bear the burden of a family name. Indeed, Gennaro was raised by a fisherman, unaware of his parents’ identity, and thus free from the concerns that preoccupy his group of friends, all of whom come from prominent families.

Lucrezia Borgia: The Monster

Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI, is depicted as a monstrous figure who has destroyed numerous families. Furthermore, rumors suggest she had an incestuous relationship with one of her brothers, Juan Borgia, from which a child was allegedly born.

Gubetta: The Dark Side

Gubetta has been Lucrezia Borgia’s loyal servant for 15 years, eagerly assisting her in all her crimes. However, when Lucrezia decides to do good and refrain from killing numerous people, Gubetta is bewildered. Accustomed to crime and deriving a certain pleasure from it, he cannot comprehend Lucrezia’s sudden change in attitude.

The First Encounter

Lucrezia Borgia travels to Venice for a masked ball. Disguised and concealing her identity, she is able to meet the handsome Gennaro, who is asleep, for the first time.

A Marriage of Convenience

Don Alfonso is Lucrezia’s fourth husband, with her three previous husbands having mysteriously died. Lucrezia always manages to eliminate those who trouble her on her own. This time, however, she seeks her husband’s help, reminding him that she brought half her fortune to the marriage. As Don Alfonso holds more power in Ferrara, he might assist her if persuaded.

Lucrezia Borgia: Between Myth and Reality

I won’t tell you more about this play to keep some mystery for your reading.

I can only recommend this work for:

A captivating dramatic plot: This Romantic play explores passions, betrayals, and power struggles within the infamous Borgia family.
A complex portrait of Lucrezia: Hugo humanizes this historical figure, often depicted as a manipulator, showcasing her contradictions, inner struggles, and quest for redemption, offering a reflection on morality and reputation.
Hugo’s flamboyant style: Victor Hugo’s poetic and theatrical writing, with its striking dialogues and moving monologues, makes the reading immersive and illustrates his literary genius.
A mirror of social tensions: Written in 1833, the play reflects the era’s debates on justice, corruption, and the role of women, while remaining relevant to today’s ethical questions.