The Cenci (play)

*The Cenci* is a tragic play by Percy Shelley based on the true story of Francesco Cenci, a 16th-century Italian nobleman who was executed for alleged crimes, including murder. The play explores themes of family cruelty, justice, and moral corruption. It presents his daughter Beatrice’s complex character, who struggles under her father’s oppressive rule, and her tragic path toward rebellion and despair. Shelley’s work uses poetic language and intense emotion to examine issues of authority, morality, and the human condition, raising questions about guilt, innocence, and the nature of justice within a flawed society.