The Spanish Tragedy centers on the relentless pursuit of vengeance by Hieronimo, a grieving father seeking justice for the murder of his son. Driven by the discovery of his son Horatio's body, Hieronimo navigates a corrupt court environment where political machinations and personal vendettas collide. He faces opposition from the perpetrators of the crime and the constraints of a society where legal recourse is unavailable. The narrative utilizes a dramatic framework that incorporates supernatural elements and meta-theatrical devices to propel the protagonist toward his final, violent resolution.

Discussion often centers on the play's status as the foundational text for the Elizabethan revenge tragedy genre. Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of Hieronimo's character arc as he transitions from a loyal servant of the state to a calculated agent of retribution. Critics often examine how the meta-theatrical elements serve to heighten the tension of the final scenes. The atmosphere is consistently described as claustrophobic and intense, reflecting the moral decay of the setting. Many scholars emphasize that the work established tropes that would influence later playwrights for decades.