regicide theme

A character murders a crowned king, queen, or comparable sovereign ruler.

Examples

In "Macbeth" (1606), the Macbeth couple slew King Duncan in order to usurp his powers.

17 total · 1 choice · 11 major · 5 minor

StoryLevelMotivation
play: Hamlet (1602) choice Claudius killed King Hamlet. Hamlet killed King Claudius.
bbf4x02 major Londo plotted to kill the emperor etc.
bbf4x03 major Londo plotted to kill the emperor etc.
bbf4x04 major Londo plotted to kill the emperor etc.
bbf4x05 major Londo plotted to kill the emperor etc.
bbf4x06 major Londo and Vir assassinated the emperor etc.
ic1976e04 major Livia poisoned her husband, Augustus, by smearing poison on his figs while they were still hanging from a tree in the courtyard.
ic1976e09 major Caligula was finally put down like the mad dog his assassins thought he was.
ic1976e12 major Agrippinilla plotted to do away with Claudius. The latter finally accepted his fate by knowingly eating her poisoned mushrooms.
movie: Hamlet (1948) major The plot turns on Claudius' killing of King Hamlet. In the end, Prince Hamlet killed King Claudius to avenge his father's murder.