A young man known as Guido is set upon revenge, planning to murder the duke of Padua, who murdered Guido's father years before. However, Guido soon finds that he has fallen in love with the duke's wife, the duchess of Padua, and their romance complicates Guido's intentions. Originally composed for a particular actress, Mary Anderson, who eventually rejected the play, The Duchess of Padua was not performed on the stage until years after its composition. Written in blank verse, The Duchess of Padua is one of Oscar Wilde's only true tragedies.