While in Zastrozzi’s hold, “every thing was denied [Verezzi] but thought, which, by comparing the present with the past, was his greatest torment.” Verezzi here is almost physically dead, and his soul is tormented; he is slowly dying not only in body, but also in spirit (63).
When Verezzi was in captivity in the cave, “days and nights were undistinguishable from each other; […] sometimes he scarcely supposed that his torments were earthly.” Verezzi’s spirit was living a terrifying death; he was alive to death, but living was torture (63).
Zastrozzi’s compassion is dead; although momentary doubt over torturing Verezzi seems to take over Zastrozzi, “revenge drowned the voice of virtue […] and his steeled soul persisted in its scheme”; “Zastrozzi smother[ed] his stinging conscience,” thereby putting to death any hope of compassion (68).
Zastrozzi says that death is inevitable; he accepts his fate-ordained death as long as Verezzi stays physically alive. Zastrozzi “give[s] [him]self up to fate”; he declares that he “will taste revenge, for revenge is sweeter than life.” Zastrozzi accepts the punishment of physical death for destroying Verezzi; he says, “even were I to die with him, and, as the punishment of my crime, be instantly plunged into eternal torments, I should taste superior joy in recollecting the sweet moment of his destruction.” Zastrozzi is not only willing to physically die, he accepts a death that lasts for eternity; his goal is that Verezzi’s “destruction could be eternal” (73).Shelley, Percy B. Zastrozzi and St. Irvyne. Ed. Stephen C. Behrendt.
