Sweeney Todd: character motivation and interaction

Sweeney Todd, who was once a happy barber named Benjamin Barker, lost everything due to the corruption and lust of Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford.
His main motivation is revenge against those who have wronged him and sent him to prison on a false charge.
He displays supreme rage against the society and its unfairness throughout the play.
Sweeney interacts mostly with Mrs. Lovett, the owner of the pie shop beneath his barbershop. She becomes an ally and encourages him to use his desire for revenge to their mutual benefit.

Mrs. Lovett is primarily motivated by her survival instinct and her love for Sweeney Todd. Her goals are material comfort and the hope of forming a family with Sweeney.
She is manipulative and uses Sweeney’s anger and desire for revenge to her advantage, but she also genuinely cares for him.
She interacts mostly with Sweeney, and their relationship fluctuates from being accomplices in crime to attempting to form a makeshift family.

Judge Turpin is mainly driven by lust and power. His unethical desires lead him to send Benjamin Barker to prison so he could pursue Barker’s wife.
He is a corrupt figure of authority, maintaining his position through fear and manipulation.
He interacts mostly with Beadle Bamford, his right-hand man, and Johanna, who he intends to marry despite her being his adopted daughter.

Anthony Hope, a young sailor, is motivated by his love for Johanna, whom he wishes to rescue from the clutches of Judge Turpin.
Beadle Bamford assists Judge Turpin in his wrongdoings, primarily driven by his unwavering loyalty to the Judge and possibly motivated by fear of losing his position.
Tobias Ragg, a young boy who becomes an employee for Mrs. Lovett, is motivated by his need for security and to protect those who have shown him kindness, key being Mrs. Lovett.

It’s important to understand that relationships in this play are complex and often driven by manipulation and survival instincts rather than genuine affection.
The characters are all interconnected and their interactions are vital to both the plot movement and character development.
A deep understanding of these motivations and interactions will lead to a more profound appreciation of the play’s psychological depth and will enhance your analysis of the drama.