At court, Rigoletto mocks a desperate father whose daughter has been seduced by the Duke. The old man curses him. Rigoletto thinks nothing of it. But that evening he discovers the Duke has set his eyes on Gilda, the daughter he has kept hidden from the world. The court, as a cruel joke, kidnaps Gilda believing her to be Rigoletto's mistress — and takes her to the Duke.

The next morning, Gilda returns with tears in her eyes. The Duke has seduced and abandoned her. Rigoletto is beside himself. He swears revenge and hires Sparafucile to kill the Duke. But Gilda is still in love with the man who has ruined her.

Rigoletto brings Gilda to eavesdrop on the Duke already wooing another woman — Sparafucile's sister. The Duke sings merrily. Gilda sees everything. Rigoletto believes his daughter's love is cured. He orders the murder. But Gilda, having heard that the killer might spare the Duke if another offers themselves in his place, enters the inn disguised as a man and lets herself be stabbed. Rigoletto receives a sack with 'the Duke's body'. He opens it. It is Gilda, still alive for a few seconds. The curse has been fulfilled.