Elizabethan and Jacobean drama around Shakespeare Main trends

Elizabethan and Jacobean drama – around Shakespeare Main trends and types of plays: 1. Comedies - Romantic comedies - ‘citizen comedies’ or ‘city comedies’ - Comedies based on satire of manners and morals 2. Tragedies Two main sources of inspiration: - The tragedies of Seneca. - Holinshed’s Chronicles (1577) and The Mirror for Magistrates (1559, published by several lawyers). 3. Dark tragedies and problem plays Early 17 th century. Plays more difficult to classify but which reflect the growing instability of the country which will lead to the revolution (the period of stability which marked Elizabeth’s reign is over). 4. Masques Performed in private for and by the members of the court and combining speech, singing and dancing. Designed to include the spectators in the action. They were often performed at court and therefore have political overtones (compliments to the King).

The Elizabethan stage The Globe (Reconstitution hypothétique)

Main authors and their plays 1. Christopher Marlowe (1564 -1593) Major plays: - The Tragical History of Dr Faustus (1588) - Tamburlaine the Great (1590) - The Jew of Malta (1590) Anonymous portrait. Believed to be of Marlowe but with no concrete evidence.

The Tragical History of Dr Faustus (1588) Reworks the legend of Faustus. Dominant passion: desire to possess forbidden knowledge. Weary of science, he turns to black magic and makes a compact with the devil. He sells his soul to Mephistopheles in exchange for 24 years of life and the services of Mephistopheles. The compact is executed and Faustus is initiated to secret knowledge. In the end, Faustus realizes his mistake and asks for mercy bu he is carried away by the devil.

Tamburlaine the Great (1590) The Jew of Malta(1590) Story of a cruel and passionate Scythian shepherd of unbounded ambition who rises to power to rule the entire Mongol empire. His conquests extend to Babylon where he enters with kings dragging his charriot. But his thirst for power will eventually lead him to death. The dominant passion here is the desire for wealth. It is a kind of revenge tragedy. Barabas has been forced by the gvt of Malta to surrender his fortune in order to pay a tribute to the Turks. He avenges himself through slaughter and murder (including that of his own daughter, Abigail). When the fortress of Malta is besieged, he betrays it to the Turks and is then made governor. But, planning to murder the Turkish commander, he is himself betrayed and dies.

2. Ben Jonson (1572 -1637) Major plays - Volpone (1606) - The Alchemist (1610) - Bartholomew Fair (1614) Ben Jonson by Abraham Blyenberch, 1617.

Volpone (1606) Volpone, a rich Venetian, together with his servant Mosca, pretends to be dying in order to draw gifts from his would-be heirs who expect to inherit him. One of them, Corvino, even attempts to sacrifice his wife to Volpone in the hope of getting the inheritance. To enjoy the discumfiture of the vulture awaiting his death, Volpone pretends to be dead and makes Mosca his sole heir. Mosca then tries to blackmail him and Volpone decides to reveal everything to the authorities rather than be outwitted by his servant. He is then condemned to be cast in irons until he is as infirm as he pretended to be. Mosca is whipped and confined to the galleys. Corvino is made to parade in ass’s ears.

The Alchemist (1610) A comedy in which two swindlers (a fake alchemist and his consort) extract money from various gullible characters by pretending to help them thanks to their imaginary powers and science. They promise to some the philosopher’s stone to turn all metals into gold; to others they sell charms to win at gambling; magical ways to improve trade. . . They are eventually put to flight by the return of the master of the house in which they had settled themselves with the help of the servant.

3. John Webster (1580 -1625). Major plays - The White Devil (1612) - The Duchess of Malfi (1614) Sir John Webster by Theodor Matham, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen) line engraving, mid 17 th century

The Duchess of Malfi (John Webster, 1612) The Duchess, a widow, reveals her love for Antonio, a steward at her court, and secretly marries him, despite the warnings of her brothers, Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, and the Cardinal. Their opposition appears to be based on consideration for their high blood but also on a desire to inherit her property; there is also a strong suggestion of Ferdinand’s repressed incestuous desire for her. The brothers place a spy, Bosola, in her employment. He betrays her to them (revealing the secret marriage). The Duchess and Antonio fly and separate. She is captured and subjected by Ferdinand Bosola, to fearful mental tortures (including the exhibition of a wax hand presented as Antonio’s) amidst a group of madmen. Finally, she is strangled with two of her children and Cariola, her waiting woman. Retribution overtakes the murderers: Ferdinand goes mad, imagining himself to be a wolf; the Cardinal is killed by the now remorseful Bosola; and Bosola is killed by Ferdinand. Bosola has already killed Antonio, mistaking him for the Cardinal.