THE MAN WHO INFLUENCED SHAKESPEARE CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE Casey

THE MAN WHO INFLUENCED SHAKESPEARE: CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE Casey Thomas ENGL 261

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE He was born to John and Catherine Marlowe sometime in 1564 in Canterbury, England. His early education was at King’s School where he earned an Archbishop scholarship. He went to Corpus Christi College in Cambridge from 1580 to 1587. Source: http: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/comm ons/8/8 d/Marlowe-Portrait-1585. jpg

COLLEGE YEARS In 1584 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He was going to get his Master of Arts degree in 1587, but the college held it back. Marlowe was absent a lot and the college had a number of suspicions as to why. He received his Master of Arts degree when the Privy Council wrote a letter to the college. He was working for England somehow. Some believe that he was a secret agent for Sir Francis Walsingham’s intelligence service.

WRITING CAREER In 1587 he moved from Cambridge to London. Dido, Queen of Carthage was published in 1594. His second play, Tamburlaine the Great, was published in 1590. First play to be performed on stage at London First English play written in blank verse Last published work before his death After Tamburlaine, he wrote four other plays. The Jew of Malta Doctor Faustus Edward the Second The Massacre at Paris Source: http: //www. luminarium. org/renlit/faustuswoodcutlarge. gif

TROUBLE WITH FRIENDS He made friends with Thomas Watson and Thomas Kyd in London. Watson and Marlowe were arrested in 1589 for the homicide of William Bradley. They were sent to Newgate Prison and Marlowe was released after 14 days Watson, whose own sword was used in the crime, said that he acted in self-defense and spent five months in prison Kyd was arrested for inciting mob violence and his house was searched. When his home was searched papers were found that denied the existence of Christ. Kyd stated that they were Marlowe’s. The Privy Council sent for Marlowe and instead of being imprisoned, he had to report daily to the Council.

FINAL YEARS On Sunday, May 20, 1593 Marlowe was arrested for “atheism”. He was released with the understanding that he would report to an officer of the court daily. Ten days later, May 30, Marlowe spent the day at a house, eating and drinking with three men. The three gentlemen, Ingram Frizer, Nicholas Skeres, and Robert Poley all had connections with the Walsingham family. There was supposedly a fight between Frizer and Marlowe about who should pay the bill. During the scuffle, someone had drawn a dagger and somehow Marlowe was fatally stabbed in the forehead. Frizer claimed self-defense, was granted a free pardon, and went back to his government work with the Walsinghams.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH The events, people, and lack of information surrounding his death has led to a number of different theories of what really happened. Faked his death, lived for sometime, then committed suicide at Sir Thomas Walsingham’s home. Faked his death, left England, and wrote plays sent to a “front man” who was Shakespeare. Faked his death, stayed in England, changed his looks, and became Shakespeare. Assassinated for his “atheism”. Simple fight over a bill. Source: http: //images. huffingtonpost. com/2014 -02 -04 Marlowe_CC. jpg

BIBLIOGRAPHY "A Fine Mystery - Marlowe - What (little) We Know | Much Ado About Something | FRONTLINE | PBS. " PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N. p. , n. d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. "Christopher Marlowe. " Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 09 Oct. 2014. "Christopher Marlowe : The Poetry Foundation. " Poetry Foundation. N. p. , n. d. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. "Marlowe's Sudden and Fearful End. " N. p. , Web. 12 Oct. 2014.