- Son of a bricklayer whose coat of arms was certified in 1568
- Born in London in 1560
- Middleton's father owned property adjoining the Curtain theatre
- 15 year legal battle over inheritance after father died
- Went to Oxford in 1598
- published three long poems which weren't particurlarly successful
- his book of satires, ran afoul of the Anglican Church's ban on verse satire and was burned
- Often made a living writing topical pamphlets
- Wrote for the Admiral's men
- Involved in the War of the Theatres
- Married Mary Marbecke in 1603
- in 1620 he was appointed City Chronologer
- Middleton wrote in many genres, including tragedy, history and city comedy
- He appears to have written on a freelance basis for any number of companies
- Middleton's plays are characterised by their cynicism about the human race
How does Revenger's fit the revenge tragedy genre?
- decaying moral and political order
- lots of death and revenge
- eventually there is justice
- corrupt court
- Vindice as malcontent
- set in Italy
- Good man takes over command at the end
What are the links you can see with Hamlet in theme and character?
- Revengers contrast to Hamlet's delay
- Attacking women for their morals
- Deceit and deception
- Trouble within royal family
- Use of skull
- Use of poison
- Corruption of court
- Inheritance - claudius and all of Duke's son intervening in line of succession
- Women committing suicide
- Mother figure with dubious morals
- incest
- acting/hidden identity
Context:
- Midland revolt - peasants against the enclosure of common land by wealthy landowners, hundreds of people were hanged
- Often wrote for boy actors
- The accession of James I created the political and cultural climate in which he wrote all his mature work
- Middleton's stepfather in 1595 had allegedly attempted to murder his wife (Middleton's mother), so the playwright had first-hand experience of conjugal violence
No comments:
Post a Comment