Hello Readers ! This blog is Written as a Part Of assignment writing of Semester - 1. This blog is Inspired by Dr. Dilip Sir Barad - Department Of English - MKBU. In this blog I am going to discuss a topic - " Christopher Marlowe's Contribution to English Drama ''.
Name :- Hetal Samirbhai Pathak
Batch :- M.A Sem - 1 ( 2022 - 2024 )
Enrollment No. :- 4069206420220022
Roll No. :- 10
Subject Code :- 22395
Paper No. :- 105
Paper Name :- History of English literature From
1350 to 1900
E- Mail address :- hetalpathak28@gmail.com
Submitted to :- Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English -
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji,
Bhavnagar University
Date of Submission :- 7th November , 2022
' Christopher Marlowe 's Contribution to English Drama' :-
Content of my Assignment :-
Introduction of Elizabethan age
Christopher Marlowe
His Famous Works
Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare
Contribution to English Drama
Conclusion
Introduction of Elizabethan age :-
In the age of Elizabethan all doubt seems to vanish from English history. After the reigns
of Edward and Mary , with defeat and humiliation abroad and persecutions and rebellion at
home, the accession of a Popular sovereign was like the sunrise after a long night , and in John
Milton 's words , we suddenly see England ,
" A Noble and Pussiant nation, rousing herself like a strong man after sheep, and shaking her
invincible locks. "
With the queen's character, a strange mingling of frivolity and strength which reminds one of
that iron image with Feet of clay , we have nothing whatever to do. It is the national life that
Concerns the literary student, since even a beginner must notice any great development of the
National literature. It is enough for our purpose, therefore , to point out two Facts :-
First, Elizabethan with all her vanity and inconsistency steadily loved England and
England's greatness. She inspired all her People with Personal devotion.
Second, Under her administration the English National life Progressed by gigantic leaps
rather than by slow historical Process.
We can Understand that During An age of Elizabethan English literature reached the very
highest Point of its development. The age of Elizabethan was all time of intellectual liberty ,
of growing intelligence and Comfort among all Classes of unbounded Patriotism and of Peace
at home and abroad.
Christopher Marlowe ( 1564 - 1593 ) :-
Marlowe is one of the most suggestive figures of the English Renaissance , and the greatest
of Shakespeare's predecessors. Christopher Marlowe was an important literary figure during
the age of Elizabethan.
Life : Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury , only a few months before William
Shakespeare. His life Period was from 1564 to 1593. He was the son of a Poor shoemaker ,
but through the kindness of a Ptron was educated at the town grammar School and then at
Cambridge. When he came to London in the Year 1584 his soul was surging with the ideals
of the Renaissance , which later found expression in his Famous Play -
' Doctor Faustus. ' The Play is about the Scholar longing for unlimited knowledge and for
Power to grasp the Universe.
Unfortunately, Marlowe also had the unbridled Passion which marked the early,
or pagan Renaissance, as Taine calls it and the Conceit of a Young man just entering the
realms of Knowledge. He became an actor and lived in a low - tavern atmosphere of excess and
Wretchedness.
In the Year - 1587 when but only twenty three years old , he Produced ' Tamburlaine ' which
brought him against recognition. Thereafter , notwithstanding his wretched life he holds steadily
to a high literary Purpose. Though all his Plays abound in violence, no doubt reflecting many of
the violent scenes in which he lived and developing his " mighty line " and depicts great scenes
in magnificent bursts of Poetry Such as the stage had never heard before.
In Five Years , While Shakespeare was serving his apprenticeship, Christopher Marlowe
Produced all his great work. Then he was stabbed in a drunken brawl and died wretchedly , as
he had lived. The Epilogue of his Play - ' Doctor Faustus ' might be written across his
tombstone.
" Cut is the branch that might have grown full Straight, And burner is Apollo's laurel bough
That Sometime grew within this learned man. ''
Christopher Marlowe 's Works:-
In addition to the Poem - ' Hero and Leander ' to which he has referred Marlowe is famous
for Four dramas , known as the ' Marlowes Que' or One - man type of tragedy. Each resolving
about one Central Personality who is Consumed by the lust of Power.
His Four Famous Plays :-
' Tamburlaine '
' Doctor Faustus '
' The Jew of Malta '
' Edward - ll
Let's have a look at these Four very Famous Plays of Christopher Marlowe.
The First of all plays is - ' Tamburlaine ' the story of Timur and Tartar. Timur begins as a
Shepherd chief , who first rebels and then triumphs over the Persian king. Intoxicated by his
Success , Timur rushes like a tempest over the Whole East. Seated on his Chariot drawn by
captive kings , with a caged emperor before him , he boasts of his power which overrides all
things. Then , afflicted with disease he rages against the gods and would overthrow them as the
overthrown earthly rulers.
' Tamburlaine ' is an epic rather than a drama. But one can understand its instant Success with
a People only half civilised, fond of military glory and the instant adoption of its ' mighty line '
as the instrument of all dramatic expression.
After ' Tamburlaine ' 'Doctor Faustus' - the second Play is one of the best of Marlowe 's works.
The story is that of a Scholar who longs for infinite knowledge and who turns from Theology ,
Philosophy , Medicine and Law the Four Sciences of the time to the study of magic much as a
child might turn from jewels to tinsel and Colored Paper. In Order to learn magic he sells
himself to the devil on Condition that he shall have twenty - four Years of Absolute knowledge
and Power. The Play is the story of those twenty Four years.
Like 'Tamburlaine ' it is also lacking in dramatic Construction, but has an unusual number
of Passages of rare Poetic beauty. Milton 's Statan suggests strongly that the author of
' Paradise Lost' had access to ' Faustus' and used it, as he may also have used ' Tamburlaine ' for
the magnificent Panorama displayed by Satan in Paradise Regained. For instance, more than
Fifty years before Milton 's hero Says ;
" Which way I turn is hell , myself is hell . "
Christopher Marlowe had written that ;
" How come then that thou art out of hell ?
Why this is hell , nor am I out of it. "
The third play is - ' The Jew of Malta ' a study of the lust for wealth , which centres about
Barbas - a terrible old Money lender Strongly suggestive of Shylock in - ' The Merchant of
Venice. ' The First if the Play is well Connected Showing a decided advance , but the last Part is
an accumulation of melodramatic horrors. Barbas is checked in his murderous career by Failing
into a boiling Caldron which he had Presented for another and dies blaspheming. His only
regret being that he has not done more evil in his entire life.
Christopher Marlowe 's last pay is ' Edward - ||. It is about a tragic Study of a king 's weakness
and misery. In Point of style and dramatic Construction it is by far the best of Marlowe 's plays
and a Worthy Predecessor of William Shakespeare 's historical drama.
' Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare :- '
Christopher Marlowe is the only dramatist of the time who is ever compared with Shakespeare.
When we remember that he died at twenty - nine , Probably before Shakespeare had produced
a single great Play. We all must wonder what he might have done had he outlived his wretched
youth and before a man. Here and there his work is remarkable for its Splendid imagination, for
the Stateliness of its verses, and for its rare bits of Poetic beauty.
But In dramatic instinct, In wide knowledge of human life in humour in delineation of women's
character , in the delicate Fancy which Presents an Ariel as Perfectly as a - ' Macbeth ' in a word
in all that makes a dramatic genius , Shakespeare stands alone. Marlowe simply prepared the
way for the master who was to Follow.
' Christopher Marlowe 's Contribution to English Drama :- '
Christopher Marlowe raided English drama it to a certain height. His verse is notable for its
burning energy , it's Splendour of doction, its sensous richness , its variety of Peace and its
relosiveness to the demands of varying emotions. His Contribution to English play may be said
to have been :-
He glorified the matter of the drama by his sweeping imagination as reflected in the Stories.
He vitalized the manner and matter of the English drama as it reflected in its blank verse.
He clarified and gave Coherence to the drama , as reflected in his blank verse.
Christopher Marlowe was the Central Figure in 'University wits. He is the true founder of the
Popular English drama. His Contribution to the English tragedy is very vital. With Marlowe the
English Drama got the highest Point of its glory. He raised the subject matter of drama to a
higher level. He gave life and reality to his characters. He made the blank verse Smoother and
gave unity to English drama. Thus, In many ways he showed a path to Shakespeare. We can
Clearly Understand that Christopher Marlowe Prepared the ground for coming English drama.
In the Spheres of comedy and tragedy they made notable Contribution and Prepared the way
for Shakespeare. He is Specially noted for his establishment in drama. Christopher Marlowe 's
achievements were diverse and Splendid.
Marlowe 's work has three remarked Characteristics.
Its Pictorial quality
Its Ecastatic quality
Its vitalizing quality
Christopher Marlowe had been rightly called the ' Father of English drama. ' Of Course , he had
no bent for comedy and the comic Parts found in some of his Plays are inferior , Probably
written by other hands. It was upon the tragedy that Marlowe gave the impress of his genius
and left it ready made for his great Successor , William Shakespeare.
Marlowe saw very clearly that the romantic drama, as distinguished from the classical one
with its Unities and other Features , was best suited to the needs of the Nation and no other
form could best represent its abundant exuberant life. He therefore sat down between the
Classical and native dramas that are decided in Favour of the latter.
Conclusion :-
In Conclusion , I would like to say that Christopher Marlowe was a pioneer and Pathfinder.
He was the Columbus of a new literary world in England. His subject matters were
demonstrative of this age. He wrote in Iambic pentameter which became very much Popular
before the end of his age. Christopher Marlowe 's Contribution to English Drama is one of the
best contributions that he had made during the Elizabethan era.
[Word Counts :- 1741]
[Images :- 1]
Thank You…
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