Ben Jonson | E@6 Videopedia | TES | Kalyani Vallath | NTA NET, K SET, G SET, WB SET, GATE, J SET

Vallath by Dr. Kalyani Vallath
18 Jan 202213:30

Summary

TLDRThis video explores the life andGenerate summary in JSON works of Ben Jonson, a prominent Jacobean playwright born in 1572, eight years after Shakespeare. From his working-class beginnings as a bricklayer and soldier to his career as an actor and writer, Jonson was known for his fiery temperament and sharp wit. He pioneered the Comedy of Humors, creating characters based on medieval humoral theory, and wrote famous plays such as 'Every Man in His Humour,' 'Volpone,' 'Epicoene,' and 'The Alchemist.' Jonson also composed masques, tragedies, and lyrics, often collaborating or clashing with contemporaries like Inigo Jones and Shakespeare. His works remain influential in literature and theatre studies today.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Ben Jonson was born in 1572, making him eight years younger than Shakespeare, and had a working-class background before becoming a soldier, actor, and playwright.
  • 😀 Jonson was known for his anger and violent nature, having killed a fellow actor and been imprisoned for writing a controversial play called 'The Isle of Dogs'.
  • 😀 His grave is unique—Ben Jonson was buried erect, with his tomb in Westminster Abbey, marking his importance in English literary history.
  • 😀 Jonson is famous for writing 'Comedy of Humors', which is based on the medieval physionomic theory that humans are made of four fluids: blood, phlegm, choler, and melancholy.
  • 😀 The characters in Jonson’s plays are often defined by the dominance of one of these humors, resulting in types like sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic.
  • 😀 Jonson’s play 'Every Man in His Humor' focuses on the comedic confusion caused by the characters’ exaggerated traits, such as suspicion and vanity, which leads to a humorous resolution.
  • 😀 His middle plays, like 'Volpone', 'Epicoene', and 'The Alchemist', are more mature and well-regarded than his earlier works, often dealing with greed, deception, and social criticism.
  • 😀 In 'Volpone', the protagonist feigns illness to receive gifts from would-be heirs, who are all greed-driven, representing various scavenger birds like vultures, crows, and ravens.
  • 😀 'Epicoene' centers on a bachelor, Morose, who cannot stand noise, leading to a plot full of deception where his wife is revealed to be a man in disguise.
  • 😀 'The Alchemist' portrays two conmen, Subtle and Face, who cheat people by pretending to possess the philosopher's stone and turn things into gold, ultimately ending in their punishment.
  • 😀 Later in his career, Jonson’s works declined in quality, with his play 'The New Inn' being a notable failure. He wrote an 'Ode to Himself', reflecting on the waning popularity of his work.
  • 😀 Jonson, although critical of Shakespeare at times, also praised him, famously saying that Shakespeare needed restraint in his writing, though acknowledging his brilliance.

Q & A

  • Who was Ben Jonson, and what were his early life experiences?

    -Ben Jonson was born in 1572, just eight years after Shakespeare. He came from a working-class background, initially working as a bricklayer before becoming a soldier, actor, and playwright. He had a reputation for being an angry man and was involved in some controversial incidents, including killing a fellow actor and being imprisoned for writing a provocative play, *The Isle of Dogs*.

  • What is the significance of Ben Jonson's grave?

    -Ben Jonson’s grave is located at Westminster Abbey and is uniquely positioned upright, which is a rare sight. His tomb is inscribed with the words 'Oh rare Ben Jonson,' and he was noted to be a tall man, around six feet in height.

  • What is the 'comedy of humors' in Ben Jonson's plays?

    -The 'comedy of humors' is based on the medieval theory that the human body is made up of four bodily fluids or 'humors': blood, phlegm, choler (yellow bile), and black bile. Jonson’s characters are typically associated with one of these humors, affecting their personalities. For example, a sanguine person is sociable and cheerful, a melancholic is introverted and thoughtful, and a choleric is ambitious and quick-tempered.

  • Can you summarize Jonson's play *Every Man in His Humor*?

    -In *Every Man in His Humor*, two brothers, Kitely and Wellbred, have a tumultuous relationship due to Kitely’s suspicion that Wellbred’s friends will court his wife. The play features a range of comedic characters, including a boastful soldier named Barbados and a young man, Edward Noel, whose father spies on him. The plot revolves around misunderstandings and the eventual resolution of conflicts.

  • What are the main themes in Jonson's middle plays like *Volpone* and *The Alchemist*?

    -Jonson's middle plays, such as *Volpone* and *The Alchemist*, often focus on human greed and deception. In *Volpone*, the protagonist pretends to be ill to extract gifts from greedy heirs. *The Alchemist* explores the themes of trickery and gullibility, as two con men deceive people by pretending to turn things into gold. These plays highlight the consequences of greed and manipulation.

  • Who is the central character in *Volpone* and what is his role?

    -The central character in *Volpone* is Volpone, a wealthy Venetian merchant who feigns illness to trick his heirs into giving him expensive gifts. His servants, including Mosca, further manipulate the would-be heirs, who are all motivated by greed. The play is a satire of human vice and the pursuit of wealth.

  • What is the plot of Jonson's *Epicoene, or The Silent Woman*?

    -In *Epicoene, or The Silent Woman*, the character Morose is a bachelor who cannot stand noise, which complicates his desire to marry. His nephew, Dauphine, arranges for him to marry a woman who is supposedly quiet. However, it is later revealed that the 'silent woman,' Epicoene, is actually a man in disguise, leading to comic confusion. The play critiques the absurdities of social expectations and marriage.

  • What role does satire play in Jonson's *The Alchemist*?

    -In *The Alchemist*, Jonson uses satire to criticize the gullibility of people who fall victim to scams and the corrupt nature of human ambition. The play features characters who are deceived by a fraudulent alchemist and his accomplice, highlighting the foolishness of those who believe in miracles and the pursuit of wealth at any cost.

  • How did Ben Jonson view Shakespeare, according to the transcript?

    -Ben Jonson had a complicated relationship with Shakespeare. While he praised Shakespeare's talent, he also criticized his work, arguing that Shakespeare needed more restraint and that some of his plays could have benefited from being shortened. Jonson acknowledged Shakespeare as a great writer but was more critical of his prolific output.

  • What are masks in the context of Jonson's works?

    -Masks, or 'masques,' were theatrical entertainments performed in the courts of kings and nobles. They featured elaborate stage settings and often included amateur actors, many of whom were courtiers. Ben Jonson wrote several masks, which were highly stylized and designed to celebrate royalty or noble figures.

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Étiquettes Connexes
Ben JonsonShakespeareJacobean PlaywrightComedy of HumorsTheatre HistoryElizabethan DramaVolponeShakespeare CriticismEarly TheatrePlaywritingLiterary Legacy
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