Concetti Chiave
- Christopher Marlowe was a contemporary of Shakespeare, born in 1564, and pursued a career as a playwright after attending Cambridge University.
- Marlowe's life was cut short at the age of 29, possibly due to a tavern fight or political intrigue, as he was suspected of being a spy.
- His notable works include "Tamburlaine the Great," "The Jew of Malta," "Edward II," and "Doctor Faustus," which feature characters rebelling against human limitations.
- Marlowe's protagonists, like Doctor Faustus, are driven by ambition and the desire for unlimited power and knowledge, contrasting with Shakespeare's character portrayals.
- Critics note Marlowe's dramas often follow a moral framework reminiscent of medieval morality plays, making them appear schematic and mechanical.
Marlowe's early life and career
Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury in the same year as Shakespeare 1564. He attended the Cambridge University and he moved to London in 1587 in order to become a playwright. He died very young, only 29 years, at the beginning of Shakespeare’s career, probably in a tavern fight, or political reasons because he was thought to be a spy for the kingdom. Still, he had already written a lot of play: Tamburlaine the Great—The Jew of Malta—Edward II—Dido and Queen of Carthage. Characteristic of characters is that they have in common the proud rebellion against human limits such as we see in Doctor Faustus in which Faustus, the main character, wants to have unlimited power and knowledge in order to have that Faustus is ready to everything, even to sell his soul to devil.
Comparison with Shakespeare
Unlike of Shakespeare’s characters, those of Marlowe are centres on ambitious and wish to have unlimited power and knowledge as in
Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine, in which is clear the natural tendency of protagonists to reach fame and prestige. Besides they are generally placed within a recognisable moral framework that according to some critics makes Marlowe’s dramas highly schematic and mechanical, as a typical medieval morality play.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the circumstances surrounding Christopher Marlowe's death?
- How do Marlowe's characters differ from those of Shakespeare?
- What is a notable characteristic of Marlowe's dramas according to some critics?
Christopher Marlowe died at the young age of 29, possibly due to a tavern fight or political reasons, as he was suspected of being a spy for the kingdom.
Marlowe's characters are often driven by ambition and a desire for unlimited power and knowledge, as seen in plays like Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine, whereas Shakespeare's characters are not typically centered on these themes.
Some critics believe Marlowe's dramas are highly schematic and mechanical, resembling medieval morality plays, due to their placement within a recognizable moral framework.
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