Catiline His Conspiracy is a Jacobeantragedy written by Ben Jonson. It is one of the two Roman tragedies that Jonson hoped would cement his dramatic achievement and reputation, the other being Sejanus His Fall (1603).
Jonson was not the first playwright of his era to dramatize the story of Catiline. Stephen Gosson in his "School of Abuse" (1579) praised a play called Catiline's Conspiracies, which was acted by Leicester's Men at The Theatre sometime between 1576 and 1579. A Catiline (either Gosson's or another play, author unknown) was acted at the home of William Cecil, 1st Lord Burghley on 16 January 1588. In 1598 or 1599, the Diary of Philip Henslowe records an advance payment of 5 shillings to Henry Chettle, for a play titled Catiline's Conspiracy—though Chettle appears never to have completed writing it.[1]
As its title indicates, the play recounts the story of Catiline, the Roman politician and conspirator of the 1st century B.C. Besides Catiline appear other historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Sempronia, Fulvia, Crassus and Cicero.[2]
Receptionedit
That the play was not a popular success is indicated by Jonson's reproachful preface to the published edition. Thomas Rymer praised the play's subject matter but condemned Jonson's violations of decorum. The Guardian states that: "Although booed off stage at its 1611 premiere, it became a great favourite in its day, but has not been staged since the 17th century".[3]
John Dryden introduced the traditional prescriptive rule against preposition stranding in English in criticising a phrase from this play: "The maws, and dens of beasts could not receive / the bodies that those souls were frighted from."[4]
In 2011, the play was edited and translated for the first time in Italian.[5]
Notesedit
^Chambers, Vol. 1, p. 222 n. 2; Vol. 2, pp. 163, 170, 394; Vol. 3, p. 372.
^Heyward Brock, Maria Palacas; The Ben Jonson Encyclopedia – 68
^Twenty-year global project is the last word on Ben Jonson, Guardian
^Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K. Pullum, 2002, The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press, p. 627f.
^B. Jonson. La congiura di Catilina, ed. and trans. Domenico Lovascio. Genova, ECIG, 2011.
Halliday, F. E.A Shakespeare Companion 1564–1964. Baltimore, Penguin, 1964.
November 29, 2023
catiline, conspiracy, jacobean, tragedy, written, jonson, roman, tragedies, that, jonson, hoped, would, cement, dramatic, achievement, reputation, other, being, sejanus, fall, 1603, contents, background, publishing, story, reception, notes, referencesbackgroun. Catiline His Conspiracy is a Jacobean tragedy written by Ben Jonson It is one of the two Roman tragedies that Jonson hoped would cement his dramatic achievement and reputation the other being Sejanus His Fall 1603 Contents 1 Background 2 Publishing 3 Story 4 Reception 5 Notes 6 ReferencesBackground editJonson was not the first playwright of his era to dramatize the story of Catiline Stephen Gosson in his School of Abuse 1579 praised a play called Catiline s Conspiracies which was acted by Leicester s Men at The Theatre sometime between 1576 and 1579 A Catiline either Gosson s or another play author unknown was acted at the home of William Cecil 1st Lord Burghley on 16 January 1588 In 1598 or 1599 the Diary of Philip Henslowe records an advance payment of 5 shillings to Henry Chettle for a play titled Catiline s Conspiracy though Chettle appears never to have completed writing it 1 Publishing edit nbsp Title page from the Folio of 1692The play was first published in quarto in 1611 by the stationer Walter Burre prefaced with commendatory verses by Francis Beaumont John Fletcher and Nathan Field It was reprinted the 1616 folio of Jonson s works The folio text states that Catiline was first performed in 1611 by the King s Men and lists the cast as Richard Burbage John Heminges Alexander Cooke Henry Condell John Lowin John Underwood William Ostler Nicholas Tooley Richard Robinson and William Ecclestone Story editAs its title indicates the play recounts the story of Catiline the Roman politician and conspirator of the 1st century B C Besides Catiline appear other historical figures such as Julius Caesar Sempronia Fulvia Crassus and Cicero 2 Reception editThat the play was not a popular success is indicated by Jonson s reproachful preface to the published edition Thomas Rymer praised the play s subject matter but condemned Jonson s violations of decorum The Guardian states that Although booed off stage at its 1611 premiere it became a great favourite in its day but has not been staged since the 17th century 3 John Dryden introduced the traditional prescriptive rule against preposition stranding in English in criticising a phrase from this play The maws and dens of beasts could not receive the bodies that those souls were frighted from 4 In 2011 the play was edited and translated for the first time in Italian 5 Notes edit Chambers Vol 1 p 222 n 2 Vol 2 pp 163 170 394 Vol 3 p 372 Heyward Brock Maria Palacas The Ben Jonson Encyclopedia 68 Twenty year global project is the last word on Ben Jonson Guardian Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey K Pullum 2002 The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language Cambridge UK Cambridge University Press p 627f B Jonson La congiura di Catilina ed and trans Domenico Lovascio Genova ECIG 2011 References editChambers E K The Elizabethan Stage 4 Volumes Oxford Clarendon Press 1923 Halliday F E A Shakespeare Companion 1564 1964 Baltimore Penguin 1964 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catiline His Conspiracy amp oldid 1172297436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
