The existing text of Mortimer His Fall, was printed in the 1640-1 edition of Jonson's complete works. The text comprises the "argument", or plot summary of the intended five acts, along with the complete first scene and part of the second. The complete scene is a soliloquy by Mortimer in which he is portrayed, "in the 'Machiavel' tradition", as a scheming villain. The fragmentary scene is the beginning of a dialogue between Mortimer and Queen Isabella.[1]
Jonson's other historical tragedies were all written in the period 1602-4, and it has been argued that Mortimer may be identical to the play "Mortymore", referred to by Philip Henslowe in 1602, for which Henslowe provided "ij sewtes a licke" (two suits alike).[2] However, it is generally believed that the work was a very late one, left unfinished at his death in 1637.[3] The published version states "he dyed and left it unfinished". William Gifford described it as "the last draught of Jonson's quill".[4]
StyleEdit
The play seems to have been an attempt to move away from the traditional chronicle history plays towards a more classical form, as it was intended to have included "choruses", such as "Ladyes celebrating the worthinesse of the Queene," and "Countrey Justices and their Wives telling how they were deluded and made beleeve the old king lived." Jonson's biographer David Riggs describes it as Jonson's attempt at a "final amalgamation of the classical and native tragedy".[4]
ContentEdit
The play is set two years after the death of Edward II, when the young king Edward III begins to suspect the relationship between Mortimer and his mother. Over the course of the play, he learns the truth about what happened to his father and plans his revenge on Mortimer. The "argument" states:
The first Act comprehends Mortimers pride and securitie, raysed to the degree of an Earle, by the Queenes favour, and love. Mortimers securitie, scorne of the Nobilitie, too much familiaritie with the Queene, related by the Chorus, the report of the Kings surprizing him in his Mothers bed-chamber, a generall gladnesse, his being sent to execution.[5]
Mortimer is identified as a vainglorious figure whose pride is the cause of his actions. Mortimer's "Senecan pride and ambition" is expressed in his soliloquy in which he glories in his new power. Thus the play begins with the words: "This Rise is made, yet! and we now stand, ranck'd, / To view about us, all that were above us!"[5]
ReferencesEdit
^Irving Ribner, The English History Play in the Age of Shakespeare, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1957, p.292.
^Felix E. Schelling, The English Chronicle Play: A Study in the Popular Historical Literature Environing Shakespeare, Macmillan Company, New York, 1902, p.142.
^James Loxley, The Complete Critical Guide to Ben Jonson, Routledge, New York, 2001, p.99.
^ abDavid Riggs, Ben Jonson: A Life, Harvard University Press, 1989, p.346.
^ abGregory W. Bredbeck, Sodomy and Interpretation: Marlowe to Milton, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1991, p.64
External linksEdit
Wikiquote has quotations related to Mortimer His Fall.
Mortimer, His Fall audio recording by Beyond Shakespeare
October 19, 2023
mortimer, fall, published, 1641, unfinished, history, play, jonson, about, overthrow, roger, mortimer, earl, march, become, facto, ruler, england, 1327, with, isabella, france, after, deposing, murdering, isabella, husband, edward, england, title, page, 1640, . Mortimer His Fall published 1641 is an unfinished history play by Ben Jonson about the overthrow of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl of March who had become de facto ruler of England in 1327 with Isabella of France after deposing and murdering Isabella s husband Edward II of England Mortimer His FallTitle page in the 1640 1 Folio of Jonson s worksWritten byBen JonsonDate premierednot performedOriginal languageEnglishSubjectYoung Edward III discovers how Roger Mortimer overthrew his father king Edward IIGenrehistory playSettingEngland during the minority of Edward IIIThe existing text of Mortimer His Fall was printed in the 1640 1 edition of Jonson s complete works The text comprises the argument or plot summary of the intended five acts along with the complete first scene and part of the second The complete scene is a soliloquy by Mortimer in which he is portrayed in the Machiavel tradition as a scheming villain The fragmentary scene is the beginning of a dialogue between Mortimer and Queen Isabella 1 Contents 1 Date 2 Style 3 Content 4 References 5 External linksDate EditJonson s other historical tragedies were all written in the period 1602 4 and it has been argued that Mortimer may be identical to the play Mortymore referred to by Philip Henslowe in 1602 for which Henslowe provided ij sewtes a licke two suits alike 2 However it is generally believed that the work was a very late one left unfinished at his death in 1637 3 The published version states he dyed and left it unfinished William Gifford described it as the last draught of Jonson s quill 4 Style EditThe play seems to have been an attempt to move away from the traditional chronicle history plays towards a more classical form as it was intended to have included choruses such as Ladyes celebrating the worthinesse of the Queene and Countrey Justices and their Wives telling how they were deluded and made beleeve the old king lived Jonson s biographer David Riggs describes it as Jonson s attempt at a final amalgamation of the classical and native tragedy 4 Content EditThe play is set two years after the death of Edward II when the young king Edward III begins to suspect the relationship between Mortimer and his mother Over the course of the play he learns the truth about what happened to his father and plans his revenge on Mortimer The argument states The first Act comprehends Mortimers pride and securitie raysed to the degree of an Earle by the Queenes favour and love Mortimers securitie scorne of the Nobilitie too much familiaritie with the Queene related by the Chorus the report of the Kings surprizing him in his Mothers bed chamber a generall gladnesse his being sent to execution 5 Mortimer is identified as a vainglorious figure whose pride is the cause of his actions Mortimer s Senecan pride and ambition is expressed in his soliloquy in which he glories in his new power Thus the play begins with the words This Rise is made yet and we now stand ranck d To view about us all that were above us 5 References Edit Irving Ribner The English History Play in the Age of Shakespeare Princeton University Press Princeton NJ 1957 p 292 Felix E Schelling The English Chronicle Play A Study in the Popular Historical Literature Environing Shakespeare Macmillan Company New York 1902 p 142 James Loxley The Complete Critical Guide to Ben Jonson Routledge New York 2001 p 99 a b David Riggs Ben Jonson A Life Harvard University Press 1989 p 346 a b Gregory W Bredbeck Sodomy and Interpretation Marlowe to Milton Cornell University Press Ithaca NY 1991 p 64External links Edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Mortimer His Fall Mortimer His Fall audio recording by Beyond Shakespeare Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mortimer His Fall amp oldid 1082908940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
