Bartholomew Fair (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Ben Jonson
- First Published: 1631
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Satire
- Time of Work: Early seventeenth century
- Setting: Smithfield, London
- Principal Characters: John Littlewit, Win-the-Fight, Dame Purecraft, Zeal-of-the-Land Busy, Winwife, Quarlous, Bartholomew Cokes, Grace Wellborn, Waspe, Adam Overdo, Dame Overdo, Ursula, Trouble-All
- Genres: Satire, Drama, Comedy
- Subjects: Love or romance, England or English people, Seventeenth century, London, Theft, Puppets or puppet plays, Fairs, Puritans or Puritanism
- Locales: London, England
The Story:
Winwife, a London gallant, came courting Dame Purecraft, a widow who lived with her daughter, Win-the-Fight, and her son-in-law, John Littlewit, a proctor. Littlewit disclosed to Winwife that Dame Purecraft had been told by fortune-tellers that she would marry, within a week, a madman. In this connection, Littlewit suggested to Winwife that he deport himself in the manner of his companion Tom Quarlous, a city madcap.
Quarlous, entering in search of Winwife, kissed Win-the-Fight several times until Winwife cautioned him to desist. Littlewit, who was not too...
[The entire page is 3048 words long]
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