Epicœne
by Ben Jonson
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See Also
- Ben Jonson (Censorship (Ready Reference series))
- Ben Jonson (Critical Survey of Drama, Second Revised Edition)
- Ben Jonson (Critical Survey of Poetry: British, Irish, & Commonwealth Poets)
- Ben Jonson (Cyclopedia of World Authors, Fourth Revised Edition)
- Ben Jonson (Dictionary of World Biography: The 17th and 18th Centuries)
At a glance:
- Author: Ben Jonson
- First Published: 1616
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Comedy
- Time of Work: Early seventeenth century
- Genres: Satire, Drama, Comedy
- Subjects: Love or romance, England or English people, Barbershops or barbers, Seventeenth century, Women, London, Noise, Sound
- Locales: Europe, London, England, United Kingdom
Places Discussed
*London
*London. Jonson provides limited references to location, setting the play only in “London,” an abstraction rather than a detailed place. The play’s scenes move from home to home, beginning with that of Ned Clerimont’s house, where the key characters meet in the first four scenes. Another scene is set in Sir John Daw’s house, and three scenes are set in Captain Tom Otter’s house, and then the plays moves on to Morose’s home.
Morose’s house
Morose’s house. Since Morose is the center of attention, the wedding is his, and the joke is played on him, it is appropriate that most of the action occurs in his home. The wedding takes place there, as guests, food, and entertainment pour in from other homes. Unable to stand any noise except that of his own voice, Morose locks himself in his attic to escape the shrill chiding of his new wife. Although he goes to the law courts to seek a divorce, viewers hear about what happens here in his home, and the final unveiling of the bride takes place here too.
Bibliography
Barish, Jonas A. Ben Jonson and the Language of Prose Comedy. New York: Norton, 1960. An influential work, one that is essential to any study of Jonson’s comedies.
Brock, D. Heyward. A Ben Jonson Companion. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1983. A valuable source of information on Jonson’s work, life, and times. A bibliography is included.
Enck, John J. Jonson and the Comic Truth. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1966. Essential to any study of Jonson’s comedies. Barish and Enck’s studies are in many ways complementary.
Mirabelli, Philip. “Silence, Wit and Wisdom in The Silent Woman.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 29 (Spring, 1989): 309-336. Argues that Truewit knows all, sees all, and knows that Epicne is a boy. Purports that Jonson has a moral commentator, Truewit, who is motivated by the highest ideal of friendship.
Newman, Karen. “City Talk: Women and Commodification in Jonson’s Epicne.” English Literary History 56 (Fall, 1989): 503-518. An insightful, feminist essay on history, but admittedly extra-literary.
Noyes, Robert Gale. Ben Jonson on the English Stage: 1660-1776. New York: Benjamin Blom, 1963. Provides valuable information on performers and productions, as provided in contemporary records by such diverse notables as John Dryden, John Dennis, Samuel Pepys, Jeremy Collier, Thomas Shadwell, and William Congreve.
Source: Cyclopedia of Literary Places, ©2003 Salem Press, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
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