Ben Jonson (1572–1637) was a towering figure of English Renaissance literature, known for his sharp wit, classical learning, and mastery of both drama and poetry. A contemporary and friendly rival of William Shakespeare, Jonson helped shape the early modern English stage and was a dominant literary voice during the JacobeanContinue Reading
Overrun by gullible souls piously intent on social elevation, Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist is a comedic exposé in which the fabric of society is inextricably linked to the status-quo and its ravenous desire for wealth and power. Through the characters in the play, Jonson presents an allusive manifestation of ElizabethanContinue Reading
David Garrick, the writer of this prologue, was one of the most famous actor and producer of his time. He wrote this prologue as a satire, where the character “Mr. Woodward” would be in mourning, because comedy is dying, and that Dr. Goldsmith might prove the doctor, and She Stoops toContinue Reading
Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774) was an Anglo-Irish writer, poet, and playwright best known for his works The Vicar of Wakefield, She Stoops to Conquer, and the poem The Deserted Village. Born in Ireland, Goldsmith studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and later attempted careers in medicine and theology before finding his trueContinue Reading
