The Witch

You must be logged in to access this title.

Sign up now

Already a member? Log in

Synopsis

The Witch (1615/16?), categorised by its author as 'a tragi-comedy',pits the intrigues of a group of Italian aristocrats against themalevolent practices of Hecate and her witches' coven, leaving theaudience with the impression that human malevolence is by far thefiercer and more effective. This edition sets the play into itsdramatic and literary contexts, ranging from Shakespeare's Macbeth andMiddleton's own later tragedies to Reginald Scot's sceptical Discoveryof Witchcraft and King James's virulent Daemonologie. It also arguesthat Middleton wrote it as a topical satire to capitalise on thescandal involving Frances Howard, who obtained a divorce from the Earlof Essex on the grounds that he had been sexually incapacitated bywitchcraft; she was also rumoured to have tried to poison him.Middleton exposes his noble characters precisely by letting them getaway with murder.

Book details

Series:
New Mermaids
Author:
Thomas Middleton, Elizabeth Schafer
ISBN:
9781408144589
Related ISBNs:
9780713639452, 9780713639452
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages:
128
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
No
Date of addition:
2018-10-14
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2014
Copyright by:
N/A 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
Drama, Plays and Theater, Literature and Fiction