Christopher Marlowe the “Shadow” of
William Shakespeare.
"The father of English tragedy and the creator of English blank verse. Was therefore also the teacher and the guide of Shakespeare."
In one of the classes we
had, we talk about William Shakespeare’s life and the name of a certain man was
mentioned, this man was Christopher Marlowe.
This man was a dramatist,
poet and translator of the Elizabethan era, just like William Shakespeare was.
Born in Canterbury, the
date of his birth is unknown, but he was baptized on 26 February 1564, the same
year William Shakespeare was born.
In 1578 Marlowe entered
King's School, Canterbury to study music, religion, Latin and literature. Two
years later he studies philosophy and history.
He was the first writer
that uses blank verse masterfully (no rhyme).
The develop of his career
as a dramatist was on par with Shakespeare's, and according to some historians
most of Shakespeare’s work was inspired in Marlowe’s work. Even more there is a
legend that says that, Marlowe faked his own death so he could keep writing,
being the true author of the works attributed to Shakespeare.
This confusion of
identities is nothing but a legend, what is indeed clear is the inevitable
relationship established between the two writers. In the similitudes of
Shakespeare, any author is less.
Marlowe's mysterious death
in Deptford, nominally about whom should pay the bill or even may have had a
political cause. Not even the ways he dies are clear.
Some of his famous work (Plays):
Dido, Queen of Carthage (1586):
It tells an intense dramatic tale of Dido and her fanatical love for Aeneas, Aeneas'
betrayal of her and her eventual suicide on his departure for Italy.
Tamburlaine part 1 and 2 (1587-88):
It is loosely based on the life of the Central Asian emperor, Timur "the
lame".
Doctor Faustus (1589): Story,
in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge.
-Why, this is Hell, nor am
I out of it.
Think'st thou that I, who
saw the face of God
And tasted the eternal
joys of heaven,
Am not tormented with ten
thousand Hells
In being deprived of
everlasting bliss?
— Doctor Faustus. Scene
III.
Shakespeare was not the only writter...
By José F. Calderón R.
IT is an interesting topic I would have never thought that Shakespeare wasn't really the true author of the works!
ReplyDeleteThis was always a controversial topic. There are many theories about Shakespeare not being the real author of the works attributed to him.
ReplyDeleteSome people even says that Marlowe is just a pen name of used by Shakespeare itself in his early works and that Marlowe's death was so mysterious because he never existed.
I personally believe that they are different persons and all this legends and theories are just to make Shakespeare a more interesting figure.