Ben Jonson

1572/3-1637. Dramatist, scholar, poet. One of the major rivals of William Shakespeare and representative of the Comedy of Humours.

Life

Ben(jamin) Jonson was born in or near London in 1572/3 as the son of a clergyman. After his education at Westminster School, he first worked as a bricklayer, then joined the military and later an acting group. In 1597, he became a player and playwright for the Henslowe's companies. In 1605, Jonson wrote his first Court Masque and from that time on began to constantly write masques for court. Almmost 30 years later, "his last masques were produced" (1633/4). In 1616 (the year Shakespeare died), Jonson was granted a pension by King James I, even though he was not officially appointed the first Poet Laureate. In the same year, he received an honorary MA from Oxford University and he also became a lecturer at Greshman College in London. In 1628 Jonson suffered a stroke and he died in August 1637. He was buried at Westminster Abbey and his tombstone was engraved with the words "O rare Ben Jonson". Jonson was described as arrogant, but he was also warm-hearted and his influence under James I was unlike no other's. While Shakespeare was considered irregular, messy and chaotic (and in dire need of "improvement") during the time of the Restoration, Ben Jonson advanced to the status of model dramatist, because he kept to the (pseudo-)Aristotelean unities. There was even a school of writers which called itself "the sons of Ben".

Works

Jonson's first important play – a comedy – 'Every Man in His Humour' was performed in 1598 by the Lord Chamberlain's Company (including William Shakespeare) and was printed in 1601. His first still exitisting tragedy 'Sejanus' was performed at the Globe by his rival's company in 1603. Two years later, his first Court Masquee was performed "to accommodate Queen Anne’s desire to appear as a Negress". One of his major plays – Volpone- was performed at the Globe and two universities. Jonson also wrote two epitaphs for his first daughter and son: "On My First Daughter" (c. 1595) and "On His First Sonne" (1603) which were both published in his folio of 1616.

Source

Margaret Drabble. The Oxford Companion to English Literature'. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.