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The Age of Shakespeare

Written by Algernon Charles Swinburne

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English drama

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About this book

"The Age of Shakespeare" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a literary criticism written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the lives and contributions of prominent playwrights and poets from the era of Shakespeare, notably Christopher Marlowe, John Webster, and Thomas Dekker, among others, while also exploring their influence on Shakespeare's writing and the context of their times. At the start of the text, the author pays homage to Christopher Marlowe, identifying him as the first great English poet who established the potential of English blank verse. Swinburne emphasizes Marlowe's groundbreaking work, particularly in tragedy, highlighting plays like "Tamburlaine" and "Doctor Faustus." He discusses Marlowe’s stylistic innovations and sets the stage for a broader examination of other contemporaries, like Webster and Dekker, whom he believes also shaped the landscape of English theater. The opening sets a tone of deep admiration for Marlowe's genius and the literary revolution that marked the age, establishing a foundation for the critical exploration that follows.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Age of Shakespeare, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 12 hours
  • advanced
  • scholarly
  • passionate
  • reverent

Algernon Charles Swinburne's "The Age of Shakespeare" is an influential work of early 20th-century literary criticism that meticulously examines the vibrant theatrical and poetic landscape surrounding William Shakespeare. Rather than focusing solely on Shakespeare, Swinburne champions his contemporaries, particularly Christopher Marlowe, John Webster, and Thomas Dekker, assessing their unique contributions to English drama and poetry. The text highlights Marlowe as the pioneering genius who revolutionized English blank verse and tragedy, setting the stage for the literary advancements of the era. Swinburne's analysis delves into the stylistic innovations, thematic concerns, and lasting impact of these playwrights, contextualizing their work within the broader cultural currents of their time and their collective influence on the development of English literature.

“Before Marlowe there was no such thing as English blank verse, and after Marlowe there was no such thing as English tragedy.”

Key themes

The Primacy of Poetic Genius
Swinburne argues that true literary innovation stems from individual poetic genius, particularly highlighting Christopher Marlowe's revolutionary contribution to English blank verse and tragedy. This theme emphasizes the transformative power of a singular artistic vision to reshape an entire literary landscape, setting new standards for dramatic expression and poetic language.
The Interconnectedness of the Elizabethan/Jacobean Literary Scene
Swinburne demonstrates that the 'Age of Shakespeare' was a collective endeavor, a vibrant ecosystem of interconnected talents who influenced, rivaled, and built upon each other's work. He shows how figures like Webster and Dekker, while distinct, operated within and contributed to a shared dramatic tradition, often drawing on earlier innovations established by Marlowe and enriching the theatrical tapestry for Shakespeare himself.
The Nature of Tragedy
Through his analysis of Marlowe and Webster, Swinburne explores different facets of tragic drama. He examines Marlowe's grand, often superhuman tragedies driven by ambition and hubris, and Webster's darker, more psychologically complex tragedies rooted in human corruption, fate, and suffering. This allows for a comparative study of how different playwrights approached the representation of human downfall and moral conflict.

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To what extent does Swinburne's passionate, subjective criticism enhance or detract from his analysis of the playwrights?

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