8-5Jonson

Ben Johnson was a Netherlandic play write who was sent off to prison for sedition (writing questionable material). He constantly found himself in trouble with the law (barely escaping execution on one certain occasion.) He also forever had the letter L branded into his wrist for rememberance of his near death experience in which he used his educated wit to talk the judge out of the Death Sentence. Johnson, Shakespeare and many other writers of the time gathered at "The Mermaid Tavern" located in Cheapside, England. Their little "posy" was entitled the "Friday Street Club." They often wrote literature and discussed some of the legendary plays with each other, before ever revealing them to the public. Johnson and Shakespeare gained a very good friendship through this group. Johnson's first true successful works was entitled "Every Man In His Humour." The list of actors for the premier included a young William Shakespeare. As his career progressed, Johnson leaned toward more biting, satirical comedy, much like that of Shakespeare. He also began to discuss other writers works in his plays. One of these men of course was William Shakespeare. This soon ascended into a "War of Poets" as each writer constantly threw insults at each other through their works. All in all Johnson was the more "old school" playwright, using many classical influences and foreign languages, and Shakespeare was the one that apealed to the general public in a greater way. Johnson, as well could not be seen as a "good person" because he was constantly in and out of court due to rash statements within his plays. However, no matter how harsh the rivalry between Johnson and Shakespeare was, they both recognized each other's talents. Johnson's career however was not quite as successful as Shakespeare's. Johnson's box office sales were very rocky as some plays "brought the house down" and others just didn't suffice. Ben Johnson's poem, "To the Reader" appears on the first page of the First Folio. He was one of the main people involved in the making of the First Folio. Ben Johnson is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Internet Sources:
 * Ben Johnson." //PBS.org/Shakespeare//. 2003. PBS. 7 Apr 2009. ||

"Ben Johnson." //Product and Crew//. 2004. University of Victoria. 7 Apr 2009. "Mermaid Tavern." __Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature__. 21 Apr. 2009 .