8-1Jonson

//Answer Prepared by//: Billy L Ben Jonson was the leading literary individual of his time and a friend and rival of William Shakespeare. Born in 1572 and died in 1637, Jonson is recognized as one of the greatest literary critics and learned men of his era (Whalen 51). He was educated at Westminster schools and an avowed Catholic. Though he did not attend a university, Jonson was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University. Jonson was an intellectual an extremely dogmatic which often got him into trouble. For example, his writings at times displeased the crown. As a result, he was imprisoned twice and branded on the thumb (Whalen 116). In 1616, he received the great honor of being named poet laureate. Also that year, Jonson edited and published his own works which included Shakespeare in the cast lists (Ackroyd).

In 1598, Shakespeare gave Jonson his start in the theater business (Thrasher 53, Whalen 11). Shakespeare acted in two of Jonson’s plays and helped produce several others (Editors 117). His plays combined poetry, music, and dance called masques which suited the more refined audiences of the smaller indoor playhouses like the Blackfriars Theatre. Johnson wrote no fewer than thirty masques to King James. "The Alchemist" and "Valpone" are good examples of Jonson's talent.

The relationship between Shakespeare and Jonson lasted many years. They must have been good friends since Shakespeare became the godfather of one of Ben’s children and Jonson attended the wedding of Shakespeare’s daughter (Downer 15). Some believe there was literary collaboration between Shakespeare and Jonson (Ackroyd 198). During Shakespeare’s life, Jonson did not publicly criticize him. However, Jonson made to allusions that can be read as unfavorable comments on Shakespeare. One was in a poem, “On Poet-Ape,” that ridicules a playwright who steals old plays. Another was in “The Alchemist” where Jonson mocks dramatists who didn’t check and polish their invention (Whalen 52). After Shakespeare’s death, Jonson spoke of Shakespeare with fondness and admiration as indicated in the introduction to the First Folio published in 1623 (Whalen 52). Ben Jonson gave Shakespeare the highest praise but only after Shakespeare's death.

Ben Jonson’s relationship with the man from Avon on Stratford provided insightful knowledge of Shakespeare (Frye 45). He documented the attributes of William Shakespeare for posterity. Among the qualities he highlighted: gentle, honest, open, and of free nature (Ackroyd). Jonson also stated that actors praised Shakespeare and that he was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth and King James (Frye 45). Jonson acknowledged Shakespeare to be a genius, though prone to extravagance and unrealism. Jonson summed up his regard for his friend and rival in this comment: “He was not of an age, but for all times” (Frye 45, Downer 23). Works Cited:

Ackroyd, Peter. Shakespeare The Biography. New York: Nan A. Talese, 2005

Editors of Time-Life Books. What Life Was Like in the Realm of Elizabeth. Alexandria, Virginia: Time Life Inc., 1998.

Frye, Roland Mushat. Shakespeare's Life and Times. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1967.

Leslie Dunton-Downer and Alan Riding. Essential Shakespeare Handbook. New York, New York: DK Publishing, 2004.

Thrasher, Thomas. The Importance of William Shakespeare. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1999.

Whalen, Richard F. Shakespeare: Who was He? The Oxford Challenge to the Bard of Avon. Westport, CT:

Praeger Publishers, 1994.