Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy" by Ben Jonson is a comedic play written in the early 17th century. The play is set during the annual Bartholomew Fair in London and features a diverse array of characters such as the eager esquire Bartholomew Cokes, the proctor John Littlewit, and the "zealous" Rabbi Busy, each of whom contributes to the chaotic and lively atmosphere of the fair. The work explores themes of social interaction, morality, and the follies of human nature within a festive setting. At the start of "Bartholomew Fair," we are introduced to the bustling environment of the fair through the eyes of various characters waiting for the spectacle to unfold. The stage is set with descriptions of the characters, hinting at their motives and relationships, such as Bartholomew Cokes' plans to marry Grace Wellborn and Littlewit's humorous observations on the chaos around him. The prologue also presents a playful tone, engaging the audience directly and setting expectations for the ensuing comedic antics. Through witty dialogue and lively interactions, particularly between characters like Littlewit, Winwife, and their suitors, the opening establishes a humorous critique of society's pretenses and the absurdities of the fair itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Paul Haxo with special thanks to the Internet Archive, the University of California, and Christopher Webber.

Notes:

Reading ease score: 91.1 (5th grade). Very easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartholomew_Fair_(play)

Release date is 2015-07-16