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"The next good mood I find my father in, I'll get him quite
discarded" With these chillingly offhand words, Beatrice-Joanna,
the spoilt daughter of a powerful nobleman, plots to get rid of the
family servant who has crossed her once too often. The Changeling's
vivid tale of sexual appetite, repulsion, betrayal and lunacy
remains one of the most compelling tragedies of the 17th century.
Exposing the vexed relationship between servants and masters,
setting notions of `change' against the revelation of psychological
'secrets' as ways of explaining human behaviour, and exploring the
idea of love as a `tame madness', the play reveals the terrifying
consequences of ungoverned sexual appetite and betrayal. Featuring
the full and modernized play text, this revised edition includes
incisive commentary notes which explain the nuances of the play's
vibrant, colloquial language and demonstrate its sly delight in the
characters' conscious and unconscious wordplay. Michael Neill's
illuminating introduction provides a firm grounding in the play's
socio-political context, demonstrates how careful close-reading can
expand your enjoyment of the play, explains the play's violent
linkage of comic and tragic plots and gives theatrical life to the
text via a discussion of its stage history, with a particular
emphasis on the most interesting recent productions. The New
Mermaids plays offer: * Modernized versions of the play text edited
to the highest textual standards * Fully annotated student editions
with obscure words explained and critical, contextual and staging
insight provided on each page * Full Introductions analyzing
context, themes, author background and stage history
Thomas Middleton (1580-1627), a bricklayer's son, rose to become
one of the most eminent playwrights of the Jacobean period. Along
with Ben Johnson he helped shape the dynamic course of drama in
Renaissance England. His range is broad, as his work successfully
covers comedy, tragedy, and history. Praised during his life as
well as today, Middleton remains relevant and influential. The
Changeling (1630) was composed with the aid of Middleton's friend
William Rowley, also an established playwright. The drama tells of
the destructive powers of vice and lust. Beatrice-Joanna is a young
woman betrothed to Alonzo de Piracquo, yet Beatrice-Joanna is truly
in love with another-the nobleman Alsemero. Beatrice-Joanna uses
manipulative and violent means to rid herself of her suitor
Alsemero. The ensuing drama results in a catastrophic tragedy,
leaving only a few to contemplate justice and passion. The
characters, style, and action of The Changeling effortlessly come
together, making it one of the greatest tragedies of its time.
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