A silent and loving woman is a gift of the lordThis excellent comedy of affliction enjoyed enormous prestige for more than a century after its first performance for John Dryden it had the greatest and most noble construction of any pure unmixed comedy in any language. Its title signals Jonsons satiric and complex concern with gender the play asks not only what should a man do?, but how should men and women behave, both as fit examples of their sex, and to one another? The characters furnish a crosssection of wrong answers, enabling Jonson to create riotous entertainment out of lack, loss and disharmony, to the point of denying the straightfowardly festive conclusion which audiences at comedies normally expect. Much of the comic vitality arises from a degeneration of language, which Jonson called the instrument of society, into empty chatter or furious abuse, and from a plot which is a series of lies and betrayals (the hero lies to everyone and Jonson lies to the audience). The central figure is a man named Morose, who hates noise yet lives in the centre of London, and who, because of his decision to marry a woman he supposes to be silent, exposes himself to a fantastic cacophony of voices, male, female and epicene.This student edition contains a lengthy Introduction with background on the author, date and sources, theme, critical interpretation and stage history.

Binding: Paperback;224 pages; Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; Classification: DD; Weight: 366 g; Dimensions: 131 x 198 x 22

Something not quite right? You have 21 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.

Please note, we cannot offer refunds on fashion face masks, cosmetics, pierced jewellery, adult toys, and swimwear or lingerie if the hygiene seal is not in place or has been broken.

Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Click here to view our full Returns Policy.