Ben Jonson Brief Biography
English Playwright, Actor and Poet, Famous for Comedy Volpone
Aug 11, 2009
Ben Johnson was one of the most influential English Renaissance playwright, actor and lyric poet of the 17th century. He is best-known for his satirical plays especially Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair.
In his day, he enjoyed fame almost equal to that of Shakespeare, his contemporary. He had immense knowledge of ancient languages like Latin and Greek.
Early Life of Ben Jonson
Johnson was born on June 11, 1572 in London just after his father died. He was educated at Westminster School with the help of a family friend who paid for his tuition. There on he developed a love of literature that lasted his entire life.
At 17, Jonson was apprenticed to his stepfather's bricklaying trade. He hated it, and decided to join the army instead. He fought in Holland where he won fame for defeating an enemy in single combat. On his return to England, Jonson married and stated a career in the theatre, first as an actor and later as a playwright.
Young Adult Life of Ben Jonson
Jonson had few encounters with the law. When he was 25, Jonson co-authored The Isle of Dogs, a satire that got the theatre shut down and Jonson was jailed. This was the first of those encounters. In 1598, he narrowly escaped execution for killing a fellow actor in a duel.
The same year 26-year-old Jonson had his first real success as a playwright with Every Man in His Humour, in which William Shakespeare was a principal actor. Every character in this satirical comedy has a particular 'humour' such as jealousy, that he used to make fun of London life. Every Man Out of His Humour, in which Jonson satirized his fellow playwright, followed a year later.
Legacy of Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson was known for his satirical plays. His comedy, Volpone, is considered his most performed play and among the finest of Jacobean comedies. First produced in 1606, Volpone draws on elements of a city comedy and animal fable. It is a satire of greed and lust.
In later life, wealthy patrons paid Jonson to write 'masques,' a combination of dance, music and drama. When his plays declined in popularity, he still remained influential in literary circles. In 1616, he became Poet Laureate and inspired a group of writers called the Sons of Ben, who continued his legacy in their writings. He died on August 6, 1637, at the age of 65.
Works by Ben Jonson
- The Isle of Dogs (with Thomas Nash), 1597
- Every Man in His Humour, 1598
- Every Man out of His Humour, 1599
- The Poetaster, 1601
- Volpone, 1606
- The Masque of Queens, 1609
- The Silent Woman, 1609
- The Alchemist, 1610
- Bartholomew Fair, 1614
- The Devil Is an Ass, 1616
Sources:
- Goring, Rosemary, Ed. Larousse Dictionary of Writers. New York: Larousse, 1994.
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002,
- Ousby, Ian. The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
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