(1614) is often described as the last of Ben Jonson’s great comedies. Yet many critics also distinguish the play from its predecessors

,

and

, noting its unusually benevolent attitude towards human folly. The carnival world which Jonson creates in this comedy can be seen as a place of festive license, where the failings of humanity are exposed with a new playfulness and generosity. At the same time, the ideals of communal festivity this world relies upon are critiqued as thoroughly as the authoritarian values of those who seek to constrain such license – and, by the end of the play, neither side escapes unscathed.

Bartholomew Fair was first staged on 31 October 1614, when it was played by Lady Elizabeth’s Servants at the Hope Theatre. A

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Citation: Preedy, Chloe Kathleen. "Bartholomew Fair". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 September 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6452, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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