Christopher Marlowe

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Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe (baptised 26 February 1564 – 30 May 1593) was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe was the foremost Elizabethan tragedian of his day. He greatly influenced William Shakespeare, who was born in the same year as Marlowe and who rose to become the pre-eminent Elizabethan playwright after Marlowe's mysterious early death. Marlowe's plays are known for the use of blank verse and their overreaching protagonists.

Life

Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, England, the son of a shoemaker. He attended The King's School, Canterbury and later, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1584 and a Master of Arts degree in 1587. It is speculated that Marlowe was a government spy for Sir Francis Walsingham's secret service, which may have interfered with his academic studies.

Career

Marlowe's literary career spanned just six years, but his works laid the foundation for the drama of the Elizabethan age. His most famous works include Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine the Great, The Jew of Malta, and Edward II. Marlowe's influence on Elizabethan drama was profound, as he was the first to use blank verse extensively in his plays, which became a standard for Elizabethan and later English drama.

Mysterious Death

Marlowe's death is shrouded in mystery. He died on 30 May 1593, in Deptford, London, under circumstances that are still debated. It is commonly held that he was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl, but some theories suggest his death was related to his alleged work as a spy, or that it was an ordered assassination.

Legacy

Marlowe's work was overshadowed by the success of Shakespeare in the years following his death. However, in the 20th century, Marlowe's contributions to English literature were reassessed, and he is now considered one of the great playwrights of the Elizabethan era. His plays are still performed today, and his influence on English literature, particularly in the use of blank verse and the development of the tragic hero, is widely acknowledged.

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