Christopher Marlowe was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He was born in Canterbury in 1564 and died at the age of twenty-nine, with his career as a playwright lasting only six years. His most famous work, The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus, secured his lasting legacy. His achievements significantly influenced William Shakespeare, who was born in the same year and rose to prominence after Marlowe's mysterious early death.
Early Life and Education
Marlowe was born to shoemaker John Marlowe and his wife Catherine. He was baptized on February 26, 1564, making him about two months older than Shakespeare. He attended The King's School in Canterbury and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on a scholarship, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1584. In 1587, the university initially hesitated to award him his Master of Arts due to rumors of his conversion to Roman Catholicism. The Privy Council intervened, praising his "faithful dealing" and "good service" to the Queen, which led to the degree being granted. This intervention has fueled speculation that Marlowe served as a secret agent.
Literary Career
Despite his short life, Marlowe produced several influential plays during his six-year career. His works are known for their use of blank verse, ambitious protagonists, and controversial themes.
Major Plays Include:
- Dido, Queen of Carthage (c. 1586): His first play, performed by a company of boy actors.
- Tamburlaine the Great, Parts I & II (c. 1587): Among the first English plays in blank verse, marking a mature phase in Elizabethan theatre.
- The Jew of Malta (c. 1589): Features a prologue by a Machiavellian character.
- The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus (c. 1589/1593): The first dramatized version of the Faust legend.
- Edward II (c. 1592): One of the earliest English history plays.
- The Massacre at Paris (c. 1593): His last play, about the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.
Arrest and Death
On May 20, 1593, Marlowe was arrested on charges of 'atheism' or 'heresy', a serious crime punishable by death. He was released on bail, requiring daily reporting to the court. Ten days later, on May 30, he was killed by Ingram Frizer in a dispute. Frizer and his companions had connections to Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence network, further intertwining Marlowe's life with espionage theories.