Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy

"Bartholomew Fair: A Comedy" by Ben Jonson is a comedic play written in the early 17th century. The play is set during the annual Bartholomew Fair in London and features a diverse array of characters such as the eager esquire Bartholomew Cokes, the proctor John Littlewit, and the "zealous" Rabbi Busy, each of whom contributes to the chaotic and lively atmosphere of the fair. The work explores themes of social interaction, morality, and the follies of human nature within a festive setting. At the start of "Bartholomew Fair," we are introduced to the bustling environment of the fair through the eyes of various characters waiting for the spectacle to unfold. The stage is set with descriptions of the characters, hinting at their motives and relationships, such as Bartholomew Cokes' plans to marry Grace Wellborn and Littlewit’s humorous observations on the chaos around him. The prologue also presents a playful tone, engaging the audience directly and setting expectations for the ensuing comedic antics. Through witty dialogue and lively interactions, particularly between characters like Littlewit, Winwife, and their suitors, the opening establishes a humorous critique of society's pretenses and the absurdities of the fair itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Benjamin Jonson was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence on English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for the satirical plays Every Man in His Humour (1598), Volpone, or The Fox, The Alchemist (1610) and Bartholomew Fair (1614) and for his lyric and epigrammatic poetry. He is regarded as "the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I."