Marlowe, p.

Christopher Marlowe

Parth

7-2 English

Mr. Bouskill

February 16, 2009

Christopher Marlowe was a famous playwright of tragedies. He was born and

raised by the rich family of the Marlowes. Marlowe was born into an England that, at that

time, was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I, and known as Elizabethan England. Marlowe

worked as a spy for Queen Elizabeth I when he was young. In 1593, he died in a fight.

This is the life of a playwright who became very famous in his short life.

Christopher Marlowe was born in 1564, in Canterbury, England1. In his family, he

was the oldest of 4 brothers - two of them had died. He also had four older sisters, all

living long enough to be married2. They were all baptized at St Georges Church3. The

father of Christopher Marlowe, John Marlowe, was a shoemaker. His mother, Katherine

Marlowe, was the daughter of a clergyman4. In the records, the name Christopher

Marlowe is often spelled differently, as Marly or Marlin5. Those were simply

imperfections that only the scribes that wrote them knew. At this point, however,

Christopher still had to finish his studies. Marlowe was schooled in King’s School, which

was located nearby in Canterbury6. He later went to Corpus Christi College, in

Cambridge7. It was rumoured during his college years that he had became a Roman

Catholic from an Eastern Orthodox8. It put a negative impression him, because the

Eastern Orthodoxies were still more widespread and popular than the Roman Catholics.

The college was hesitant on giving him his degree. They later found out that it was a

1
-Orgel, S. (2001) Christopher Marlowe. In World book (vol. 13, p. 216). Chicago, Illinois: World book.
2
-Honan, P. (2005) Christopher Marlowe: Poet and spy. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. (p.25-
26)
3
-Romany, F. and Lindsey, R. (2003) Christopher Marlowe: the complete works. London, England:
Penguin Classics. (Chronology section)
4
-Charles, E. (2001) Christopher Marlowe. 20/01/09
http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/marlowe001.html
5
-Charles, E. 20/01/09
6
-Charles, E. 20/01/09
7
-Orgel, S. (p.216)
8
-Shellard, D. (1998) William Shakespeare. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press (p.39-40)
 Marlowe, p. 3

rumour, and gave him the award with apologies9. After leaving college, Marlowe decided

what he would want to do.

Marlowe decided to join the Lord Admiral’s Men in c.1587. A few years later, he

unexpectedly quit10. The Lord Admiral’s Men were actors of a playgroup established by a

man named Charles Howard, who was the Baron of Effingham11. This was Marlowe’s

first and last play company. But in the short span that he was in the Lord Admiral’s

company, Marlowe earned his titles as the best playwright of tragedy with many plays.

The secret to his plays was evident, but no one was able to copy his style. Here are the

unique characteristics of Marlowe’s plays.

One of the main characteristics of Marlowe’s plays was their unique theme. His

plays focused on many Renaissance elements, such as atheism, witchcraft, and

homosexuality12. For example, his most famous play, Dr. Faustus, focuses on a scholar

named Dr. Faustus, who is unappreciative of the knowledge he has and wishes to learn

more, and increase his knowledge. Deciding to learn magic, he creates devils and gets

stuck in a predicament, which eventually leads to his own death13. As for another play of

Marlowe, namely Tamburlaine the Great, the theme is focused on a ruler’s thirst for

power. More precisely, it is about an ambitious man named Tamburlaine who conquers as

much territory as he can for his loved, who encourages him. He eventually has the title of

the Great added to his name. In Tamburlaine the Great part 2, Tamburlaine dies trying to

conquer another territory. Part two of this play was created because of public demand14.

9
-Shellard, D. (p.39-40)
10
-Jokinen, A. (2007) Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593). 21/01/09.
http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/marlowebio.htm
11
-Jokinen, A. (2001).The Admiral's Men. 23/01/09.
http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/admiralsmen.htm
12
-Orgel, S. (p.216)
13
-Seccombe, T. and Allen, J.W. (1903).The Age of Shakespeare. London: George Bell and Sons. (p.44-7)
14
-Alice, B. (2002) Tamburlaine. 25/01/09. http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/marlowe003.html
 Marlowe, p. 4

Another fascinating thing about Marlowe’s writing was that he depicted the split

personalities of men (he could not portray women)15. It is commonly believed that the

reason he left the Lord Admiral’s Men so suddenly is that some urgency arose and he was

needed by the queen, for some business regarding his other career, as a spy.

There is not much information regarding his career as a spy for Queen Elizabeth I.

Although, it is known that he began this career during his college years, in Corpus Christi

College16. The work he did as a spy is not known, because it was confidential, as it was

direct work given by the Queen. Another common belief is that his death may have some

relation to his work as a spy.

It was the 30th of May. Christopher Marlowe lay on a couch opposite men sitting

on chairs. These men were Ingram Frizer, Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley. Ingram was

turned around and did not see Marlowe get up. Marlowe sneaked up on Ingram and,

stealing his dagger, he wounded Ingram in the head with the pommel of the dagger.

Ingram Frizer managed to get his dagger back, and he stabbed Marlowe above the eye,

instantly killing him. This was how Christopher Marlowe died, according to the two

witnesses Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley. On June 1st, he was buried near the church

of Nicholas, in Deptford17. A few days before his death, the council began to investigate

some matters on him, and began to form a case against him. He was to be arrested a few

days after his death. The charge was unspecified18. This was the short life of a successful

man.

15
-Bellingerm, M. F. (2002) Characteristics of Marlowe's works. 24/01/09.
http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/marlowe002.html
16
-Orgel, S. (p.216)
17
-Nicholl, C. (1992).The reckoning. London, England: Mackays of Catham. (p.17-21)
18
-Jokinen, A. 21/01/09.
 Marlowe, p. 5

As it was said, Marlowe’s family had financial privileges, because he was able to

attend school and college. However, being rich did not give him many advantages,

because Marlowe died at a very young age, and was not able to use his money a lot. In

fact, he was not even able to be married. Even though he was killed at such a young age,

the killer Ingram Frizer did not have any punishment. On the other hand, he was

pardoned, because he said this murder was done in self-defence19. The witnesses agreed

with him. A life of a talented playwright was wasted so quickly. Indeed, the life he led

was as tragic as the plays he wrote. In a few years with the Lord Admiral’s Men,

Christopher Marlowe was able to rise from the common man to the most famous

playwright that existed. The reason for this was that Elizabethan theatre was very new for

the population of England, and Marlowe was a steady hit. Even though his fall was

sudden, his plays will still remind the world that there once was a playwright as popular

as William Shakespeare.

20

19
-Nicholl, C. (p.17-21)
20
-http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/ChristopherMarlowe.htm