Sejanus His Fall, a tragedy by Ben Jonson, chronicles the rise and fall of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the favorite of Roman emperor Tiberius. The play begins with virtuous senators lamenting the corruption of Tiberius and Sejanus, who they believe is a nobody. Sejanus schemes to take revenge on Drusus, a Roman politician and military commander, and...More
Benjamin Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon 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 (c. 1606), The Alchemist (1610) and Bartholomew Fair (1614) and for his lyric and epigrammatic poetry. "He is generally regarded as the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I."
Jonson was a classically educated, well-read and cultured man of the English Renaissance with an appetite for controversy (personal and political, artistic and intellectual) whose cultural influence was of...More
Benjamin Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon 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 (c. 1606), The Alchemist (1610) and Bartholomew Fair (1614) and for his lyric and epigrammatic poetry. "He is generally regarded as the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I."
Jonson was a classically educated, well-read and cultured man of the English Renaissance with an appetite for controversy (personal and political, artistic and intellectual) whose cultural influence was of unparalleled breadth upon the playwrights and the poets of the Jacobean era (1603–1625) and of the Caroline era (1625–1642).
Book Summary
Sejanus His Fall, a tragedy by Ben Jonson, chronicles the rise and fall of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the favorite of Roman emperor Tiberius. The play begins with virtuous senators lamenting the corruption of Tiberius and Sejanus, who they believe is a nobody. Sejanus schemes to take revenge on Drusus, a Roman politician and military commander, and conspires with Livia, Drusus's wife, whom he wants to marry. Sejanus attempts to persuade Tiberius to eliminate Agrippina, Germanicus's widow, and her friends who he believes pose a threat to Caesar. As Sejanus's power grows, his backers try to persuade him to bring sacrifices to the gods, but he rejects their warnings, worshipping only Fortune. In the end, Sejanus is deposed and executed by Macro, who Arruntius prophesies will become even more corrupt than Sejanus.
Ben Jonson
