Philip Massinger facts for kids

Philip Massinger, a portrait by Charles Grignion the Elder

Philip Massinger (born 1583, died 1640) was a famous English playwright. He wrote plays with clever stories, like A New Way to Pay Old Debts, The City Madam, and The Roman Actor. His plays are known for being funny and critical (called satire) and showing life as it really was (called realism). They also often explored ideas about politics and society.

Early Life of Philip Massinger

Philip Massinger was born in Salisbury, England, and was baptized on November 24, 1583. His family had lived in Salisbury for a long time. His father, Arthur Massinger, was a Member of Parliament and worked for a powerful nobleman, Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke.

Philip went to St. Alban Hall at Oxford University in 1602. His father had also studied there. It's thought that the Earl of Pembroke might have helped Philip with his studies. However, Philip left Oxford in 1606 without finishing his degree. His father had passed away in 1603, which might have meant he lost financial help.

Becoming a Playwright in London

After leaving university, Philip Massinger moved to London. He wanted to become a professional playwright. For about 15 years, he worked with other writers. His first play that we know for sure was his, The Virgin Martyr, was registered in 1621. He wrote it with Thomas Dekker.

Working with Other Playwrights

During his early years, Philip Massinger often worked with other playwrights. They would write plays together. For example, a letter from Massinger, Nathan Field, and Robert Daborne asked for money from Philip Henslowe, a theater owner. This shows they sometimes struggled financially.

Massinger often worked with the famous playwright John Fletcher. A friend of Massinger, Sir Aston Cockayne, even wrote about how they worked together. He said they were "great friends" and wrote many plays as a team.

Massinger and the King's Men Theater Company

After Philip Henslowe died in 1616, Massinger and Fletcher started writing for the King's Men. This was a very famous acting company, supported by the king.

Between 1623 and 1626, Massinger wrote three plays by himself for another company, the Lady Elizabeth's Men. These were The Parliament of Love, The Bondman, and The Renegado. Except for these and The Great Duke of Florence, Massinger mostly wrote for the King's Men until he died.

Challenges and Political Themes

Massinger often struggled with money, even later in his career. He wrote in one of his play introductions that he wouldn't have survived without the help of his friends.

Sometimes, his plays caused trouble because they touched on political topics. In 1631, Sir Henry Herbert, who was in charge of licensing plays, refused to approve one of Massinger's plays. He said it had "dangerous matter" about a king being removed from power. This play was likely Believe as You List. Massinger had to change the story to get it approved.

Massinger's plays often showed characters who questioned the power of kings. This was different from other plays of the time that usually praised the king. His ideas were more like those of his patron, Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke, who believed in more freedom for people.

Death of Philip Massinger

Philip Massinger died suddenly at his home near the Globe Theatre in London. He was buried on March 18, 1640, in the churchyard of St. Saviour's, Southwark. This church is now called Southwark Cathedral.

He was buried in the same tomb as his friend and fellow playwright, John Fletcher. You can still see their names on plaques on the floor of the cathedral today. Nearby is also a plaque for Edmund Shakespeare, who was William Shakespeare's younger brother.

Massinger's Style and Influence

It's not clear if Massinger's plays were always super popular with everyone. His plays often appealed more to people interested in politics and morals. However, he created at least one very famous character: Sir Giles Overreach in A New Way to Pay Old Debts. This character is a powerful and tricky businessman, like a "commercial Richard III".

Massinger also made important contributions to comedies that showed how people behaved in society, like The City Madam. He thought his play The Roman Actor was his best work. It's about a powerful ruler named Domitian and how his harsh rule affected him and his court. Other well-known plays by Massinger include The Duke of Milan, The Bondman, and The Great Duke of Florence.

The famous writer T. S. Eliot wrote an essay about Massinger. In it, he said, "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal...." This means that new writers copy others, but experienced writers take ideas and make them their own.

In 2021, a new play called Making Massinger was created. It's a revenge tragicomedy, which is a play with both sad and funny parts.

Plays Written by Philip Massinger

This list shows the plays Massinger wrote, either by himself or with other playwrights.

Solo Plays by Massinger

• The Maid of Honour, a play with sad and funny parts (around 1621; printed 1632)
• The Duke of Milan, a sad play (around 1621–1623; printed 1623, 1638)
• The Unnatural Combat, a sad play (around 1621–1626; printed 1639)
• The Bondman, a play with sad and funny parts (approved December 3, 1623; printed 1624)
• The Renegado, a play with sad and funny parts (approved April 17, 1624; printed 1630)
• The Parliament of Love, a funny play (approved November 3, 1624; manuscript)
• A New Way to Pay Old Debts, a funny play (around 1625; printed 1632)
• The Roman Actor, a sad play (approved October 11, 1626; printed 1629)
• The Great Duke of Florence, a play with sad and funny parts (approved July 5, 1627; printed 1636)
• The Picture, a play with sad and funny parts (approved June 8, 1629; printed 1630)
• The Emperor of the East, a play with sad and funny parts (approved March 11, 1631; printed 1632)
• Believe as You List, a sad play (rejected by the censor in January, but approved May 6, 1631; manuscript)
• The City Madam, a funny play (approved May 25, 1632; printed 1658)
• The Guardian, a funny play (approved October 31, 1633; printed 1655)
• The Bashful Lover, a play with sad and funny parts (approved May 9, 1636; printed 1655)

Plays Written with Others

With John Fletcher:

• Sir John van Olden Barnavelt, a sad play (August 1619; manuscript)
• The Little French Lawyer, a funny play (around 1619–1623; printed 1647)
• A Very Woman, a play with sad and funny parts (around 1619–1622; approved June 6, 1634; printed 1655)
• The Custom of the Country, a funny play (around 1619–1623; printed 1647)
• The Double Marriage, a sad play (around 1619–1623; printed 1647)
• The False One, a history play (around 1619–1623; printed 1647)
• The Prophetess, a play with sad and funny parts (approved May 14, 1622; printed 1647)
• The Sea Voyage, a funny play (approved June 22, 1622; printed 1647)
• The Spanish Curate, a funny play (approved October 24, 1622; printed 1647)
• The Lovers' Progress or The Wandering Lovers, a play with sad and funny parts (approved December 6, 1623; revised 1634; printed 1647)
• The Elder Brother, a funny play (around 1625; printed 1637).

With John Fletcher and Francis Beaumont:

• Thierry and Theodoret, a sad play (around 1607?; printed 1621)
• The Coxcomb, a funny play (1608–1610; printed 1647)
• Beggars' Bush, a funny play (around 1612–1615?; revised 1622?; printed 1647)
• Love's Cure, a funny play (around 1612–1615?; revised 1625?; printed 1647).

With John Fletcher and Nathan Field:

• The Honest Man's Fortune, a play with sad and funny parts (1613; printed 1647)
• The Queen of Corinth, a play with sad and funny parts (around 1616–1618; printed 1647)
• The Knight of Malta, a play with sad and funny parts (around 1619; printed 1647).

With Nathan Field:

• The Fatal Dowry, a sad play (around 1619, printed 1632)

With John Fletcher, John Ford, and William Rowley (?), or John Webster (?):

• The Fair Maid of the Inn, a funny play (approved January 22, 1626; printed 1647).

With John Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and George Chapman (?):

• Rollo Duke of Normandy, or The Bloody Brother, a sad play (around 1616–1624; printed 1639).

With Thomas Dekker:

• The Virgin Martyr, a sad play (approved October 6, 1620; printed 1622).

With Thomas Middleton and William Rowley:

• The Old Law, a funny play (around 1615–1618; printed 1656).

Sometimes, these "collaborations" were more complicated. For example, Massinger might have revised older plays by other writers.

Many of Massinger's plays are now lost. Some were even used by a cook to light fires!

See also

In Spanish: Philip Massinger para niños