Marlowe and Shakespeare

1587 Tamburlaine 1599 HV

Similarities

I. History play

A. Plot

1. Acts and Scenes; overall curve

2. Juxtaposition of scenes and incidents

3. Ending in marriage with daughter of enemy

B. Character:

1. Henry vs. Tamburlaine

a) Supermen: intellect, courage, Machiavellian craft and force—lion and the fox—cat and mouse

b) Henry’s inwardness; playfulness

c) Henry’s political savvy; making people do what he wants them to and displacing blame

d) Henry’s insistence on Christian motives rather than pagan ones

e) Use of religion

f) Obstacles he meets

g) Sensitivity and rhetoric; spirituality; love

2. Opponents: Persians, Turks, Egyptians vs. French

C. Spectacle

1. Cruelty and Brutality

a) Destroying Bajazeth vs. Killing the prisoners

b) Description of Suffolk and York’s death; killing children; hanging Bardolph

c) Threats to Harfleur

D. Theme

1. Lion and the fox—force and craft

2. Cruelty

3. Women

4. Power of language—warrior-poet