Ben Jonson (1572-1637)

## About

Ben Jonson (c. 11 June 1572 – c. 16 August 1637) was an English playwright and poet. He is generally regarded as the second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare, during the reign of James I. Jonson was born in London shortly after the death of his father, a minister who claimed descent from the Scottish gentry. Despite a poor upbringing, he was educated at Westminster School under the renowned antiquary William Camden. He left his schooling unwillingly to work with his stepfather as a bricklayer. He later joined the army and then returned to London to work as an actor and playwright. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence upon English poetry. He was a prolific dramatist and a man of letters highly learned in the classics, profoundly influencing the Augustan age through his emphasis on the precepts of Horace. Jonson's productivity began to decline in the 1620s, but he remained well known. In that time, the Sons of Ben or the “Tribe of Ben”, those younger poets such as Robert Herrick, Richard Lovelace, and Sir John Suckling who took their bearing in verse from Jonson, rose to prominence. Jonson suffered misfortune in his later years. A fire destroyed his library in 1623, and when James I died in 1625, Jonson lost much of his influence at court, though he was named City Chronologer in 1628. Later that year, he suffered the first of several strokes which left him bedridden. Jonson died in 1637 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

## Early Life and Education

Ben Jonson was born in London on June 11, 1572, the posthumous son of a clergyman. His father died before he was born, and his mother remarried to a bricklayer. Jonson was sent to a local church school, but his stepfather took him out of school and set him to work as a bricklayer. Jonson hated the work and went to join the English army in Flanders, where he distinguished himself by killing a Spanish soldier in front of the two armies. After returning to England, Jonson married Anne Lewis in 1594, and they had three children. Jonson was educated at Westminster School by the great classical scholar William Camden. Camden spotted his potential and paid for him to be educated at Westminster.

## Personal Life

Ben Jonson was born in London on June 11, 1572, the posthumous son of a clergyman. His father died before he was born, and his mother remarried to a bricklayer. Jonson was educated at Westminster School by the great classical scholar William Camden. Jonson's stepfather took him out of school and set him to work as a bricklayer, but Jonson hated the work and went to join the English army in Flanders. He married in 1592, but family life was not happy, and for five years, he and his wife lived apart. None of his children survived him. Jonson responded to critics by writing abusive verses about them. In 1626, he fell ill with the dropsy and the palsy, from which he suffered increasingly in his bed.

## Controversies

Ben Jonson (1572-1637) was known to court controversy on a number of occasions during his writing career. He was brought before the consistory court in London in 1606 to explain his lack of participation in the Anglican church. Jonson denied that his wife was guilty but admitted that his own religious opinions held him aloof from attendance. He was also involved in a decisive quarrel with Jones, which harmed his career as a writer of court masques. Jonson's productivity began to decline in the 1620s, but he remained well known. The principal factor in Jonson's partial eclipse was, however, the death of James and the accession of King Charles I in 1625. Jonson felt neglected by the new court.

## Filmography

There are films based on the works of Ben Jonson. Some films based on his works include “The Honey Pot,” “Volpone,” and “The Alchemist”.

## Quotes

“Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak, and to speak well, are two things.”

“Drink today, and drown all sorrow; You shall perhaps not do it tomorrow; Best, while you have it, use your breath; There is no drinking after death.”

“He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master.”

“Language most shows a man: speak, that I may see thee.”