Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)

### Birthdate

Christopher Marlowe was baptized on February 26, 1564, in Canterbury, Kent, England. His exact date of birth is not known, but he was likely born a few days before his baptism.

### Family

Father - John Marlowe
Mother - Katherine Arthur

Siblings - had eight siblings

### Best Known For

his establishment of dramatic blank verse and his overreaching protagonists in his plays

## About

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He was born in Canterbury, Kent, England, to John Marlowe, a shoemaker, and Katherine, daughter of William Arthur of Dover. Marlowe was the second child and eldest son of his parents. He received some of his early education at The King’s School, Canterbury, and later went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he obtained his bachelor of arts degree. Marlowe was the foremost Elizabethan tragedian of his day and greatly influenced William Shakespeare, who was born in the same year as Marlowe. Marlowe's plays are known for the use of blank verse and their overreaching protagonists. His most famous play is “The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus”. Marlowe's literary career lasted less than six years, and his life only 29 years, but his achievements ensured his lasting legacy. Marlowe's death is shrouded in mystery. A warrant was issued for his arrest on May 18, 1593, and he was brought to court on May 20, where he was charged with blasphemy. On May 30, 1593, Marlowe was killed in a fight in a house in Deptford, near London. The exact circumstances of his death are unclear, and there are many theories about what happened.

## Early Life and Education

Christopher Marlowe was born in Canterbury, England, to John Marlowe, a shoemaker, and Katherine Arthur. He was the second of nine children and the oldest child after the death of his sister Mary in 1568. Marlowe was baptized at St George's Church, Canterbury, on 26 February 1564. He received his early education at The King's School in Canterbury, where he learned classical Latin, and later won a scholarship to study at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Marlowe was a brilliant student and became an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era.

## Career

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe was the foremost Elizabethan tragedian of his day and greatly influenced William Shakespeare. He is known for his use of blank verse and his overreaching protagonists. Around 1585, Marlowe started working as a government agent, likely to have been a part of Sir Francis Walsingham's network. However, exactly what Marlowe did is unclear.

## Relationships

There is evidence to suggest that Christopher Marlowe may have had a homosexual relationship, as his play “Edward II” depicts a love relationship between two men. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.

## Controversies

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was a controversial figure in his time. He was known for his violent and disreputable behaviour, which often got him into trouble with the authorities. In 1593, a warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was brought to court to attend an inquiry into allegations of blasphemy. Marlowe's death was also controversial, and there are differing sensational reports about it. Some scholars contest the reports due to a lack of good documentation. In his Palladis Tamia, published in 1598, Francis Meres says Marlowe was “stabbed to death by a bawdy serving-man, a rival of his in his lewd love” as punishment for his “epicurism and atheism”.

## Filmography

There are films based on Christopher Marlowe's works and life. “Christopher Marlowe,” a film about the British playwright, is in the works. There are also several films based on Marlowe's works, including “Doctor Faustus” (1967) and “Dead Man in Deptford” (1993). Additionally, BBC Radio broadcast adaptations of Marlowe's six plays from May to October 1993.

## Quotes

One of Christopher Marlowe's famous quotes is “Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?”. This quote is often cited as an example of Marlowe's poetic style and his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his writing.