The stage production of Marlowe's plays and its relations to critical attitudes

Abstract

In this thesis I hope to show how the volume or nature of Marlowe criticism has been influenced by the state of Marlowe production in the theatre in successive periods from his own time to the present day. In periods when Marlowe's plays have not been performed in the theatre, criticism has tended either to ignore them or to emphasise their poetic aspects; in periods when there have been Marlowe productions, criticism has tended to take into greater consideration the visual and theatrical aspects of his plays. I hope to show, too, how the changing state of the drama and theatrical conditions from Marlowe's time to the present day has influenced the assumptions of literary critics in their discussion of Marlowe's drama. Furthermore, I shall discuss the most important Marlowe productions and indicate the ways in which they have thrown light on the problems of stage worthiness and interpretation raised by the plays. In tracing the main developments in Marlowe criticism in relation to the theatrical history of his plays, I hope to show how an awareness of the theatrical effect of the plays is important for a full appreciation of them.