Abstract
Ben Jonson's successive masques The Masque of Blackness and The Masque of Beauty have generally been interpreted in terms of Neo-Platonic symbolism and imagery. However, since these court masques were not only pieces of written poetry, but also well-organised spectacles, it might be of interest to approach them from the perspective of performance and in comparison to popular theatre. The present paper discusses how theatricality, popular entertainment, acting, and professional players are connoted by the "blackness" and the changeable nature of the female masquers in Ben Jonson's Masque of Blackness. Considering his ambiguous and vehement relationship to the stage designer Inigo Jones, I am also examining Jonson's antitheatrical attitude and his struggle to keep his poetry "white," "beauteous," at a distance from the mutability of performance.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
