Religion and Politics of Renaissance England represented in A Game at Chess

Abstract

This paper examines how Thomas Middleton represents the issues of religion and politics in his play A Game at Chess. The play has been evaluated as the greatest box office hit of Renaissance England, although it was discontinued after nine performances owing to its controversial satire. It seems that this play was bound up with the diplomatic relationship with Spain at the time, but what is more important to recognize is the relationship between religion and kingship in the play. Religion and kingship were inseparable in Early Modern England because the royal authority was based upon religion. Thus, Middleton’s mocking of the Fat Bishop, who symbolizes religious power, also mocks kingship in the play. Middleton also takes a skeptical view of the White King, who symbolizes James I. As a result, Middleton displays the downfalls of men of power, making them mere chess pieces on a chess board.