Epicoene, or The Silent Woman: A Masterpiece of Jacobean Comedy

Epicoene, or The Silent Woman, is a hilarious and thought-provoking comedy by Ben Jonson, one of the greatest playwrights of the Jacobean era. First performed in 1609, the play is a scathing satire of marriage, gender roles, and social conventions. It follows the misadventures of Morose, a wealthy and misanthropic man who is tricked into marrying a woman who turns out to be a silent and enigmatic figure.

Epicoene or The Silent Woman (New Mermaids)

by Ben Jonson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3724 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	340 pages
Paperback	:	136 pages
Item Weight	:	11.5 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.5 x 0.31 x 9.25 inches

FREE

Plot Summary

Morose is a wealthy and elderly gentleman who has become disgusted with the noise and clamor of the world. He decides to marry a silent woman in order to find peace and quiet in his life. He hires a matchmaker to find him a suitable candidate, and she introduces him to Epicoene, a young woman who is said to be "the most silent woman in the world." Morose is immediately smitten with Epicoene, and they are married.

However, Epicoene is not what she seems. She is actually a man in disguise, played by the witty and resourceful Dauphine. Dauphine has tricked Morose into marrying him in order to get his hands on his fortune. Once they are married, Dauphine reveals his true identity and begins to torment Morose with all sorts of noise and mischief. Morose is driven to the brink of madness, and he eventually agrees to give Dauphine all of his money in exchange for a divorce.

Characters

• Morose: A wealthy and misanthropic man who is tricked into marrying a silent woman.
• Epicoene: A young woman who is actually a man in disguise. She is witty, resourceful, and determined to get her hands on Morose's fortune.
• Dauphine: A young man who disguises himself as Epicoene in order to trick Morose into marrying him.
• Cutbeard: A barber who helps Dauphine with his disguise.
• Truewit: A friend of Dauphine who helps him to torment Morose.
• Clerimont: A friend of Dauphine who helps him to torment Morose.

Themes

Epicoene explores a number of themes, including:

• Marriage: The play satirizes the institution of marriage, showing how it can be used for deception and exploitation.
• Gender roles: The play challenges traditional gender roles, showing how women can be just as witty and resourceful as men.
• Social conventions: The play satirizes social conventions, showing how they can be used to oppress and control people.

Legacy

Epicoene is considered one of the greatest comedies of the Jacobean era. It has been performed countless times over the centuries, and it continues to be a popular choice for theater companies today. The play has also been adapted into a number of films, including a 1935 version starring Katharine Hepburn and a 1994 version starring Maggie Smith.

Epicoene is a hilarious and thought-provoking comedy that has stood the test of time. It is a sharp satire of marriage, gender roles, and social conventions, and it continues to be relevant to audiences today. The play is a testament to the genius of Ben Jonson, one of the greatest playwrights of all time.

Epicoene or The Silent Woman (New Mermaids)

by Ben Jonson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3724 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	340 pages
Paperback	:	136 pages
Item Weight	:	11.5 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.5 x 0.31 x 9.25 inches

FREE