Early Modern English Drama

Early Modern English drama, flourishing roughly between 1500 and 1700, refers to plays written during a period when the English language was evolving into its modern form. It includes works by playwrights like William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Jonson. These dramas often feature complex characters, poetic dialogue, and explorations of human nature, blending tragedy, comedy, and history. They were performed in open-air theaters like The Globe and reflect societal issues of the time, such as politics, religion, and class. This period laid the foundation for modern Western theater and literature.