Christopher Marlowe was an immensely renowned dramatist of the Elizabethan Era, often hailed as the morning star of the English Renaissance. His profound erudition shone brightly, reflecting his thorough grounding in classical learning. Yet, Marlowe chose not to mimic the classical models; instead, he masterfully blended elements from classic drama, infusing new life into the then-emerging Elizabethan drama.
Known for his innovative approach and Renaissance influence, Marlowe brought high seriousness, bombastic language, and the use of blank verse to the stage. As a pioneering Elizabethan tragedian, he is considered the "Father of English tragedy". Marlowe's emphasis on high genius within his tragedies set a new standard, recognizing that tragic outcomes must be a reflection of character development—a vital and manifold contribution to the art form.
Before Marlowe, Elizabethan drama was heavily influenced by Senecan tragedy, characterized by lengthy moralizing speeches, lack of action, and gruesome scenes. Marlowe's genius liberated Elizabethan drama from these limitations. He created a new archetype of the hero, as seen in 'Doctor Faustus' and 'The Jew of Malta', whose indomitable passion and inordinate ambition often led to their downfall or hamartia.
Christopher Marlowe's characters, such as the titular king in 'Edward II' and the ambitious scholar in 'Doctor Faustus', are often seen as embodiments of a single idea, lacking complexity and development. For instance, King Edward's temperament remains unchanged throughout 'Edward II', leading to his demise without any elevation in character. Similarly, in 'Doctor Faustus', Faustus's blind pursuit of ultimate knowledge leads him to sell his soul, despite warnings from a generous angel.
Another hallmark of Christopher Marlowe's work is the exploration of a character's inner conflict and the care of high seriousness. His Elizabethan tragedies, 'Doctor Faustus' and 'Edward II', poignantly disclose the inner uneasiness of Faustus and King Edward in their final acts. These two plays are noted for their lack of humour, and on the rare occasions, humour is present.
Marlowe's significant contribution to English literature was his mastery of blank verse, which earned high praise from contemporaries like Ben Jonson, who referred to it as 'Marlowe's Mighty line'. Marlowe was the first to use this new form of blank verse on the public stage, transforming it into a flexible meter that allowed for greater poetic freedom. His skilful manipulation of blank verse broke free from the monotonous constraints of couplets, allowing thoughts to flow unconfined.
In summary, Christopher Marlowe's dynamic plots and innovative style breathed new life into drama, invigorating it with fresh enthusiasm. His contributions to the Elizabethan and English Renaissance were so significant that contemporaries, including Swinburne, praised him for paving the way for Shakespeare, stating, 'Before him, there was neither genuine blank verse nor genuine tragedy in our language. After him, the path was made straight for Shakespeare.'
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