Introduction

The Authors

The Changeling (1622) was written jointly by Thomas Middleton (1580-1627) and William Rowley (?1585-1626).

Middleton, the son of a wealthy bricklayer, attended Oxford University but left without obtaining a degree. By 1601 he was in London ‘daily accompanying the players’ and became one of Philip Henslowe’s stable of playwrights collaborating with Thomas Dekker, Michael Drayton and Anthony Munday on various plays that have not survived. He wrote plays with Dekker for the companies of boys performing at Blackfriars and Paul’s, for Prince Charles’s company, for Lady Elizabeth’s Men and after 1615 for the King’s Men. He also wrote civic and Lord Mayor’s pageants, becoming Chronologer to the City of London in 1620. His 1624 playA Game at Chess achieved the longest run of any Jacobean play (nine days), but ran foul of the authorities for its topical satire against Spain. His plays include the comediesA Mad World, My Masters (1604?),The Roaring Girl (with Dekker, 1610?) andA Chaste Maid in Cheapside (1611) and the tragedyWomen Beware Women (1621). He is now also widely regarded as the author ofThe Revenger’s Tragedy (1606) traditionally ascribed to Cyril Tourneur.

Rowley was a leading comic actor with the Duke of York’s Men (which became Prince Charles’s company) and then the King’s Men. His parts included the clown in his ownAll’s Lost by Lust (1622) and the fat bishop inA Game at Chess. As a dramatist he collaborated with Thomas Heywood, Dekker, Ford, Fletcher, and Webster as well as with Middleton, with whom he wrote bothA Fair Quarrel (1615?) andThe Changeling. It is generally agreed that Rowley wrote the subplot and the opening and closing scenes ofThe Changeling, which suggests that the authors’ relationship was a genuine collaboration, rather than, as has sometimes been suggested, a master/servant relationship, with Middleton as the senior partner taking responsibility for the tragic parts while leaving his junior to get on with comic relief.

What Happens in the Play

Beatrice-Joanna, the daughter of Vermandero, is betrothed to Alonzo De Piraquo.

1.1 Alsemero has fallen in love with Beatrice-Joanna, not knowing she is engaged. Beatrice-Joanna reciprocates his feelings. Vermandero’s servant De Flores (who is infatuated with her) informs Beatrice-Joanna of her father’s arrival but she treats him with scorn. Vermandero welcomes Alsemero and tells him of the forthcoming marriage. Alsemero decides to leave when he finds out that Beatrice-Joanna is engaged, but Vermandero persuades him to stay.

1.2 Alibius, who runs a madhouse, and his servant Lollio discuss arrangements for protecting Alibius’s young wife Isabella from sexual temptation. They welcome a new patient, Antonio, who is actually a nobleman disguised as a fool in order to attempt to seduce Isabella.

2.1 Beatrice-Joanna is trying to find a way to marry Alsemero rather than Alonzo. She and De Flores quarrel again. Alonzo’s brother Tomazo suspects that Beatrice-Joanna’s affections for Alonzo have cooled.

2. 2 Unknown to Alsemero, Beatrice-Joanna decides to use De Flores to kill Alonzo. De Flores, delighted by Beatrice-Joanna’s changed at