Parasitaster, or The Fawn
Encyclopedia
Parasitaster, or The Fawn is an early Jacobean play, written by the dramatist and satirist John Marston
in 1604
, and performed by the Children of the Queen's Revels
in the Blackfriars Theatre
.
The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
on March 12, 1606
, and published later that year, in two separate states: the Epistle in the second states that it is a corrected version of the first, by the author. An apparent allusion in IV,i, 310 to the bloody execution of Sir Everard Digby
on Jan. 30, 1606, indicates that Marston revised the play after that date.
The play tells the story of Duke Hercules, who disguises himself as a flattering courtier, the Fawn, in order to infiltrate the court of Duke Gonzago and observe the behaviour of his son Tiberio, who has been sent to Gonzago as an ambassador. In the process, Hercules observes the lechery of Gonzago's courtiers, who are all embroiled in seedy sexual adventures, and the vanity and stupidity of Gonzago himself, who is a pompous old windbag. At the play's conclusion, Hercules holds a symbolic Court of Cupid, in which all the foolish courtiers are arrested for their crimes against love and good sense.
It is often assumed that Duke Gonzago was intended as an unflattering portrait of King James I
, although it is not known whether the king took offence at this portrayal.
A parasitaster is one who pretends to be a parasite or sycophant. Marston coined the term, following the example of Ben Jonson
's coinage of the term poetaster
for an inept and pretentious versifier, in his play of the same name.
John Marston
John Marston was an English poet, playwright and satirist during the late Elizabethan and Jacobean periods...
in 1604
1604 in literature
The year 1604 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*Isaac Casaubon becomes sub-librarian of the royal library in Paris.*Construction of the Red Bull Theatre in London....
, and performed by the Children of the Queen's Revels
Children of the Chapel
The Children of the Chapel were the boys with unbroken voices, choristers, who formed part of the Chapel Royal, the body of singers and priests serving the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they were called upon to do so....
in the Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
.
The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
Stationers' Register
The Stationers' Register was a record book maintained by the Stationers' Company of London. The company is a trade guild given a royal charter in 1557 to regulate the various professions associated with the publishing industry, including printers, bookbinders, booksellers, and publishers in England...
on March 12, 1606
1606 in literature
The year 1606 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*May 27 - The English Parliament passes An Act to Restrain Abuses of Players, which tightens the censorship controls on public theatre performances, most notably on the question of profane oaths.*December 26 - Shakespeare's King...
, and published later that year, in two separate states: the Epistle in the second states that it is a corrected version of the first, by the author. An apparent allusion in IV,i, 310 to the bloody execution of Sir Everard Digby
Everard Digby
Sir Everard Digby was a member of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Although he was raised in a Protestant household, and married a Protestant, Digby and his wife were converted to Catholicism by the Jesuit priest John Gerard...
on Jan. 30, 1606, indicates that Marston revised the play after that date.
The play tells the story of Duke Hercules, who disguises himself as a flattering courtier, the Fawn, in order to infiltrate the court of Duke Gonzago and observe the behaviour of his son Tiberio, who has been sent to Gonzago as an ambassador. In the process, Hercules observes the lechery of Gonzago's courtiers, who are all embroiled in seedy sexual adventures, and the vanity and stupidity of Gonzago himself, who is a pompous old windbag. At the play's conclusion, Hercules holds a symbolic Court of Cupid, in which all the foolish courtiers are arrested for their crimes against love and good sense.
It is often assumed that Duke Gonzago was intended as an unflattering portrait of King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, although it is not known whether the king took offence at this portrayal.
A parasitaster is one who pretends to be a parasite or sycophant. Marston coined the term, following the example of Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
's coinage of the term poetaster
Poetaster
Poetaster, like rhymester or versifier, is a contemptuous name often applied to bad or inferior poets. Specifically, poetaster has implications of unwarranted pretentions to artistic value. The word was coined in Latin by Erasmus in 1521...
for an inept and pretentious versifier, in his play of the same name.