Jonson

Jonson most commonly refers to Benjamin Jonson (c. 1572–1637), an English playwright and poet who rose to prominence during the late Elizabethan era and remained active into the early Stuart period. He is regarded as one of the major figures of early modern English drama, notable for his classical influences, civic verse, and satirical comedies.

Life and career: Born in London, Jonson pursued a cultural education and began writing and acting in the late 1590s. His fame came with Every Man in His Humour (1598). He developed a reputation for wit, discipline, and a critical eye toward the theatre, and he often wrote masques for court entertainment.

Major works: His comedies of humours include Every Man in His Humour and its successors; Volpone (The Fox) is among his best-known plays; The Alchemist (1610) is a farce of greed; Epicene, or The Silent Woman (1609); Bartholomew Fair (1614). He also wrote The Poetaster (1601), and numerous lyric poems, including To Celia.

Legacy and form: Jonson championed classical forms and the use of satire and decorum; his works influenced later playwrights and poets, and he helped establish a tradition of humor-driven drama. His works were collected in the 1616 edition The Workes and in later editions, contributing to a posthumous reputation that shaped English literary criticism and education.

Name usage: While Ben Jonson is the most recognized bearer of the name, Jonson can refer to other individuals with the surname. In scholarly references, Jonson is primarily treated as a singular figure associated with English Renaissance theatre.