Description
By: Francis Beaumont (1584-1616)
The Maid’s Tragedy by Francis Beaumont is a compelling and tragic play that delves into themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal. The story follows the character of Evadne, a beautiful and virtuous maid who finds herself torn between her loyalty to her king and her forbidden love for another man. As the plot unfolds, we see the devastating consequences of Evadne’s choices and the tragic downfall that ensues.
Beaumont’s writing is both poetic and powerful, drawing the reader in with its vivid imagery and emotional depth. The characters are well-developed and complex, each grappling with their own conflicting desires and moral dilemmas. The dialogue is sharp and engaging, drawing the reader into the drama unfolding onstage.
Overall, The Maid’s Tragedy is a gripping and compelling play that explores the complexities of human relationships and the destructive power of passion. Beaumont’s timeless tale of love and betrayal is sure to resonate with readers long after they have finished the final act.
Book Description:
Beaumont and Fletcher’s The Maid’s Tragedy (first published 1619) is a sensational Jacobean sex tragedy. When gentleman soldier Melantius returns to Rhodes, he finds his dear friend Amintor is recently married – but not to his troth-plight love Aspatia (the maid of the title). Instead, the King has arranged a match between Amintor and Melantius’ sister, the beautiful Evadne. On his wedding night, Amintor finds that his new wife has married him under false pretenses – and this unleashes a torrent of dire consequences, sexual, emotional, and ultimately political.
