Summary and themes of the play Gorboduc -ferrex and porrex

 

  Summary and Themes of the play Gorboduc

                                                        


           The play Gorboduc was written by Thomas Sackville and Thomas Norton.  This play Gorboduc was often called Ferrex and Porrex. It’s the first tragedy written in English. Its genre is tragedy.  It’s the first known drama to use blank verse and five act play.  Setting of the play is Ancient Britain.  This play was first performed at Inner temple, London in 1561-first printed in 1565.

Themes of the play:

·       Blood thirsty revenge

·       Envy or jealousy

·       Dangers inherent in having no legitimate heir.

Characters of the play:

v Gorboduc – King of England

v Videna      - Queen of England

v Eubulus   - wise chancellor

v Ferrex      - Elder son of Gorboduc

v Porrox     -  Younger son of Gorboduc

v Fergus     - The Duke of Albany.

v Hermon   - A parasite of Ferrex and slave of Fergus

v Tyndar     - parasite of Porrex

v Dordon     - Counsellor for Ferrex assigned by his father

v Philander  - Counsellor for Porrex assigned by his father

 

The play Gorboduc is first regular tragedy in English literature. Its first three acts are written by Thomas Norton (1552-1584) and other two acts are written by Thomas Sackville (1536-1608).   Its also known as Ferrex and Porrex .  It’s a Sanecan Tragedy (abounds in murder, violence and crime).

Summary of the play:

Ø Gorboduc is the king of England.

Ø He divides his kingdom between his two sons Ferrex and Porrex.

Ø A quarrel arises between the two brothers because of unfair share given to the other brother.

Ø In the end Porrex (younger) kills Ferrex (elder).

Ø Queen Videna who loved Ferrex more than Porrex, so she murders Porrex in revenge.

Ø The people moved with the cruelty of the fact, rose in rebellion and kills Gorboduc and Videna.

Ø Afterward the succession of crown became uncertain. 

Ø The kingdom then broke out in a civilwar.

Ø Duke of Albany, Fergus plots to seize the throne.

Ø The nobles label him as a foreign enemy and fights back.

Ø In the end Eubulus (wise counsellor) describes his vision of a future in which justice triumphs overgreed.

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