Thomas Otway (1652–1685)
Author of Venice Preserv'd
About the Author
Otway was probably the best writer of tragedies during the Restoration period. His Venice Preserved (1682) is rivaled only by Dryden's All for Love. As the Royal Shakespeare Company's production so well demonstrated, Venice Preserved is still a dark and passionate play. The love versus honor show more conflict echoes the heroic drama, but Jaffier's vacillation between the demands of a friend and a wife reflects the somberness of a world in chaos, a Jacobean tragic theme. Otway's The Orphan (1680) set the fashion for a serious play based on pathos, if not actual tears. Otway had an unrequited passion for Mrs. Elizabeth Barry, the actress who appeared in most of his dramas. Penniless at the end of his life, he died while in a London tavern (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Image © ÖNB/Wien
Works by Thomas Otway
Associated Works
Twelve Famous Plays of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century (1933) — Contributor — 160 copies, 1 review
British Dramatists from Dryden to Sheridan (1934) — Contributor, some editions — 93 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1652-03-03
- Date of death
- 1685-04-14
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Winchester School, Winchester, England, UK
University of Oxford (Christ Church College) - Occupations
- dramatist
poet
soldier - Cause of death
- choking (on food, reputedly)
- Nationality
- England
- Birthplace
- Trotton, Sussex, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England
- Place of death
- London, England, UK
- Map Location
- UK
Members
Reviews
Otway is known for one tragedy, Venice Preserved, which I have read and did not find as moving as others. It is interesting to have all his works here. The four stars is more out of respect for his reputaton than my personal opinion.
Oddly enough, one of my favourite plays from the time period. It's so typical that it's a delight.
Wikipedia: Venice Preserv'd was one of the first of the she-tragedy plays, and the most significant tragedy of the English stage in the 1680s.
Contemporary audiences responded to the pathos of the character of Belvidera, which was written for the tragedienne Elizabeth Barry and capitalised on Barry's phenomenal success in the role of the similarly helpless Monimia in Otway's The Orphan (1680). Of all of the characters, Belvidera is the most powerless in the face of overwhelming social and show more political turmoil. Each of the characters has a conflict between the social and personal laws of class and self. Belvidera has to struggle against duty to father and to love. Jaffeir has to struggle against "honour" and love, as well as friendship and ideals. Priuli must decide between love of daughter and personal pride. Belvidera remained a starring role for actresses because her tragic situation was most affecting for audiences. show less
Contemporary audiences responded to the pathos of the character of Belvidera, which was written for the tragedienne Elizabeth Barry and capitalised on Barry's phenomenal success in the role of the similarly helpless Monimia in Otway's The Orphan (1680). Of all of the characters, Belvidera is the most powerless in the face of overwhelming social and show more political turmoil. Each of the characters has a conflict between the social and personal laws of class and self. Belvidera has to struggle against duty to father and to love. Jaffeir has to struggle against "honour" and love, as well as friendship and ideals. Priuli must decide between love of daughter and personal pride. Belvidera remained a starring role for actresses because her tragic situation was most affecting for audiences. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 32
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 216
- Popularity
- #103,223
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 45
- Languages
- 1
- Favorited
- 1