Gorboduc
Gorboduc
Book Brief
144
Play • Fiction
•
Dramatic Literature•
EducationBritain • Ancient
1970
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Gorboduc, by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville, follows the power struggle in the legendary Brittonic realm of Gorboduc after the king's decision to divide his kingdom between his sons, Ferrex and Porrex, leads to familial betrayal and civil unrest. Themes in the play include fratricide, maternal filicide, and civil war.
Melancholic
Dark
Mysterious
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
105 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Gorboduc by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville receives praise for its innovative use of blank verse and its influence on later Elizabethan drama. However, some critics find its moral and political themes heavy-handed and its pacing uneven. Despite these drawbacks, it remains a seminal work in the development of English tragedy.
Who Should Read Gorboduc?
A reader who enjoys political intrigue and classic tragedies would appreciate Gorboduc by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville. Comparable to Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Seneca’s works, this early English drama combines themes of power, ambition, and familial conflict, appealing to fans of Renaissance literature and historical plays.
105 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Gorboduc, also known as Ferrex and Porrex, is notable for being the first full-length play written in blank verse in the English language, setting a precedent for future Elizabethan dramas.
The play was first performed before Queen Elizabeth I on January 6, 1561, making it one of the earliest examples of political drama in England.
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Gorboduc was co-written by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville, who were both lawyers, marking a collaboration between literary and legal minds during the Renaissance period.
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144
Play • Fiction
•
Dramatic Literature•
EducationBritain • Ancient
1970
Adult
18+ years
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