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130
Play • Fiction
Alicante, Spain • 17th century
1622
Adult
18+ years
The Changeling, a tragicomedy, centers on Beatrice who, after meeting Alsemero, plots with the obsessive servant De Flores to murder her fiancé Alonzo to marry Alsemero. Concurrently, in a comedic subplot, Doctor Alibius’s wife Isabella fends off suitors disguised as asylum patients. As Beatrice's schemes unravel, her actions lead to tragic consequences and revelations that change all involved. The play contains themes of murder, violence, and sexual coercion.
Dark
Mysterious
Unnerving
Suspenseful
Melancholic
3,018 ratings
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The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley masterfully blends dark themes of madness, deceit, and desire with complex characterizations. Critics praise its intricate plot and rich, poetic language. However, some find its moral ambiguity unsettling. Overall, it remains a compelling study of human flaws and twisted motivations.
Fans of dark psychological drama and Jacobean tragedy will find The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley compelling. Similar to Shakespeare's Macbeth and Webster's The Duchess of Malfi, this play appeals to those who appreciate themes of madness, betrayal, and moral complexity.
3,018 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
De Flores
A servant to Vermandero, born a gentleman, who harbors an obsessive desire for Beatrice, complicating the dynamics of the household.
Alsemero
A nobleman from Valencia who falls in love with Beatrice at first sight and becomes romantically entangled with her.
Vermandero
A nobleman who owns the castle where the play is set and is the father of Beatrice, controlling her marital prospects.
Diaphanta
Beatrice's waiting-woman who becomes involved in Beatrice's romantic schemes.
Jasperino
A friend of Alsemero who aids in arranging meetings for Beatrice and Alsemero, with his romantic interest in Diaphanta.
Alonzo de Piracquo
Betrothed to Beatrice at the start of the play and unsuspectingly drawn into the darker schemes of other characters.
Tomazo de Piracquo
Brother of Alonzo, who seeks vengeance following the events that impact his family.
Isabella
The young wife of Alibius, who is pursued by multiple admirers yet remains faithful.
Antonio
Disguises himself in an asylum to pursue Isabella, exemplifying the theme of uncertain identities in the play.
130
Play • Fiction
Alicante, Spain • 17th century
1622
Adult
18+ years
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