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49 pages 1 hour read

The Changeling

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1622

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Book Brief

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Thomas Middleton, William Rowley

The Changeling

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1622
Book Details
Pages

130

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Alicante, Spain • 17th century

Publication Year

1622

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

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

Reviews & Readership

3.9

3,018 ratings

55%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

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.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Changeling?

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.

3.9

3,018 ratings

55%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Character List

Beatrice (Joanna)

Daughter of Vermandero, caught between her father's expectations and her own desires, drawing romantic interest from Alsemero and De Flores.

A servant to Vermandero, born a gentleman, who harbors an obsessive desire for Beatrice, complicating the dynamics of the household.

A nobleman from Valencia who falls in love with Beatrice at first sight and becomes romantically entangled with her.

A nobleman who owns the castle where the play is set and is the father of Beatrice, controlling her marital prospects.

Beatrice's waiting-woman who becomes involved in Beatrice's romantic schemes.

A friend of Alsemero who aids in arranging meetings for Beatrice and Alsemero, with his romantic interest in Diaphanta.

Betrothed to Beatrice at the start of the play and unsuspectingly drawn into the darker schemes of other characters.

Brother of Alonzo, who seeks vengeance following the events that impact his family.

The young wife of Alibius, who is pursued by multiple admirers yet remains faithful.

Disguises himself in an asylum to pursue Isabella, exemplifying the theme of uncertain identities in the play.

Book Details
Pages

130

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Alicante, Spain • 17th century

Publication Year

1622

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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