Marston, John (1576-1634), was an English playwright and satirist. Two of his plays reflect the pessimism of their time, when the glories of the Elizabethan Age were becoming clouded by the uncertainties of life during the early 1600’s. Antonio’s Revenge (1600) is a sensational drama of revenge about the murder of a tyrant. The Malcontent (1604) is a somber comedy of intrigue, bitter in its satire but intended to correct, not to condemn.
Marston was born in 1576, probably in Coventry. His early career consisted of a series of satirical plays, such as The Scourge of Villainie (1598). His taste for satire led to a violent quarrel with Ben Jonson. Marston was briefly imprisoned in 1608 for critical comments about King James I. Later, Marston studied philosophy and theology and in 1616 became rector of a country parish. He died on June 25, 1634.
