Essay Questions

Provide two examples that illustrate the authors’ proficiency in using allegory and motif literary devices in the play “A Mad World, My Masters.”

The author uses the beast and the harlot to demonstrate the application of allegory in his literary work. At the end of the play, the author follows the narrations of John from the book of revelation. The beast and the harlot are predominantly mentioned by John in the book of revelation, which reflects infidelity and lust something that is well captured in the play. For instance, the thief in the play is the beast while the Courtesan is the harlot. The thief is greedy for money while Courtesan is lust for prostitution. Secondly, the author uses the motif of infidelity to help the reader understand that most characters cannot be trusted. The level of faithfulness in the play is low because the mother can betray her daughter and encourage her to engage in prostitution.

How does Thomas Middleton bring out the theme of prostitution and infidelity in “A Mad World, My Masters”?

Throughout the play, the reader can see that the purposed conservative society is in question. It is easy to review the hypocritical nature of characters that seem to be well mannered but in reality, they cannot be trusted. Through critique, the reader can expose the mistrust, infidelity, and prostitution. There is also deception as men try to behave well in front of their wives but do the opposite when with other women. Throughout the play, characters misuse the trust of family members. Marital affairs issues and complaints are predominant in the play and that brings out the theme of prostitution. For instance, Courtesan turns into a prostitute because of the influence of her mother who encourages the vise for financial gain. Despite being a young woman, Courtesan's mind is morally corrupted and she sees prostitution as a way of life and she has almost slept with every man.

The irony of money and material wealth is widespread in the play. Briefly provide an example to illustrate the irony of money.

Throughout the play, the Courtesan mother is looking forward to benefiting from her daughter. Unlike most mothers who are after protecting the dignity of their daughters, this woman is looking for a loophole to use her daughter as a revenue-generating source. She submits her daughter and encourages her to be a prostitute for material gain. The mother knows that she can get money from her daughter if she becomes a prostitute to defraud men. Ironically, a mother can be such evil and greedy for money at the expense of her daughter.