Every Man in His Humour

Ben Jonson's career began in 1597 when he held a fixed engagement in the "e;Admiral's Men"e;, and although he was unsuccessful as an actor, his literary talent was apparent and he began writing original plays for the troupe. Jonson had a knack for absurdity and hypocrisy, a trait that made him immensely popular in the 17th century Renaissance period. It is known that Shakespeare's company produced several of Jonson's plays, Shakespeare himself appearing in "e;Every Man in His Humour"e; (1598). The play was Jonson's first major success, written in the style of "e;humour plays"e;, a genre of comedy originated by George Chapman. In it, Jonson targets some of his favorite topics for satire: education, love, poetry, and social classes. As each major character represents a different issue, the play transforms into a depiction of everyday Renaissance life, and a scathing social commentary on the problems that plagued it.