49 pages • 1 hour read
Thomas Middleton, William RowleyThe Changeling
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1622A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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 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.