Eighteenth Century Women Playwrights Essay examples -- European Europe

The following essay gives a short biography of eight of the most well known women playwrights of the eighteenth century. The essay runs in chronological prescribe by each playwrights birth date and describes the better known accomplishments of each playwright. The playwrights that I have included in this essay ar Mary Delariviere Manley, Mary Griffith Pix, Susanna Carroll Centlivre, Catherine Trotter Cockburn, Eliza Fowler Haywood, Elizabeth Griffith, Hannah Parkhouse Cowley, and Elizabeth Simpson Inchbald (Benedict 2003). Mary Delariviere Manley has a strange early history. It is unknown whether or not her first name really was Mary. It is unknown simply when and exactly where she was born. The name of her mother is unknown. The resting place of her father is unknown. Mary Manley was born either on April 6 or 7, 1663, or in any category between 1667 and 1672. Her father, Lieutenant-Governor of the English island of Jersey, abandoned her around 1688. She lived with her cousin, John Manley, who married her, although he was already married. Later, John Manley abandoned her and their son (Schlueter and Schlueter 1988). Mary Manleys first twain plays, The Lost Lover and The royal stag Mischief, were written in 1696 while she lived in Exeter. Both plays were performed in London The Lost Lover at Drury Lane and The Royal Mischief at Lincolns Inn Fields. Although The Lost Lover was not palmy, The Royal Mischief brought her wealth and recognition. Mary believed that the plays were not as successful as they could have been because they were written by a woman. From this time on Mary was what we today call a womens rights activist (Rozny 2001). Mary began to frame political satires for wh... ... Vows. Oxford Woodstock Books, 1990.Ingrassia, Catherine. Eliza Haywood. http//www.people.vcu.edu/cingrass/chronology.htm (13 November 2003).Ricciardi, Cynthia B. Welcome to the Elizabeth Griffith Homepage. 10 June 2000. http//w ebhost.bridgew.edu/cricciardi/griffith.htm (11 November 2003).Rozny, Noel and Margaret Vincent. The Official Website of the Secret Society of British Gentlewomen. 19 April 2001. (11 November 2003).Schlueter, Paul, and June Schlueter, ed. An Encyclopedia of British Women Writers. NY Garland, 1988.Todd, Janet, ed. A Dictionary of British and American Women Writers 1660-1800. NJ Rowman and Allanheld, 1985.Warren, Kate M. New Advent. 15 September 2003. (14 November 2003).