Christopher Marlowe and Mythology

"In summers heate and mid-time of the day. To rest my limbes upon a bed I lay, One window shut, the other open stood, Which have such light as twinkles in a wood." (1.1-4) This is an excerpt from Christopher Marlowe's, Ovid's Elegias, a poem that, with a certain amount of psychological investigation, can easily be tied to certain aspects relating to paganism and mythology. Throughout Marlowe's career there is an obvious connection between all of his works- the use of religious names, ideals, allusions, and beliefs. These characteristics make Marlowe's works unified by ties to Greek and Roman mythology.

Ovid's Elegias is a beautiful poem that depicts an account of a pair of lovers while surrounded by nature. This poem can effortlessly be coupled with the religion of paganism through the ideals of simplicity, and nature mysticism, which is nature venerating, setting human life in harmony with the seasons. Ancient Greeks and many Romans were pagans given that "they did not know or believe in the God worshiped by the Christians and Jews, and later, the Moslems" ("Pagan"). This poem can also be directly associated with Roman history for the reason that Ovid was actually a Roman poet who "retold the story of Pygmalion in his tales called Metamorphoses" ("Pygmalion"). The poem can also be tied to mythology due to the author's use of allusion by speaking of Jove, which is the Latin name for the Roman God, Jupiter ("Greek and Roman Mythology"). This occurs when he writes, "Jove, send me more such after-noones as this. (1.26)"

The premise of mythology continues in the play, Dido Queen of Carthage. Marlowe's main focus is a combination of both Roman and Greek mythology. Marlowe makes references to Roman Gods and Goddesses such as- Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Neptune; and Greek Gods and Goddesses such as- Ganymede, Hercules, Hermes, Rhesus, Hebe, and Boreas ("Greek and Roman Divinities"). Marlowe even makes reference to the Battle of Troy, the story of Hercules, and several other historical references such as, Agamemnon, the Fountain of Tyrrhene, Aeneus, and Ascanius (2.3-60) (Greek and Roman Divinities). This play contains so many references to mythology, it is clear that the theme is not just coincidental.

Christopher Marlowe's play, Jew of Malta, deals yet again with the theme of Greek and Roman mythology with his clever use of Judaism. One would think that this play would finally push away from the theme of mythology because of the play's title, when in actuality the play does just the opposite. In this play Marlowe makes an allusion to "Pigmalion" as he spells it, which is essentially derived from the name Pygmalion ("Pygmalion"). In the play Marlowe writes, "In graving, with Pigmalion to contend..."(2.9). The name Pygmalion is said to have many different origins but the most convicting piece of information about Pygmalion comes from the Greek mythological story of a king who creates an ivory statue of a woman and falls in love with it. He then prays to Aphrodite, goddess of love, to make his statue a living woman. Aphrodite obliged and Pygmalion and the woman had a son by the name of Paphos ("Pygmalion")("Greek and Roman Divinities"). Another allusion made by Marlowe, has to do with a person by the name of Apelles when Marlowe writes, "...or painting, with Apelles; doubtless to end" (2.10). Apelles also has some very different meanings, but the source, which seems to fit the play best, is the story of Apelles, a renowned painter of ancient Greece who was the court painter to both Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedonia ("Apelles").

Amongst so many patchwork-like plays, which combine many different religions, there is Ballad of Faustus. This poem deals with only Christianity (one of the lesser used themes). In this poem Marlowe depicts a character that "shun[s] the holy Bible-book" (1.13-16). But then gives his soul to the devil and after much personal speculation, at the end says, "Give not your souls and bodies unto hell, see that the smallest hair you do not sell. But hope that Christ his kingdom you may gain, Where you shall never fear such immortal pain; Forsake the devil and all his crafty ways, Embrace true faith that never more decays" (3. 75-80). Overall this poem seems to be using the bible not as a factual book but as a story from which he pulls characters much like he does with Roman mythology and Greek mythology.

One of Marlowe's most famous works is the pastoral poem, "The Passionate Shepard to His Love". This poem describes a shepherd trying to persuade the lady he loves to come be with him in nature. The simplistic ideals and the nature mystification come into act in this play, just as it did in Ovid's Elegias. The powerful imagery of nature that the shepherd describes is so admiring of nature that pagan-like ideas seem to quite evidently be the cause. In Latin, the word paganus, means "rustic" which ties in well with the shepherd ("Pagan"). The shepherd offers her "...beds of roses and a thousand fragrant posies, a cap of flowers, and a kirtle embroidered with leaves of myrtle" (1.9-12). He then goes on to say, " The shepherd's swains shall dance and sing for thy delight each May morning" (1.21-22). Its interesting that the author decided to use the month of May when depicting the shepherds dancing in nature because the month of May is the time in which May Day occurs, a celebration of the renewal of the Earth. This could reasonably be associated with pagans and their appreciation for the Earth's renewal also.

Through reading Marlowe's work, it is easy to see why he has not been forgotten. Not only does he capture his audience, but his works also contain characteristics of a riddle. Within each short story, play or poem there are hidden allusions, names, and ideals which all refer back to Greek and Roman mythology.

Works Cited

"Apelles" World Book Online. 20 November 2001. World Book Dictionary. 28
October 2005. .
"Greek and Roman Divinities" World Book Online. 20 November 2001. World
Book Dictionary. 28 October 2005. .
Marlowe, Christopher "Dido Queen of Carthage." The Complete Works of
Christopher Marlowe: An Electronic Edition. 3 Jan 2000. .
- - -. "Excerpt. Ballad of Faustus. Student Resource Center. Litfinder.
A&M Consolidated HS Library, College Station, TX. 30 Aug 2005. .
- - -. "Excerpt. Hero and Leander. Student Resource Center. Litfinder. A&M
Consolidated HS Library, College Station, TX. 30 Aug 2005. .
- - -. "Ovid's Elegia 5". The Works of Christopher Marlowe. 19 May 2004.
. - - -. "Jupiter and Ganymede". The Works of Christopher Marlowe. 19 May
2004. . - - -. "Jew of Malta." The Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe: An
Electronic Edition. 3 Jan 2000. .
- - -. "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love." 20 November 2001. World Book
Dictionary. 28 October 2005. .
"Pagan" World Book Online. 20 November 2001. World Book Dictionary. 28
October 2005. .
"Pygmalion" World Book Online. 20 November 2001. World Book Dictionary. 28 October 2005. .