SOURCE: Gross, Allen. “Contemporary Politics in Massinger.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 6, No. 2 (Spring 1966): 279-90.

In the following essay, Gross argues against the predominant opinion that Massinger's plays are full of specific topical references but notes that Massinger did have an interest in politics and political theory and occasionally dealt with contemporary political questions in his plays.

Nowadays the plays of Massinger and early Stuart politics seem linked as a matter of course. T. A. Dunn, in his recent study of the playwright,¹ certainly has no doubt that several of Massinger's works are full of references to and comments upon the attitudes and personalities of specific contemporary political figures. In this scholar's opinion, we need only read Massinger's plays with a working knowledge of Jacobean and Caroline history to have such references and comments—largely derogatory—stand out immediately in high relief. In coming to his conclusion, Mr...