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Overview
Synopsis
John Marston’s wickedly funny satire, The Malcontent, centers on the deposed Duke Altofronto, who returns to his court in Genoa to regain his power and position, whilst wreaking his revenge on those who deposed him. He adopts the alter ego of Malevole, a bitter parasite who openly criticizes the corruption of the court. His honesty attracts the attention of the current Duke Pietro, who values Malevole’s observations above the self-serving flattery of the other courtiers. Malevole alerts Pietro to his wife’s infidelity with the scheming Mendoza, who is anxious to seize the dukedom for himself. Altofronto cleverly manipulates the attempts of the machiavellian Mendoza to further depose Pietro and subsequently banish Aurelia. Altofronto even encourages Mendoza to propose marriage to his own, exiled wife, Maria, knowing that she will remain faithful to him.
After complex schemes of attempted murder, exile, fake deaths, disguise, and mistaken identity, Altofronto finally reveals himself to the newly penitent Pietro. Joining forces, the two men expose Mendoza's villainy and are reunited with their own wives. Marston’s seventeenth-century satire exposes a misguided court led by corruption, greed, and lust, which was rumored to be based on the court of James I.
Show Information
- Book
- John Marston
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1603
- Genres
- Satire
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- The court of Genoa, Seventeenth Century
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
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Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher