Arden of Faversham

Synopsis

In Arden of Faversham, the story follows Thomas Arden, a prosperous landowner in 16th-century Faversham. His life spirals into chaos when his wife, Alice, and her lover, Mosby, conspire to murder him. The couple’s initial attempts to poison Arden fail, pushing them to recruit a band of misfit assassins. Their increasingly desperate schemes reflect the corrupting power of greed and lust, leading to a shocking and inevitable conclusion.

This gripping domestic tragedy, which unfolds in a linear narrative, is steeped in themes of betrayal, social ambition, and revenge. The play’s authorship is a point of scholarly debate, with some attributing it to Shakespeare or his contemporaries. This ambiguity adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative, as it reflects the collaborative and competitive nature of Elizabethan playwrights. The story is a potent exploration of human frailty set against the richly detailed backdrop of Tudor England.