A Woman Killed With Kindness
by Thomas Heywood

Name: A Woman Killed With Kindness
Brand: Thomas Heywood
SKU: 9780713666908
Rating: 3.5 (24 reviews)

A Woman Killed With Kindness Book Cover — A Woman Killed With Kindness Cover

Highlights

British

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate the intricate poetry and emotional depth in this Renaissance play, often highlighting its exploration of themes such as love, betrayal, and societal norms. While many found the characters engaging and the story thought-provoking, there are mixed feelings about the portrayal of women and the predictability of the plot. Overall, it strikes a chord with its depiction of tragedy and moral dilemmas.

Beautiful poetry and languageEngaging exploration of themesEmotional depth and pathosInteresting historical perspectiveCharacters can feel flatMisogynistic elements present

Synopsis

A main theme in early modern domestic tragedy was not marital discordas such but violent - usually unreasonably violent - behaviour on thehusband's part.

At a time when husbands were not only allowed butobliged to rule their families, including their wives, the definitionof 'lawful and reasonable' measures of punishment were opened todebate.

The marriage of John Frankford, a middling country gentleman,and his wife Anne is comfortable if uneventful, until Wendoll, anacquaintance of her husband's, confesses his passionate love to her

Anne yields to him; they are discovered.

Instead of killing the twoadulterers on the spot - a vengeance that society would condone -Frankford banishes his wife from the house and their two children

Racked by guilt and remorse, Anne starves herself to death; but Heywoodallows a scene of deathbed reconciliation to wife and husband.