A trio of domestic tragedies: the degree of realism in the portraits of husbands and wives

This thesis examines idealistic versus realistic behavior patterns and expectations for the husbands and wives found in three Elizabethan domestic tragedies: Arden of Faversham (1592), A Warning for Fair Women (1599), and A Woman Killed with Kindness (1607).

Chapter I provides a brief summary of the Renaissance view of tragedy and specific definitions of domestic tragedy.

Chapter II establishes ideal characteristics and behavior for the Elizabethan man and the Elizabethan woman as well as providing Elizabethan views on marriage and adultery.

Chapter III discusses Arden and Alice and their deviance from the ideal standards established in Chapter II.

Chapter IV discusses the same theme in the behavior of George and Anne Sanders.

Chapter V follows the behavior patterns of John and Anne Frankford.

Chapter VI, the Conclusion, recaps the behavior of each couple and their compliance or deviance from ideal Elizabethan standards. The Conclusion maintains that ideal characteristics are present in some form in the husbands and wives of the domestic tragedies, but finds that the ideal is usually overshadowed by more realistic and passionate behavior.