Arden of Faversham is an anonymously written play based off the real-life murder of Raphael Holinshed. As we previously mentioned in class, this play can be compared to a modern day soap opera with major comedic relief. Throughout the performance, the audience is on edge, watching/reading the many failed attempts of murdering Arden, by his wife Alice, her lover Mosby, as well as the hired hit men Black Will and Shakebag. Though there seems to be an angel keeping Arden safe through most of the play, his guardian fails in the end. After Black Will hold Arden down with a towel, Mosby hit’s him with an iron, then Shakebag and Alice stabs him.

We, the audience, knows that Alice is of highest social status. She’s a descendant of a noble house and also holds highest status in her own home as head of the household. Throughout the play, we see a theme of social status taking precedents. We see Alice is in charge of the home, due to the fact that Michael and Susan take orders from her over Arden. Of course we also see she’s in control, because she murders her own husband, Arden. Mosby is also one of the “new gentlemen,” who was unhappy of the status he was born in. Once a tailor, he continued on to become a steward in the nobleman’s house. This allows him to be wealthier and more prestigious than if he was just a tailor.

I believe this is why Arden, called a cuckold by Mosby, chooses to ignore the fact that Alice are having an affair with him. Arden, unaware of his wife’s plan to murder him, enjoys being apart of the upper status that comes with the marriage of his wife. Greene also wanted to have Arden murdered because the King gave his land to Arden, and without it, Greene has nothing for himself or his family. Which once again comes back to the status theme, because Greene is only a farmer, he has no ownership of the land that was once his.

However, as the play comes to a close, we see the true meaning of social status. In the long run, it means nothing if you’re morals are non existent. Land, money, and power means nothing when faced with death by execution. In a sort of comedic way, everyone blames the other, and Mosby curses women off all together. However I do feel bad for Susan and Bradshaw. Though they had almost nothing to do with Arden’s murder, they’re sentenced to death as well. Truly making this Elizabethan play a domestic tragedy.