Ancient Literature in our Modern World

There are several tv shows today that have aspects of Jacobean Drama.  One show that stands out to me is The Following.  The Following is a show about a serial killer named Joe Carol, who patterned his killings after Edgar Alan Poe’s work.  After several murders he was captured by F.B.I. agent Ryan Hardy and was locked away.

     After being captured Joe used the internet to attract a following of like minded killers.  Later after several murders Joe was believed to have died in a fire.   Later, a woman by the name Lily Gray being so infatuated with Joe began to slaughter people following Joe Carols mode of operation.   She used her adopted children to carry out the murders.

     Agent Hardy killed one of her children during one of their attempts to murder random people.  Here is where the Jacobean likeness occurs.   Lily acting on pure rage and anger for the loss of her daughter has Agent Hardys niece Max kidnapped and hunted down by a deranged killer.  His niece escapes.

     She then kidnaps Hardy. His partner Mike Weston and niece  go to rescue him and in the process his partner kills one of her twin sons.  Lily was outraged by this and sent Hardys partner a video of which she had gone to Mikes fathers house and murdered him in cold blood as revenge.

     Mike now on a rampage after seeing his father murdered in cold blood does everything he can to catch Lily.  When he does finally catch her instead of arresting her he shot her to death.

     The show is now in its third season and the main villain is Lily’s remaining son, out avenge his mother and brothers death.

     The endless violence only causes more violence.  No one is ever satisfied.  At some point the killing you would think would stop but the characters continue to go an eye for an eye.  The way these characters are murdered are so gruesome and horrific just in Jacobean time stories.  

 

 The following: Mikes fathers death.