Character Clues

Character Analysis

Names

Jonson uses names to give us clues about his characters—their personalities, quirks, professions, etc. We talk about this more in our Character Analyses but here's a quick and dirty rundown of some of the important names.

Lovewit: That's his name because, well, the dude loves wit (humor and intelligence). That's why he doesn't punish his servant when he comes and finds out that Jeremy the Butler (a.k.a. Face) has been using his house as a brothel and the headquarters for a bunch of con games.

Doll Common: So, "doll" is pretty standard 16th and 17th Century slang for prostitute and the word "common" tells us that this shady lady has slept with just about every "common" man in London. It's a lot like the name of Shakespeare's infamous character Doll Tearsheet.

Face: Jeremy the Butler is known to his buddies and some of his victims as "Face." That's pretty fitting given that the guy is so good at roleplaying and deception. In other words, the dude is capable of putting on a bunch of different "faces" depending on the situation.

Subtle: His name literally means "crafty" and "sly," which is exactly what this conman is.

Abel Drugger: The dude sells tobacco, which was considered by many to be a "drug" back in the early 17th century.

Kastril: So, "kastril" is a term for a "small, angry falcon." That seems pretty fitting for this obnoxious kid who spends all his time bossing around his sister and trying to hone his trash talking skills.

Speech and Dialogue

In "Writing Style," we told you that Jonson reveals a boatload of info about his characters by giving them their own unique ways of talking (even though they all mostly speak in unrhymed iambic pentameter.)