Every Man in His Humour

Every Man in His Humour Summary

The play opens with a prologue addressing the audience. The speaker talks about how the popularity of the theater is the reason that the show was written. Playwrights hope that their work - like a child - is pleasing to the audience. This particular play is then presented as one that does not whisk the audience away to a foreign land, but will portray a contemporary place and time that people can laugh at.

The first scene starts with the old man Knowell at his house. He instructs his servant Brainworm to wake and bring to him his son, the young Edward Knowell. The elder Knowell then reflects on how happy he is that his son is a scholar like he once was, but is unhappy that his son is so fond of the “fruitless” arts. Then enters Master Stephen, a country man who is easily deceived. He has come to visit his relatives. The elder Knowell thinks he is ridiculous and tries to give him advice on how to be a better, wiser man. As he finishes his speech, a servant enters and after some conversation, Stephen leaves. This allows the servant to deliver a letter to Knowell that is meant for his son. The elder Knowell reads it, knowing it is not for him. Knowell is offended by how impolite and friendly the letter is, and calls in Brainworm to give the letter to his son. To end the scene, Knowell vows he will not force his son to be a good man, but will try to compel him to be one freely.

The second scene of act one opens with Brainworm bringing Edward the letter and admitting that Edward’s father had read it. Stephen enters, inquiring about the man that brought the letter. He wants to go after the man, but he is far gone. The cousins Stephen and Edward Knowell then talk. The two go off to the city to meet with the man who send Edward the letter. Mathew arrives to Cob’s house in scene three and they chat. While Cob goes on and on about various respectable ancestors, Mathew does not believe him. Mathew asks about finding a man named Captain Bobadill, who Cob says is his guest. Mathew also does not believe that Bobadill is Cob’s guest, but Cob insists that the man fell asleep on his bench the night before. A servant of Cob’s then takes Mathew to Bobadill. The scene ends with a monologue by Cob about the drama in his master’s house and Bobadill whom owes him money.

The fourth and final scene of act one takes place in the room in Cob’s house where Bobadill is lying on the bench. Mathew is welcomed by Bobadill. They discuss the previous night’s events wherein guests had asked for Mathew. Bobadill asks to keep it a secret that he spent the night there, and Mathew agrees. Then, Mathew shares a new play, and the two discuss how well written it is. The conversation moves to Mathew’s own work. Downright insulted it and threatened to beat Mathew. The conversation shifts to compliments about Bobadill. The compliments turn into Bobadill offering to teach Mathew how to fight, and the two head off to a near tavern.

Act two opens at the house of Kitely, a merchant at the Old Jewry. His cashier Cash, and the squire Downright enter. Kitely gives his cashier some work to do. Next, Kitely hesitantly tells the squire that his brother Wellbred has become disrespectful. While Wellbred’s actions anger Downright, Kitely remains calm. Kitely states however, that he has no authority over Wellbred and that he cannot scold him for fear of backlash. Bobadill and Mathew enter, and quickly leave when they do not find Wellbred. Downright wants to follow them and fight, but Kitely tells him not to go. The squire leaves, so Kitely reflects on the possibility of the women in his life to be overcome by desire. He decides to not let his rash thoughts get the best of him.

The second scene takes place in the moorfields - open areas of land in London - where Brainworm is disguised as a soldier. He wants to interrupt Knowell’s following of his son. Stephen and the elder Knowell enter. Stephen loses his purse, which holds a ring from a mistress. The two had exchanged poems of love. Then, Brainworm appears and interests the men with some conversation and a barter. Though Knowell tries to discourage Stephen from buying a knife off of the “soldier”, Stephen says he will buy it anyway. Still in the Moorfields, scene three opens with a monologue by Knowell. He is torn between disappointment in the letter to his son, and memories of his own youth. His speech turns to the way that parents shape their children, often in a bad way. Knowell is happy he did not do so with his own son. Yet, he sees that his son has gone astray and is not pleased. Brainworm enters then, in his disguise as before and begs for beer and money. Knowell scolds the “soldier” for begging, and tells him to be a better gentleman. Brainworm claims to not know how to find work, but Knowell says he will show him.

The first scene of act three takes place in a tavern with Mathew, Bobadill, and Wellbred. Mathew and Bobadill speak of not liking Wellbred’s brother, Downright. Squire Downright protests the insults when Edward Knowell and Stephen enter. Wellbred is the one who wrote the letter to Edward so they discuss it, and how it was wrongly delivered to the elder Knowell. The conversation turns to the military service served by both Stephen and Bobadill. Bobadill in particular shares a story about fighting with his trusty rapier. He and Stephen compare their swords (Stephen’s is the one he bought from Brainworm). They all insult his common sword, which makes Stephen angry. Just then, Brainworm enters still disguised. Brainworm admits to fooling Stephen into buying the knife. The group of men are then warned that the elder Knowell is headed their way, and they leave in order to not be found.

In the second scene, Cash helps Kitely prepare to conduct some suspicious business exchanging money. The two discuss who will be present and Kitely feels he does not know what to do or say. Kitely then wishes to tell Cash a secret, but he feels that Cash is hesitant to keep it so he does not reveal the secret and instead sends Cash to do another job. Before he leaves, Kitely asks his cashier to tell him if Wellbred comes to his house with the company of any other man. Additionally, he asks that Cash keep the whole business private to his wife. Next, Cob enters in distress. Cash tries to convince Cob that it is his “humour” making him so distressed. As he continues to speak of fear and persecution, Mathew, Bobadill, Stephen, Wellbred, Brainworm, and Edward Knowell enter. Cash and Cob exit. The group of men discuss Brainworm’s clever trick earlier. Cash reenters looking for some men and accidentally lets out that Kitely went to Justice Clement’s. The men continue to talk, this time about tobacco, and Bobadill boasts about its many uses. Then Cob and Cash reenter and Cob begins talking about recent deaths attributed to tobacco. Bobadill beats the man, but th…
[10:49 PM, 7/29/2019] Sir Yasir Qadri: Every Man in His Humour Character List


Knowell
It is spelt Kno' well , showing its components - Know well as also the principal trait of the character or attitude which is stressed for the purpose of the drama. Knowell really knows well and his anxiety lies in the fact that he wants to see his son in right company. He is made to look ludicrous by his son and his companions, and Jonson takes it from the Roman comedies. But Jonson makes old Knowell different, for instead of treating his discomfiture with contempt, he presents father-son relationship more genially.

Brainworm
This intriguing servant of Knowell is closer to the New comedy of the Ancients. The plot of the play springs from his intrigues. He appears in different disguises, successfully fooling even his master and in the end end help unravel the plot. He is quite ingenious in his intrigues and disguises, and seems to be given the most important role of the motivator , however slippery it may be. Even Justice Clement is impressed by him in the end and he let's the rogue off leniently. He is not really a rogue, but only roguish and he is genial enough to amuse all in the end.

Downright
This character's loathing of insincere talk or hypocrisy and immoral conduct makes him rather blunt, rude and impetuous, a complete foil to Knowell and Wellbred. He has an aversion to poetry and word spinning. But, though he is quite officious, nobody doubts his moral stance. Justice Clement treats him scornfully when he makes himself a victim of Brainworm.

Kitely
Kitely, being associated with Kite, should have represented greed or avarice but instead he represents jealousy. Perhaps the name is derived from the dialect word Kittle or kittly that means ticklish or touchy, one who is easily irritable, and hence difficult to deal with.

Bobadill
Bobadill is a common Spanish name, and once Jonson used it to mean a braggart, it was widely used. However, in Latin comedy, Bobadill is more than a boasting soldier and a coward. Jonson made him very much original. He is not a profligate ,nor is he stained with any vice. He is poor and frugal, and he is very much amusing not just ridiculous in his stupidity.

A Paul's Man
Those days the central isle of St.Paul's was a fashionable resort, and a place for business. Some visited it for their cheap dinner and board.

A country Gull
Gulls were stupid people who were easily duped. The difference between town gull and country gull is that the country gull aped the town gull.

Cob
Those days water had to be fetched and there were water- bearers who fetched water and sold in ' tankards'. They were called cobs.

Clement
The name itself is the 'humour', but then Clement had oddities that made his clemency rather frightening.