The Changeling Literary Elements

Drama; tragedy

English

Alicante; 17th century

There is no singular narrator or point of view expressed in the play.

Bleak, ill-fated, chaotic, remorseful

The protagonists and antagonists shift throughout the course of the play. By the end of the play, Beatrice-Joanna and DeFlores are both antagonists and Alsemero, Tomazo, and the governor are protagonists. Isabella is also a protagonist of the subplot.

The central conflict of the play is that Beatrice-Joanna does not want to marry the man to whom she has been betrothed, and thus schemes to have him murdered by DeFlores.

The climax of the play occurs when Alsemero discovers that Beatrice-Joanna is not actually a virgin and begins to unravel her connection with DeFlores.

Beatrice-Joanna's warning to Alsemero not to trust his eyes foreshadows her eventual betrayal and deception.

Beatrice-Joanna speaks with understatement when she offers money to those from whom she needs a favor.

There are numerous allusions to other early modern plays in The Changeling, most notably the perverted take on Romeo and Juliet through the characters of Beatrice-Joanna and DeFlores.

Important imagery in the play includes the gloves, virginity, appearances, and diamonds.

The central paradox of the play is that Beatrice-Joanna is repulsed by DeFlores at the same time she develops great affection for him and his service.

N/A

In the play, a person's eyes are often personified as having a mind and will of their own – a will that could skew the reality of what someone is really seeing.

The play makes use of a great deal of off-stage action, specifically when it comes to the murder of Diaphanta and the sexual encounters between Beatrice-Joanna and DeFlores. This off-stage activity keeps the play somewhat mysterious and challenges audiences to question what is really happening.