Philaster by Beaumont & Fletcher

PRIMARY SOURCE: Philaster (prod. 1609)
Context

• Publication: Printed in 1620 by Nicholas Okes for Thomas Walkley. Transferred to Hawkins in 1638, and then quickly to Mead & Meredith, then Leake. Printed in 7 quartos total. The 1620 title page exists in two states. EEBO link.
• Scholarship: Scholars read Philaster as the first tragicomical collaboration between Beaumont and Fletcher. Fletcher is believed to have turned the play into a tragicomedy, "not so called in respect of mirth and killing, but in respect it wants deaths, which is enough to make it no tragedy, yet brings some near it, which is enough to make it no comedy, which must be a representation of familiar people, with such kind of trouble as no life be questioned" (quoted in Strauss).
  Scholars also like to compare Philaster to Cymbeline, Arcadia, and Othello.
• Why I'm reading it: The Canon, illustrated title page, the court, formalism.

Content

• Form: Mixed prose with iambic pentameter. Five acts. 
• Genre: Tragicomedy.
• Conceit: The King of Calabria has deposed the King of Sicily, but the heir to the Sicilian throne, Philaster, remains at court. Brash Philaster is supported the people and the courtiers Lord Dion, Cleremont, and Trasilene. The King of Calabria has no male heir, but plans to marry his daughter Arethusa to Pharamond, a Spanish prince. Arethusa loves Philaster and hates Pharamond, who is conceited. Philaster sends his servant, Bellario, to serve Arethusa and to carry their romance.
  Pharamond "attempts the virtue of Galathea" (Strauss), and while she leads him on, she refuses the rude stuff. Arethusa exposes Pharamond's affair with a loose courtier, Megra. Pharamond spreads the rumor that Arethusa has an affair with Bellario. Philaster is fooled by Pharamond's rumor, so during a hunt, he stabs Arethusa. A passing country gentleman discovers them. He fights Philaster, and they wound each other. Other nobles from the court discover Arethusa. Arethusa and Philaster recover.
  Philaster is discovered and sentenced to death. The King puts Philaster under Arethusa's guardianship.  Arethusa marries Philaster, so the King orders both to be executed.
  The citizens rebel and capture Pharamond. Bellario reveals herself to be Eufrasia, Lord Dion's daughter in love with Philaster. Pharamond leaves for Spain. Philaster is now the King's heir, and is restored to the crown.
• Other notes: Okes used a highly unique woodcut on the cover, depicting the scene of Philaster in the forest, ready to duel the gentleman.
• Mneumonic: Si(cily) Ca(labria) Phar(amond) Are(thusa) Phi(laster) Bell(ario) Eu(fasia) Meg(ra)
  Since callous pharoahs are fickle, belles utilize megalomania.

(NB: written with notes.)
Strauss, Gerald H. "Philaster." Masterplots, Fourth Edition (2010): 1-4. Literary Reference Center. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.