Love's Sacrifice

John Ford (1586-1637) was an English playwright and poet whose interest in aberrant psychology helped him create very unique and successful works. After collaboration with various playwrights, from about 1621 to 1625, Ford began working independently, writing plays for theatrical companies like the "Kings Men" at the Blackfriars. Following the literary reign of such figures as Jonson, Marlowe, and Shakespeare, Ford felt the need to shock and intrigue audiences with new and exciting material. "Love's Sacrifice" is one of the most fascinating and puzzling of Jacobean-Caroline plays. Briefly, it tells of an ageing duke devoted to a younger friend (Fernando). The duke meets and hastily marries a young woman (Bianca), with whom Fernando falls in love. The story takes a turn when Fernando's attempts at seducing Bianca are rejected at first, and then in a sudden development that is both startling and wholly convincing, Bianca appears in his bedroom at night to offer herself to him with certain confines.