Written at an uncertain date towards the close of Lyly's career,

differs from the rest of the Lylian corpus in a number of respects. Unlike the dramatist's previous plays which are rooted in debate and evolve through analogy and contrast, the drama looks back to the intrigue actions of Roman New Comedy, turning, like its classical antecedents, on the conflict between the marital ambitions of parents and children, and the activities of witty servants mediating for financial gain in their masters' affairs. In sharp contrast to Lyly's earlier plays, which are set in classically-inspired or mythological locations, the action takes place in sixteenth-century Rochester (Kent), and includes a well-known local figure, the reputed witch Mother Bombie. Rather than being of royal or…

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Citation: Scragg, Leah. "Mother Bombie". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 September 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3418, accessed 26 November 2024.]

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