What was the dispute over authorship of plays?

The dispute over the authorship of plays that occurred between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe was a widely discussed topic during the Elizabethan era and still remains a subject of debate among scholars. The primary contention was over the authorship of several plays that were initially attributed to Shakespeare but later sparked questions regarding their true origin due to stylistic similarities with Marlowe's works.

The most notable cases of disputed authorship involve the plays "Titus Andronicus" (1594) and "Edward II" (1592-93). Both of these plays share certain poetic traits, structural elements, and dramatic styles that are characteristic of Marlowe's writing, leading some critics and academics to propose the idea of collaboration or partial authorship by Marlowe.

Supporters of Shakespeare's sole authorship argue that the similarities can be attributed to the influence of Marlowe's early works on Shakespeare's developing style. They also highlight Shakespeare's growth and evolution as a writer over time, demonstrating his ability to write in different styles and genres throughout his career.

Furthermore, certain textual and stylistic variations present in the disputed plays suggest that they are more likely to be the product of Shakespeare's development and experimentation rather than collaboration. These variations encompass aspects such as meter, vocabulary, and rhetorical techniques.

Despite these arguments, the theory of collaboration between Shakespeare and Marlowe remains an area of ongoing research and debate among scholars and enthusiasts. Comparative studies and further analysis of the disputed works continue to shed light on the complex literary landscape of the Elizabethan era and the intricacies of authorship during that time.