Through his work, A Mad World, My Masters, Thomas Middleton challenges the viewer's point of view on adultery describing it as comical rather than categorically reproachable. . During the first four acts of A Mad World, My Masters, the play appears to encourage the audience to support Penitent Brothel and Mistress Harebrain as they carry out an affair without the knowledge of Master Harebrain, an emotionally abusive dupe. Despite the comical side of the affair, once Penitent Brothel and Mistress Harebrain actually have sex, the arrival of the Succubus brings a radical change in tone. With its appearance in Act IV, Scene Five, A Mad World, My Masters begins to draw parallels with supernatural tragedies like the works of Shakespeare published around the same time. This incident could be said to be the catalyst for a change in perspective on the play. However, through the analysis of the affair before and after Mistress Harebrain and Penitent Brothel consummated their affair, I will argue in this essay that A Mad World, My Masters does not change its point of view but in fact remains resolute in its position that the affair between Mistress Harebrain and Penitent Brothel should be sustained. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay To begin, I will detail how the play presents the affair before Mistress Harebrain and Penitent Brothel have sex and explain how the depiction argues that A Mad World, My Masters ultimately does not change the point view on the matter. The relationship is revealed from the start to be based on love and not lust. Some argue that the numerous mentions of love in the dialogue could be interpreted as synonymous with lust. However, the text expresses these two emotions in different ways. Lust is written as the cause of a crisis of faith and self. These problems are not found in Penitent's love for Mistress Harebrain. For example, after having sex, the penitent laments over what he has done and worries about the holy punishment, specifically referring to lust. “What crown is reserved for continence, what crown for lust,” he said, “To dote on weakness, on slime, on corruption, on woman?” (4.1.15, 18). Compare this language, which I emphasize specifically mentions lust, to the language used when the Penitent speaks of love. In his first appearance, Penitent explains to the audience that he is planning to have an affair with Mistress Harebrain. In this passage, he directly refers to his love for her: "And such appetite as I know damns me / (Yet kisses her willingly), love for Harebrain's wife" (1.1.105-106). The sentiment is astonishingly ahead of its time: a man renouncing the responsibilities of faith to be with the woman he loves. The contrast between these examples shows how the case must be supported by the public. It's hard for the viewer not to root for two people who seem to genuinely love each other. Although the relationship is presented as loving, some argue that Penitent manipulates her into this relationship. However, although the Penitent sends the courtesan to persuade Mistress Harebrain to have sex with him, it is immediately mentioned that she already felt the same way. When the courtesan recounts how her meeting with Mistress Harebrain took place, she says: “She [Mistress Harebrain] had fashioned herself to the form of your love before my art touched her” (1.1.127-128). The text implies the.