Family of Love - Lording Barry Thomas Dekker Thomas Middleton

The Family of Love is an early Jacobean city comedy that satirizes the sexual libertinism of the Familists, a religious sect founded in the 16th century. At the heart of the play is Maria, who is in love with Gerardine, while her uncle Glister opposes their union, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements. The antics of dim-witted gallants and the mock trial orchestrated by Gerardine highlight themes of love, deception, and societal hypocrisy that remain relevant today. This clever exploration of human desires and moral conflicts makes it a timeless piece, inviting listeners to reflect on the nature of love and the follies of human behavior.