# Ben Jonson — On the Art of Writing character guide

> Ben Jonson in On the Art of Writing by Arthur Quiller-Couch.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Jonson, Ben

**First appearance:** 0005-lecture-iii-on-the-difference-between-verse-and-prose

## Who they are

Elizabethan playwright and poet cited for his critical views.

## Relationships

### [Shakespeare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se/characters/shakespeare)

_rivalry_

Ben Jonson and Shakespeare share a competitive yet respectful rivalry as contemporary playwrights.

### [Shakespeare](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se/characters/shakespeare)

_rivalry_

Ben Jonson and Shakespeare share a competitive yet respectful rivalry as contemporary playwrights.

## In the story

### [Lecture VII: Some Principles Reaffirmed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se/chapters/lecture-vii-some-principles-reaffirmed)

Quoted for his remark that Shakespeare never blotted a line and should have blotted a thousand.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se/characters/ben_jonson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/on_the_art_of_writing_se/characters