Ben Jonson s Views on Society as Portrayed in To Penhurst and Inviting a Friend to
Ben Jonson’s views on society in the seventeenth century are evident through many of his works including his poems “To Penshurst” and “Inviting a Friend to Supper”. In “To Penhurst”, Jonson outlines an ideal kind of society without any class structues, where everyone is created equal. In his poem “Inviting a Friend to Supper” there is a more realistic view on society and how it functions. ... This fact may possibly have been the reason why this poem is so idealistic and tends to portay a perfect society whereas “Invting a Friend to Supper” does not. Penshurst is described as a humble and modest estate that seems to be cozy and very inviting. ... ” It is an ideal setting where everyone is hospitable and there is no referance to a heirachial society, which did exist during the seventeenth century. ... ” The equality of each individual is the major theme in this poem as it is the basis in which we can see Jonson’s ideal socal stuctural ideas.