Thomas Otway

Date of Birth: March 3, 1652

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: April 14, 1685

Biography

Thomas Otway was an English dramatist and poet, born on March 3, 1652, in Trotton, Sussex, England. He is best known for his tragedies, which are noted for their emotional intensity and powerful characterizations. Otway was educated at Winchester College and later at Christ Church, Oxford, but he left without a degree and moved to London to pursue a career in the theater. His first play, “Alcibiades,” was produced in 1675, but it was his later works that earned him enduring fame. “The Orphan” (1680) and “Venice Preserved” (1682) are considered his masterpieces and remain significant works in the canon of English Restoration drama. Otway’s life was marked by financial difficulties and personal struggles, and he died in relative poverty on April 14, 1685, at the age of 33.

5 Interesting Facts about Thomas Otway

1. Thomas Otway was a contemporary and friend of the famous playwright Aphra Behn.

2. He served briefly as a soldier in the army before fully committing to his literary career.

3. Otway’s play “Venice Preserved” is often praised for its exploration of political corruption and personal betrayal.

4. Despite his success as a playwright, Otway struggled with poverty throughout his life.

5. His tragic personal life has often been linked to the intense emotional depth of his works.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Thomas Otway

1. “Shining characters are not always the most agreeable ones.”

2. “Honesty needs no disguise nor ornament; be plain.”

3. “Love and war are the same thing, and stratagems and policy are as allowable in the one as in the other.”

4. “Pity’s akin to love.”

5. “Few are the charms of women in their youth, but when they are gone, the world is a desert.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Thomas Otway did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth is unknown but is generally assumed to have been modest, as he died in relative poverty.