<DIV><P>"The next good mood I find my father in, I'll get him quite discarded"</P><P>With these chillingly offhand words, Beatrice-Joanna, the spoilt daughter of a powerful nobleman, plots to get rid of the family servant who has crossed her once too often. <I>The Changeling</I> remains one of the most compelling tragedies from the 17th century. Exposing the vexed relationship<B> </B>between servants and masters, setting notions of 'change' against the revelation of psychological 'secrets' as ways of explaining human behaviour<B>,</B> and exploring the idea of love as a 'tame madness', the play reveals the terrifying consequences of ungoverned sexual appetite and betrayal. Despite its seemingly domestic focus, <I>The Changeling</I> has much to reveal about the gathering social and political tensions that were to plunge England into a destructive civil war within twenty years of its first performance. </P><P>This new student edition contains a lengthy new Introduction with background on the authors, date and sources, theme, critical interpretation and stage history.</P><P>The New Mermaids plays offer:<BR>-Modernized versions of the play text edited to the highest textual standards<BR>-Fully annotated student editions with obscure words explained and critical, contextual and staging insight provided on each page<BR>-Full Introductions analyzing context, themes, author background and stage history</P></DIV>