The Tragedy of Superstition; or, the Fanatic Father, is a straight play by James Nelson Barker set in a Puritan village in Colonial America, specifically in "New England, about the year 1675." Although feeling much like a melodrama, Barker himself identifies the play as a tragedy in the title. Barker tells in his preface to the play that main incidents of the play are said to have actually occurred in New England in the late 1600s. The play revolves around the hero Charles and the villain Reverend Ravensworth. Ravensworth persecutes Charles and his mother on the claims that they are practicing magic. Unlike a traditional melodrama, in which poetic justice prevails, Charles is executed at the end of the play, his mother dies at the sight of her murdered son, and Ravensworth's daughter dies of grief because of the love she had for Charles. It might be easy to miss that Reginald at the very end reveals his mission, which was to pardon Isabella's father, the Unknown, for his part in killing King Charles I, but in doing so reveals that the king had secretly married Isabella ("espoused"), meaning that her son Charles was the son of the King.
The play critiques tyrannous styles of power, in this case by a religious leader, especially ones that use fear of a supposed "Other" to consolidate and maintain power. The tragedy was first performed on March 12, 1824 at the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.
Background
Barker was a groundbreaking playwright because of the sense of patriotism he brought to his works. In the preface of another of his plays, Barker laments that American audiences at the time still expected plays to "lisp the language of Shakespere". Barker's playwriting style is intentionally unlike English plays at the time. His plays are uniquely American in style.
Beyond just the style of play, Barker chiefly wrote plays set in America and about American problems. One evidence of this is in his play The Indian Princess, one of the first Pocahontas stories in American culture. Superstition is another example of America-centered plays. One of the characters, called "the Unknown" represents William Goffe, who was the regicide of Charles I, as well helping rally the people of this village against the Native Americans as they're about to be attacked. Although The Unknown is certainly not the main character of Superstition, he is central to the plot and represents American ideals.
Character List
Men
Sir Reginald Egerton, from London
George Egerton, from London
Women
Isabella, Charles' mother
Mary, Ravensworth's daughter
Alice, Mary's friend and Walford's daughter
Lucy, Isabella's servant
Villagers
Plot Synopsis
Act I
The play begins with Ravensworth’s daughter Mary talking with her friend Alice. Mary reveals to Alice that she is in love with Charles Fitzroy, who will soon be returning to the town after he was kicked out of school for being falsely accused of attempting to rob another boy in the town. She also tells that her father, Rev. Ravensworth, had become a bitter old man once her mother/his wife died. Ravensworth has a discussion with Mary in which he vehemently forbids any relationship between her and Charles. Ravensworth expresses to Walford his distrust of Charles and of his mother, Isabella, who came to the town years ago. Ravensworth believes that Charles and Isabella are practicing witchcraft, but Walford disagrees. The scene shifts to Sir Reginald and his nephew George Egerton, who are both from London. They reveal that they have come to America to find the man who killed King Charles I of England.
Act II
The second act opens with a mysterious man called “the Unknown,” who lives in the forest away from civilization. The Unknown meets Charles Fitzroy in the forest as Charles makes his way back from school where he's been expelled on trumped up charges. This is the first time we see Charles in the play. After a discussion about Charles' origins, the Unknown agrees to help him get back to town. The scene shifts back to George and Sir Reginald hunting in the woods. They express their preference for London, and George especially remarks his disdain for America, particularly their rules of propriety. He laments the loss of revelry he could be having if he were in London. They encounter Mary in the forest and both attempt to win her favor. George especially tries to use his city sensibilities to impress Mary, but she is not “sophisticated” enough to understand him. George becomes increasingly forward and possibly physical in his flirtations, which scares Mary. Luckily, Charles enters, saves Mary, and George challenges him to a duel.