Rule a Wife and Have a Wife

John Fletcher, a prominent Jacobean playwright, succeeded William Shakespeare as the house playwright for the King's Men and was a significant figure in early 17th-century drama. His prolific output and collaborations with Francis Beaumont and Shakespeare positioned him as a rival to Shakespeare during his lifetime. Although his fame has diminished over time, Fletcher is recognized as a crucial transitional figure bridging the Elizabethan and Restoration theatrical traditions, influencing the evolution of popular drama.