The Alchemist Allusions & Cultural References

When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.

Literary References

  • Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy (4.7.69-73)
  • Hugh Broughton's, A Concent [sic] of Scripture (4.5.1-34)

Pop Culture References

  • The Plague of 1609-1610 (The Argument, Line 1)
  • John Dee (1527-c.1608), the famous alchemist /astrologer who died around the time the play was written (2.6.20)
  • Paracelsian, aka Paracelsius (1439-1541), a famous physician who was into alchemy (2.3.230)
  • Galen (130-c.210), famous physician and philosopher (2.3.233)
  • Hugh Broughton (1549-1612), a Puritan scholar (2.3.238)