The Life & Death of Common Sense by Henry Fielding. Short summary

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The wise queen Common Sense fights against the queen of Ignorance. But she is treacherously murdered by the court priest. But common sense cannot be killed: the queen rebels and overthrows her enemies.

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The comedy is the second part of the work «Pasquin, A Dramatic Satire on Modernity. It, unlike the tragedy «Elections» (Part 1), allegorically conveys the idea that common sense cannot be killed by either popes or politicians who pass laws that contradict it.

Queen Common Sense prepares to fight her rival, the monarchess Ignorance. The advantage seems to be on the side of the former. Politicians, religious figures and eminent persons are in solidarity with her.

But Common Sense is betrayed by her courtiers. The Priest (a minister of all kinds of religions) stabs her deadly in the back. Ignorance seems to triumph, although no one makes it public that he is her most loyal subject.

However, Common Sense comes to life. She gathers a new army and puts Ignorance to flight.