Answer
Rivals. Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare were prominent playwrights of the Elizabethan era, and their relationship was marked by both competition and admiration. While Jonson respected Shakespeare's talent, he also criticized his lack of classical education and adherence to dramatic conventions. Shakespeare, in turn, may have envied Jonson's reputation as a learned scholar. Despite their rivalry, however, the two playwrights shared a mutual respect for each other's work.