Why did the playwrights choose to use fictitious names for the characters in their play?

They wanted to protect the identity of people they were writing about.

Explanation:

The playwrights chose "fictitious names" for their characters in the play in order to conceal the identity of the characters because most of the time, they represent real people in the society.

The story of some plays reveal the truth of what is happening in the society, such as political issues, crime and so on. Oftentimes, they give people an awareness rather than entertainment. Sometimes, the writer also have to write under a fictitious name or pseudonym. For example, the Bronte sisters wrote under male pseudonyms because it was uncommon for a female to be a writer in those days.

b) the confederacy had to pay all union war expenses.