Category: Shakespeare

Precis

Act 1: Cymbeline turns against Imogen and Posthumous; as does Iachimo; Queen plots.

Cymbeline, angry that Imogen has wed Posthumos, banishes Posthumos and imprisons Imogen. Posthumos, in Rome, encounters Iachimo who sets out to to prove Imogen unfaithful. Queen requests a poison from her doctor, who gives her a fake one.

Act 2. Cloten and Posthumos both vow revenge on Imogen, for different reasons

Cloten is offended by Imogen and vows revenge; Iachimo deceives Imogen and steals her ring and learns details about her room and body, and uses them to convince Posthumos that she has betrayed him.

Act 3: War with Rome; Pisano warns Imogen as they travel; Imogen disguises herself as Fidelus

Caius Lucius arrives; Cymbeline, influence by Cloten and the Queen, refuses; war is declared. Posthumos orders Pisanio to murder Imogen, and sends her a false letter asking her to meet him at Milford Haven. Pisanio, however, decides not to do so and warned her, and advises the distraught Imogen to disguise herself as a boy and offer herself to Caius Lucius as a Page so that she can get out of Britain and be near Posthumos. Somehow Imogen, disguised as the boy, Fidelus, arrives at the cave in which Belarius and Guiderius and Aviragus are hiding.

Act 4: In cave: all love Fidelus; Cloten killed – Imogen believe’s he’s Posthumous, and Caius Lucius gets a page. Rome invades, and the brothers fight with Britons.

Guiderius and Aviragus meet Fidelus and feel great love for him. Fidelus is not feeling well and takes the portion, and appears to be dead. Aviragus goes out hunting; Cloten arrives in the cave, has words with Guiderius, and kills and beheads him. His body is laid next to Fidelus, who they believe is dead, and later, when Fidelus is awakened by the arrival of Caius Lucius, believes that the dead Cloten (who was wearing Posthumos’ clothes so as to be revenged on Imogen while raping her) is Posthumous; in despair, she agrees to become Caius Lucius‘ Page, as he is smitten with him.

Act 5: Britons triumph; Posthumos and Iachimo repent and confess; Imogen vindicated; Belarus & bros & Queen revealed. Caius Lucius et al. pardoned; Order restored.

Posthumos repents Imogen’s murder and decides to die in battle — there he defeats Iachimo and helps the brothers rescue Cymbeline; not having died, he reverts to his Roman guise, and is captured, imprisoned, and sentenced to death. The defeated Romans (actual and seeming) are brought before Cymbeline, and everything is gradually revealed, beginning with Fidelus‘ interrogation of Iachimo, who regrets his bad actions.

Detailed Notes

Act 1: King, Queen, Iachimo against Imogen/Posthumos

• Cymbeline furious because Imogen married to someone other than his stepson. He had planned for her to marry Cloten, his stepson and son of new Queen, so that the kingdom had a clear succession. Cymbeline has ordered Imogen imprisioned, and has banished Posthumos from the city, though in this scene Imogen is not in prison and Posthumos only leaves at the very end of the scene. The Queen has professed sympathy for I and P.
• Cloten talks with two Lords, giving an account of a sword fight with Posthumous. P avoided hurting C, but Lord’s flatter C….
• Posthumos’ servant, Pisanio, tells Imogen of P’s departure to Rome, and she bewails his leaving.
• Posthumos’ arrives in Rome, and is welcomed by his host Philario. Ichiago, a friend of Philario’s draws Posthumos into conversation, and convinces him to accept a bet that he (Iachimo) can seduce Imogen.
• The Queen asks her physician and teacher for a poison. He gives it to her, but, not trusting her, gives her a potion that causes sleep rather than death. She gives the supposed poison to Pisanio, telling him that it is a cordial that has saved the King’s life five times; she hopes he will take it and die, leaving Imogen without supporters.
• Iachimo arrives and meets Imogen, and tells her that Posthumos is betraying her in Rome with prostitutes. She is furious and does not believe her; he tells her he was only testing her and they make peace. He asks her to keep his trunk – which he says has a valuable gift for the emperor – in her bedchamber so it shall be safe.

Act 2: Iachimo tricks Imogen/Posthumos; Cloten vows revenge

• 2.1 Cloten, who has just lost at gambling, is informed of Iachimo’s arrival by the two lords, who insult him in asides; Cloten decides he will be introduced to Iachimo and recap his gambling loses. The Lords hope that Imogen will rule Britain…
• 2.2. As Imogen sleeps, Iachimo emerges from the trunk she has stored for him. He looks about, makes notes on the room’s appearance and furnishings, notices a mole on Imogen’s breast, and steals the bracelet the Posthomos gave her from her wrist.
• 2.3. Cloten serenades Imogen in an attempt to win her love, but she will have none of it. He presses, and she insults him by saying that she values him less that Posthumus’ meanest garment. He is furious and vows revenge. At this point Imogen also realizes her bracelet is lost
• 2.4. Iachimo returns to Rome with his ‘proofs’ of Imogen’s infidelity, including the bracelet. Posthumos is taken in and pays off the bet, and vows revenge on Imogene.

Act 3: Tribute refused; Pisanio confesses; Imogen➔ Fidelus

• 3.1 Caius Lucius, an ambassador from Caesar arrives and demands tribute. With the encouragement of the Queen and Clotus, Cymbeline refuses, and Caius Lucious pronounces a state of war between Rome and Britain.
• 3.2 Pisanio gets two letters from Posthumos: one commanding him to murder Imogen, which leaves him aghast. Another, to Imogen, uring her to come to Milford Haven.
• 3.3 We discover that Cymbeline’s sons – Guiderius and Aviragus – are alive, but raised by Belarius who stole them as babies from their father, in revenge for losing his lands due to purported collaboration with the Romans.
• 3.4 On the journey to Milford Haven Pisanio reveals to Imogen that he is supposed to kill her, and she is so distraught by Posthumos’ lack of trust that she asks him to stab her. He proposes, instead, that she disguise herself as a boy and offer herself to Caius Lucius (the ambassador from Rome) as a servant: this will allow her to be near Posthumos and keep her away from Cymbeline, the Queen, and Cloten. When she agrees, he gives her the potion that he believes is a restorative.
• 3.5 When Imogen’s absence is discovered, Cloten forces Pisiano to tell him where Imogen is: Pisano gives Cloten the letter summoning Imogen to Milford Haven, and Cloten decides to dress up as Posthumos, soas to kill Posthumos and rape Imogen.
• 3.6 Imogen, disguised as a boy, stumbles into the cave of Belarius, and is welcomed by Guiderius and Aviragus
• 3.7 A Roman senator announces that the Roman army attacking Britain will be under the command of Caius Lucius.

Act 4: Guiderius kills Cloten; All love Fidelus; Bros for Britain

• 4.1 Clotten, dressed in Posthumos’ clothes, delivers a soliliquoy in which he declares that he will behead Posthumos and rape Imogen, and that his mother will make the latter OK with King Cymbeline.
• 4.2 Imogen, in the cave with Guiderius and Aviragus and disguised as a boy, Fidelus, is not feeling well. She takes the potion, and tells the two brothers to leave her… but Guiderius (I think) refuses, and later says he feels love for the boy. At some point Aviragus leaves, and Cloten arrives and he and Guiderius have words: this leads to a fight, and Guiderius kills and beheads Cloten. After this, Fidelius is discovered rigid and insensible, apparently dead. Cloten’s headless body is placed next to Fidelius. Fidelius/Imogen awakens alone, and assumes that the body is that of Posthumos, because Clotten had dressed in his clothes. She is distraught, and when Caius Lucius arrives, she tells him that the corpse was her master, and laments his death. Caius Lucius asks him/her to become his page, and s/he accepts.
• 4.3 Cybeline is alone in the face of the Roman attack: Imogen and Cloten are missing, and the queen is very ill.
• 4.4 The brothers convince Belarius that they should join the war on the side of the Britons.

Act 5: Britons triumph; Posthumous and Iachimo confess; all is revealed and order is restored

• 5.1   Posthumos reprents Imogen’s murder and decides that he will seek death by joining the Britons, masquerading as an ordinary soldier.
• 5.2   In battle Posthumos encounters Iachimo and defeats and disarms him; Iachimo also regrets his behavior towards Imogen. In another battle, the Britons free; in a third skirmish, Belarius and  Aviragu and Guiderius, with Posthumos, rescue King Cymbeline, who has been captured. In another part of the battle Caius Lucus urges Fidele to fly.
• 5.3   Posthumos reverts to his previous disguise as a Roman; the Britons capture him, and Cymbeline sends him to prison. 
• 5.4   Posthumos falls asleep in chains, and his family appears to him and implores Jupiter to pay attention and to help him. Jupiter descends, and after saying “who I best love, I cross,” and “the more delayed, delighted,” announces that Posthumos will be OK and will be lord of Lady Imogen. Posthumos awakes, and finds a tablet with Jove’s prophecy, but is unable to interpret it. The jailer arrives and asks if Posthumos is ready for death; he says yes, he wishes it… the jailer is surprised.
• 5.5   Posthumos is brought before Cymbeline. Cymbeline knights Belarius and the two boys; he laments that the ‘ordinary soldier who aided them cannot be found and orders a search. The doctor enters and tells him that the queen has died, confessing that she hates Cymbeline and her plot of kill Imogen. Caius Lucius is captured and brought before Cybeline, who is told that he and his army will be killed. Caius Lucius asks that Fidelele be spared, and Cybeline agrees and also grants Fidele a wish. Fidele’s wish is to interrogate Iachimo… and Iachimo confesses all. Posthumos, hearing this, comes forward and confesses that he murdered Imogen. But then Imogen comes forwards, and they are reunited, and Cymbeline is overjoyed to have his daughter back. Next, Pisiano reveals that he encountered Clotten, and gave him a false letter that took him to Milford Haven, and then Guiderius announces that the killed Cloten. Cymbeline is going to send him to prision for killing a prince, but then Belarius comes forward and confesses that the two young men are King Cymbeline’s sons. Posthumos is revealed as the soldier who assisted Belarius and the two sons, and the one who defeated Iachimo, and goes on to pardon him. Cymbeline decides to pardon Caius Lucius, and the Roman army, and to pay the tribute to Caesar that there might be peace. The Roman soothsayer is brought forward, and interprets Jupiter’s prophecy, revealing that all that happened was his will. 

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See course notes for general material about Macbeth.

I continue (post Othello) not to be terribly keen on the tragedies, but liked this more than Othello.

Precis of Macbeth

Macbeth encounters three witches who prophesy that he will become Thain of Cawdor and King of Scotland, and that Banquo’s descendants will be kings as well. Shortly thereafter Duncan appoints Macbeth as Thain of Cawdor, but announces that he will appoint his own son as crown prince. Macbeth is ambitious, and toys with the idea of murdering King Duncan. However, he has reservations – Duncan is his lord, a kinsman, and a guest in his household. However, Lady Macbeth – who appears to have summoned evil spirits to give her resolve – shames Macbeth into going forward with the plot. So Macbeth murders Duncan, and pins the murders on drunken watchmen (whom Lady Macbeth has used a potion to put to sleep), and then has them killed, and blames Duncan’s sons for the murder. 

Macbeth is crowned, but becomes increasingly unstable (as does Lady Macbeth( and paranoid). He seeks out the witches, who warn him to be wary of MacDuff, but assure him that no man borne of woman can kill him, and the he will not be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. After this, Macbeth goes on a bit of a killing spree,  arranging the murder of his friend Banquo (to eliminate his descendants the witches said would inherit the throne – except Banquo’s son escapes) and the family of the nobleman Macduff. Plagued by ominous visions—such as Banquo’s ghost appearing at a royal banquet—Macbeth’s grip on power loosens.

Meanwhile, Macduff and Duncan’s heir, Malcolm, raise an army in England and return to overthrow the usurper. Macbeth tries to avoid fighting Malcolm, but upon Malcolm’s pronouncement that he will take Macbeth captive and parade him about, Macbeth fights, and is slain and beheaded. Order and justice is restored. 

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November 2024

Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Although its a famous play, and does indeed contain some striking things — particularly Iago’s manipulation of Othello, and also the use of the hankerchief as symbol of fidelity and betrayal – I was not that keen on this play. Give me some comedy, or at least a little more magic!

Precis of the play

Othello, a famous general fighting for Venice, has just married Desdemona, to the dismay of her father. Othello is black, and an outsider, and knows little of the customs or society of Venice – but he is valued due to his military prowess, especially as the Turks seem about to attack. He has chosen the polished and bookish Cassio as his lieutenant, much to the distress and anger of Iago, who has spent his life in the field and believes he has earned the postion. Iago decides to get revenge, and aims to destroy Cassio and Desdemona and, through her, Othello. 

After this, the play unfolds in a straightforward way. Iago subtly raises questions about Desdemona’s faithfulness – all the while pretending that he is reluctant to speak and is unsure of the truth of what he is saying – and in a famous scene transforms Othello’s trust of Desdemona into suspicion, suggesting that she is having an affair with Cassio. Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most famous villians – Coleridge referred to him as having “motiveless malignity.”

Othello wants visible proof, and here Desdemona’s hankerchief comes into play. It was her first gift from Othello, and it was woven by a fortune teller with magical properties. Iago secrets Desdemona’s hankerchief (which she had lost and Emilia found and given to Iago) in Cassio’s quarters. Cassio finds the hankerchief and gives it to the courtesian Bianca to copy – Othello watches this from a distance, and believes it proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. Othello orders Iago to kill Cassio, and Othello strangles Desdemona. When it is revealed that Desdemona was innocent, Othello kills himself.

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October 2024

Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Precis

Background: Henry V is son of Henry IV, who obtained the throne by usurping it from Richard II – this means that there is some feeling that neither Henry is a legitimate ruler. Before becoming King, Henry V was a wild youth, dissipated and engaged in lascivious acts. But on his father’s death, Henry becomes a serious and mature ruler. 

The play opens with a chorus praising Henry as an unmatched warrior King. But then, the next act depicts the Archbishop of Canterbery revealing his plan to avert a harsh tax on the Church by legitimizing and encouraging Henry’s plans to invade France and take its throne.

Act 2 begins with the chorus describing the desire of the young men of England to pursue honor by participating in this war. The first scene following this shows conversation – and almost a fight, between three old soldiers who are erstwhile companions of Henry – the depicts honor as the least of their concerns. The second scene of Act shows the unmasking of traitors among the Lords who support Henry. 

Act III. The war has begun. The English army, led by Henry, lays siege to the French town of Harfleur. Before the gates, Henry delivers a rousing speech (“Once more unto the breach…”) to rally his soldiers; the siege takes a heavy toll, and the town eventually surrenders.

 In Act IV, Henry has arrived at Agincourt; his army is weary and outnumbered. Henry, in disguise, walks among his soldiers at night, listening to their fears and doubts. In the morning, Henry delivers his famous St. Crispin’s Day speech, which lifts the English spirits.

In Act V, the battle of Agincourt is won by the English. Henry returns to England, where the victory is celebrated, and then to France, to negotiate the final terms of the peace. There he woos a reluctant Princess Katherine, which marriage will solidify his claim to the thrown. The play ends with a reminder that Henry will die, and things will unravel.

Structure of the Play

1. Invasion Groundwork

• Prologue: Chorus wishes for a greater stage, and tells audience to use its imagination.
• 1.1 Theological Justification
  Bishops of Canterbury and Ely discuss bill that will seize money from the search; they plan to avoid it by providing a theological justification for Henry V’s claim to France, and thus his invasion. They also mention how much Henry V has changed since his father’s death: “And so the Prince obscured his contemplation / Under the veil of wildness / which, no doubt, grew like the summer grass, fastest by night / Unseen yet crescive in his facility”
• 1.2: Bishops assure H of invasion’s morality; tennis ball mock
  Henry V invites the Bishops to give an explication of the law regarding his claims to France, and they do so, even as Henry repeatedly asks them to be honest about it. Henry also raises the possibility of Scotland invading should he go to France, but the Bishops argue that that can be defended against. Finally, after deciding that he will take control of France, by invasion if necessary, he invites in the French ambassadors, who, in a message from the Dauphin, present him with a barrel of tennis balls. Henry says he will play play a set in France, and will “strike his father’s crown into the hazard.” Exter, uncle to the King, is present and speaks a line or two. 

2. Preparations for War

Elimination of traitors; introduction of common solidiers; preparation by France

• Chorus: The chorus describes the excitement in England about the coming war – They sell the pasture now to buy the horse – and provide notice that three nobles – Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey –have become traitors. 
• Bardolph, Henry’s former tavern companion, prevents two solidiers – Nym and Pistol – from fighting over Hostess Quickly, Pistol’s wife, and requires them to become friends. They are interrupted by news that Falstaff is dying. 
• Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey are brought into Henry V’s presence, not realizing that he knows they are traitors, and are asked about whether Henry should show mercy to someone who has spoken against it. They say no, and override Henry’s wishes to show clemency. He the reveals that he knows of their betrayals, and they are all condemned to death.
• Falstaff has died. Bardolph, Nym, Pistol and Hostess Quickly morn his death. The three men prepare to depart for France, and Pistol bids Hostess Quickly goodbye. 
• The King of France and the Dauphin plan for the defense of France against Henry – the King is cautious, the Dauphin is not, being contemptuous of Henry, and ignoring warnings about Henry’s new ethos. Exter enters as ambassador, and asks the King of France to yield to Henry, and returns insults to the Dauphin. The King says he will answer in the morning: “A night is but small breath and little pause / To answer matters of this consequence.”

3. Invasion, part 1: Success as Harlefor surrenders

Initial success: Harlefor surrenders; commoners show cowardance; 5:1 odds

• Chorus: Describes the departure of the English navy: …
       Play with your fancies and in them behold, 
       Upon the hempen tackle, shipboys climbing.
       Hear the shrill whistle, which doth order give 
       To sounds confused. Behold the threaden sails, 
       Borne with th’ invisible and creeping wind, 
       Draw the huge bottoms through the furrowed sea 
       Breasting the lofty surge. O, do but think 
       You stand upon the rivage and behold
       A city on th’ inconstant billows dancing…
  and notes that the French King offered the hand of his daughter and some small unprofitable dukedoms – this offer is disregarded (and is reported only after the navy is described as being launched). 
• The invasion begins: “Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more / Or close the wall up with our English dead.” Henry makes a speech as the prepare to advance.
• The three soldiers show their cowardence in trying to withdraw from the assault – they are driven back to it by Captain Fluellen. Captain Fluellen then engages in discussions and disputations with three other Captains: Glower, Jamy, Macmorris. [Not quite sure of the point of this scene]
• Henry gives a speech before the gates of Harlefor, saying it is their last chance, and that they will be to blame if they do not surrender and the city is ravaged:

I  will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur 
Till in her ashes she lie buried.
     The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, 
     And the fleshed soldier, rough and hard of heart 
     In liberty of bloody hand, shall range 
     With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass
     Your fresh fair virgins and your flow’ring infant
     What is it then to me if impious war, 
     Arrayed in flames like to the prince of fiends, 
     Do with his smirched complexion all fell feats 
Unlinked to waste and desolation?

• Katherine, Princess of France, has one of her maids teach her English. [The scene appears to be presented in French – would the audience have understood???]
• The governor surrenders the town, and Henry spares its citizens.
  [Neither of these things happened in history.]
• The French nobles are embarrassed by Henry’s successful invasion. But they convince themselves they will triumph, and send an ambassador to ask what ransom Henry will offer when he is captured.
• Ancient Pistol has distinguished himself and pleads with Captain Fluellen for the life of Bardoph, who has been sentenced to death for stealing. His plea is rejected, and he departs with a curse. Captain Fluellen talks with Henry, and mentions Bardolph, whose execution Henry upholds. The French Ambassador, Mountjoy arrives to enquire about Henry’s ransom: Henry says ‘nothing but my body.’
• The French nobles, confident of their victory on the eve of the battle, boast and banter among themselves.

4. Invasion, part 2: Triumph at Agincourt

Eve of  battle; Henry & Williams & Fluellen; Pistol demands ransom;  triumph at Agincourt

• The Chorus draws a beautiful picture of the two armies the night before the battle, camped across from one another, awaiting the morning. The French confident, the English anxious… but with Henry moving among them to raise morale.
       Now entertain conjecture of a time
       When creeping murmur and the poring dark
       Fills the wide vessel of the universe
  From camp to camp, through the foul womb of night,
       The hum of either army stilly sounds, 
       That the fixed sentinels almost receive 
       The secret whispers of each other’s watch.
       Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames 
       Each battle sees the other’s umbered face
• Henry walks though his camp, in disguise. He encounters Pistol, overhears a conversation between Grover and Fluellen that leaves him impressed with the Welshman’s quality, and argues with a soldier – Williams – about the King’s responsibility for the spiritual fate of his solidiers – they exchange gloves with the intention of dueling later. Last, Henry laments his father’s usurpation of Richard II’s throne. 
• The French nobles, about to fight, lament that the English are so few and weak.
• Henry gives a speech of encouragement again. Responding to someone wishing for more men, Henry says he does not wish for more, and furthermore that those who do not wish to figtht will be furnished with passage home. ‘I do not wish to share the honor more than I have to,’ is his sentiment.
• The ambassador, Mountjoy, comes again to negotiate a ransom, which Henry refuses. 
• A French soldier surrenders to Pistol, who threatens to kill him unless he provides a ransom. 
• The French nobles recognize that they have been defeated, and, ashamed, vow that they will die in battle. 
• Henry hears of the deaths of York and Suffolk; unsure of whether he had victory, when he hears a French call to arms he orders all French prisoners killed. 
• Fluellen in conversation with Grover compare Henry to Alexander the Great. Montjoy arrives with the French surrender. Williams appears with the glove, which Henry does not acknowledge; but Henry give Fluellen the other glove and sends him after Williams, and then sends others after Fluellen to prevent a full fight. 
• William encounters Fluellen, and strikes him. The other men arrive and prevent an escalation. Henry arrives and explains what happens and ‘pardons’ Williams, and has his glove filled with crowns. [I’m not quite sure of what happens after this, especially between Williams and Fluellen—Fluellen seems to do an about face and now thinks well of Williams.] The scene ends with the numbers of the dead being announced, and Henry giving credit for the victory to god.

5. Treaty signed, and marriage

Treaty signed and Princess Kate agrees to marry Henry; Fluellen gets revenge

• Chorus: Brings Henry back to England where he and his victory are celebrated, and then back to France where the treaty recognizing Henry as sovereign will be signed. 
• Fluellen, via use of a cudgel, forces Pistol to eat a leek to avenge his insults; Pistol decides to return to England where he will wear his cudgel wounds to pretend to be a wounded soldier. 
• Henry and the King of France meet, and Henry delegates negotiation to his nobles while he woos Princess Katherine – she consents to marrying him, but without, it seems to me, much understanding or enthusiasm. Henry rides roughshod over her preference not to kiss before the wedding: “O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great Kings.”

A few notes

Throughout the play we see that Henry has separated himself from his old base companions: Falstaff dies (and was previously exiled); Henry allows Barloph to be hanged for stealing; the Bishops remark on how Henry has changed.

Deception: Not much. Henry goes in disguise among his troops. Henry incident with William. Henry does not tell Fluellen what is up when he sends him after William. Henry uses lots of flowery words which it is unlikely Princess Kate will understand.

??? Is Henrys order to kill the prisoners proper?

??? Does Henry really think the war is just?

??? Henry says that if they do not surrender, governor will be responsible for soldiers’ depredations.

Quotes I like

Now entertain conjecture of a time
When creeping murmur and the poring dark
Fills the wide vessel of the universe.
From camp to camp, through the foul womb of night,
The hum of either army stilly sounds, 
That the fixed sentinels almost receive 
The secret whispers of each other’s watch.
Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames 
Each battle sees the other’s umbered face;

 I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur 
Till in her ashes she lie buried.
The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, 
And the fleshed soldier, rough and hard of heart
In liberty of bloody hand, shall range
With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass:
Your fresh fair virgins and your flow’ring infant
What is it then to me if impious war,
Arrayed in flames like to the prince of fiends,
Do with his smirched complexion all fell feats
Enlinked to waste and desolation?

Play with your fancies and in them behold,
Upon the hempen tackle, shipboys climbing.
Hear the shrill whistle, which doth order give
To sounds confused. Behold the threaden sails,
Borne with th’ invisible and creeping wind,
Draw the huge bottoms through the furrowes
Breasting the lofty surge. O, do but think
You stand upon the rivage and behold
A city on th’ inconstant billows dancing…

Othello

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October 2024

Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Precis of Measure for Measure

The Duke of Vienna (aka Friar Lodowick) plans to travel abroad, leaving young Angelo as regent, empowered to enforce laws that the Duke has allowed to go fallow. However, the Duke really plans to remain in Vienna, disguised as a Friar, to see how Angelo carries out his duties. Angelo immediately shuts down many of the houses of prostitution, and condemns Claudio, a man who has only erred in having sex after handfasting but before the banns were read, to be executed. This seems extreme and disturbs many: Escalus, a judge; the Provost, who runs the jail; and Lucio, a friend of Claudio and ne’r do well Viennese noble. Lucio seeks out Isabella, Claudio’s sister, who is in the process of joining a convent, to persuade Angelo to be merciful, after protests by Escalus and the Provost fail. Angelo speaks with Isabella, steadfastly refusing, until she asks him to look into his heart and see if has not had similar feelings that led Claudio to his current straits.  Angelo wavers, and tells her to return tomorrow. In a soliloquy he reveals that is attracted to her virtue, and wishes to have sex with her. In a second interview he tells her he’ll free Claudio if she’ll sleep with him. She refuses, and he tells her if she does not relent he’ll torture Claudio to death.

Continue reading Measure for Measure

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October 2024

This is not being read as part of the Shakespeare course; there is a week’s break for midterms, and, as CT and I are discussing S’s plays as I read them for the course, we are adding in the Tempest for this playless week.

That said, here is a link to the Shakespeare course notes: general notes

Precis of The Tempest

Before the play: Duke Prospero deposed, with young Miranda cast adrift, but Gonzalo secreted food, water and books as gifts. Now magician-ruler of the isle, he’s bound Ariel, enslaved Caliban, and his magically-raised storm has brought his enemies to him. They are Sebastian, his usurping brother; King Alonso, who went along, and Antonio who has learnt sibling-treachery from Sebastian. Innocents too, are also present: Prince Ferdinand, Alonso’s son, and old Gonzales, faithful one. 

     The play itself: the travelers are cast separately, each group to take a journey. Ferdinand will Miranda woo; Caliban will revolt, but rue; Alonso’s overthrow is thwarted. Prospero has a change of heart, forgives those arrayed against him, All return, but Caliban, to rule Naples and Milan. 

Continue reading The Tempest

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October 2024

Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Precis of Much Ado About Nothing

Don Pedro and his cohort arrive at the residence of Leonato, governor of Messina, who has a daughter Hero and a niece, Beatrice. Beatrice, a witty and assertive woman has long been in a “merry war” of words with returning soldier Signor Benedict. Don Pedro decides to play match maker and deceives them both, leading each to think the other is in love with them, and so Beatrice is matched with the marriage-shy Benedict. At the same time, her cousin, Hero, is on course to wed Count Claudio, hero of the recent war, until she is framed by the villainous Don John, brother to Don Pedro. Don John’s ruse succeeds for some, pitting Beatrice and Benedict against Count Claudio, Leonato and others, until Dogberry, a crazy constable, exposes the deception carried out by John’s henchmen, Borrachio and Conrade, and everyone is reconciled and married. 

Continue reading Much Ado about Nothing

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Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Precis of The Taming of the Shrew

All that follows is a play within a play, put on for Christopher Sly, a drunken beggar ejected from a tavern and berated by the barmaid. A Lord returning from the hunt has the unconscious Sly installed in a Lord’s bed and, when he is awakened, tricked into believing he is a Lord who has been insane for a decade. For his entertainment, traveling players put on a play for him: The play: Baptista will not allow Bianca, his desirable daughter, to marry until her shrewish sister Kate is wed. Bianco has three suitors, Gremio a rich old man, and Hortensio; but then Luciento, a younger man arrives, and falls in love with Banca as well. All three, through various deceptions, attempt to court Bianca. In the meantime, Petruccio, friend of Luciento, arrives and court’s Kate; he is interested only in Kate’s dowery, arranges for a marriage, and then ‘tames’ Kate via gaslighting, sleep deprivation and starvation. In the meantime, Luciento has won Bianca, Hortensio has found a wealthy widow, and Gremio has disappeared. There is a double wedding, and at the feast, after others’ make fun of Petruccio, he challenges them to a contest to see whose wife is most obedient: Kate comes when called; Bianca and the Widow do not, until Kate goes to fetch them. The moral is…

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