The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 9.0980  Monday, 12 October 1998.

[1]     From:   Ed Taft <
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        Date:   Friday, 09 Oct 1998 13:15:06 -0400 (EDT)
        Subj:   Representations of Clergy

[2]     From:   Helen Ostovich <
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        Date:   Friday, 9 Oct 1998 19:55:29 -0400
        Subj:   Representations of the Clergy

[3]     From:   John Dwyer <
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        Date:   Sunday, 11 Oct 1998 21:34:46 -0400
        Subj:   Re: SHK 9.0952 Q: Representations of Clergy 1560-1640


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Ed Taft <
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Date:           Friday, 09 Oct 1998 13:15:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:        Representations of Clergy

I was interested in Abigail Quart's observation that in *MM* "Thomas and
Peter are euphemisms for penis." Maybe so. Does this insight tend to
inflate or deflate our estimation of these two Friars?

--Ed Taft

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Helen Ostovich <
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Date:           Friday, 9 Oct 1998 19:55:29 -0400
Subject:        Representations of the Clergy

Again, many thanks for the responses that keep rolling in.  I am curious
about the last message:

Isabella is as false a cleric in Measure as Angelo and the Duke: all
three believe themselves above human passions. The point of the play is
to topple each. Thomas and Peter are euphemisms for penis.

Were these "nicknames" in use in the 17th century?

Helen Ostovich
Editor, EARLY THEATRE / Dept of English CNH-321
McMaster University

[3]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           John Dwyer <
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Date:           Sunday, 11 Oct 1998 21:34:46 -0400
Subject: 9.0952 Q: Representations of Clergy 1560-1640
Comment:        Re: SHK 9.0952 Q: Representations of Clergy 1560-1640

While it's not early modern drama, think of Chaucer's "good man . . . of
religioun,
. . . a povre Persoun of a Toun,
But riche he was of hooly thoght and werk, etc.

John Dwyer