The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.1951  Tuesay, 24 September 2002

From:           Larry Barkley <
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Date:           Friday, 20 Sep 2002 12:22:42 -0700
Subject:        MV and Gratiano's Final Speech

Dear SHAKSPERians

I find Shakespeare's ending for the MV atypical.  WS has a secondary
character, Gratiano, ending the play with a bawdy pun.

Under the thread "Her C's," it was noted (intentional passive voice
since I do not remember who made the observation) that there is every
possibility that Malvolio's "These be her very c's, her u's, and her
t's; and thus makes she her great P's" may be little or nothing more
than an attempt to titillate Shakespeare's audience.

Do others see the end of MV as a similar attempt? Or is Gratiano's
comment Shakespeare's attempt to bring comic relief to the possible
emotional turmoil of 4.1 (the trial scene) as well as the seeming
bickering/squabbling found in 5.1? Other readings?

Thank you,
Larry Barkley

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