The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1410  Monday, 12 July 2004

From:           W.L. Godshalk <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:           Friday, 09 Jul 2004 14:06:24 -0400
Subject:        Ophelia and the Nunnery (Again)

I know that we have (many times) discussed Ophelia's possible pregnancy
and Hamlet's command: "Get thee to a nunnery" (Jenkins, Arden3,
3.1.121), and I have searched the Shaksper archive looking for an answer
to my question. I have also skimmed Jenkins's notes.

Is there any evidence from the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries that
pregnant, upper-class women were sent to convents to have their
children? I, of course, know Boccaccio's humorous stories of pregnant
nuns and convents filled with children. But I'm wondering if there is
any solid historical evidence of this hypothetical practice. I seem to
recall that there is.

Of course, if Hamlet is commanding Ophelia to go to a nunnery to have
her child, we would have to reinterpret his following lines.

Bill Godshalk

_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>

DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.

Subscribe to Our Feeds

Search

Make a Gift to SHAKSPER

Consider making a gift to support SHAKSPER.