The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0584  Thursday, 22 June 2006

From: 		Paul E. Doniger <
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Date: 		Wednesday, 21 Jun 2006 11:49:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: 	Sir Toby & Pronouns

This is the first of two Twelfth Night questions I'd like to see 
discussed. The other will be on a separate posting since both are quite 
different and might become complex.

I am about to start rehearsals for Twelfth Night this summer (playing 
Sir Toby Belch), and have been mulling over a couple of issues. One is 
in regards to his use of the second person pronouns: In 3.4.220-227 
(Arden Shakespeare), he calls "Cesario" thou and thee, but starting on 
line 231, he switches suddenly to you.  I can't find any critical or 
scholarly commentary on these particular lines regarding this sudden 
switch, and I was wondering if anyone out there can point me in a good 
direction or if you've thought about this odd issue. I doubt that the 
reason can simply be explained away by referring to his drinking; that 
seems too facile, and besides, Toby is very shrewd in this sequence. I 
doubt that he's simply slipping up in his language.

Thanks in advance for your comments. Question #2 will follow in another 
posting.

Paul E. Doniger

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