The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 18.0634  Friday, 24 September 2007

From: 		David Evett <
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Date: 		Thursday, 20 Sep 2007 11:35:07 -0400
Subject: 18.0627 Deadly Shakespeare
Comment: 	Re: SHK 18.0627 Deadly Shakespeare

 >David Evett wrote:
 >
 >I'd be interested to see John Briggs's argument for keeping Davy
 >Gam--not otherwise a personage of the play, and enjoying the status of
 >being named only because he's a gentleman rather than a commoner.
 >
 >Actually, a gentleman *is* a commoner - as is an esquire, who is of a 
higher rank.

"Commoner" was careless; I know that the dividing line between elite 
folk and ordinary folk was not sharply defined, and only meant to mark a 
rough and ready distinction between the kind of men with whom the king 
might have been expected to pass a few hours while waiting for battle 
(see the corresponding scene on the French side)--that is, men "of 
note"--and the Williamses and Bateses and nameless boys of the world of 
the play. My comment was not intended to wonder why Gam was named; it 
implies a reason. In any case, John Briggs's comment does not respond to 
my question, which in effect was this: what are the criteria for 
inclusion in the list?

David Evett

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