The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0330  Monday, 22 June 2009

[1] From:   Larry Weiss <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
     Date:   Wednesday, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:20 -0400
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus

[2] From:   Anthony Burton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
     Date:   Friday, 19 Jun 2009 09:52:50 -0400
     Subj:   Re: SHK 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Larry Weiss <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:       Wednesday, 17 Jun 2009 22:16:20 -0400
Subject: 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus

 >If the RSC were asked to perform MND on the occasion of Her
 >Majesty's garden party, a beautiful and well-tuned set of beagles
 >would always be ready.

Aren't they Corgies?

[2]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:       Anthony Burton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date:       Friday, 19 Jun 2009 09:52:50 -0400
Subject: 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus
Comment:    Re: SHK 20.0322 The Hounds of Theseus

Bill Godshalk is dead on, in suggesting, "It seems to me that 
Hippolyta's comments on the hounds (4.1.112) should be read in the 
context of her comments on Theseus's sexual hints in 1.1.7-10, and on 
Theseus's thoughts on the imagination (5.1.23-27)."

To that, I would add also her later comment to Theseus (5.1.212) "It 
must be your imagination, then, and not theirs", which extends to him 
responsibility for supplying the meaning of that context -- and by 
implication also to each member of the theater audience. Then, in 
response to Theseus"s mockery, her "Beshrew my heart, but I pity the 
man" provides him with an example of the gold standard, the non- 
judgmental loving compassion towards which, in my view, the prior 
exchanges (and Theseus's change of heart toward the lovers) are all 
pointing.

Dreamily,
Tony Burton

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