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
_______________________________________________________________
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.