The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1667  Thursday, 29 September 2005

[1] 	From: 	D Bloom <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
	Date: 	Tuesday, 27 Sep 2005 11:13:21 -0500
	Subj: 	RE: SHK 16.1643 Performing Angelo

[2] 	From: 	Peter Bridgman <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
	Date: 	Thursday, 29 Sep 2005 12:03:30 +0100
	Subj: 	Re: SHK 16.1643 Performing Angelo


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		D Bloom <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: 		Tuesday, 27 Sep 2005 11:13:21 -0500
Subject: 16.1643 Performing Angelo
Comment: 	RE: SHK 16.1643 Performing Angelo

I would certainly never accuse Quart of being on the "bandwagon of hymen 
worship."

But I am not talking about "hymen worship." I am talking about vows of 
celibacy, which, for those without previous sexual experience, means 
virginity. In the history of Christianity, this refers first to men, and 
then only secondarily to women. In the view of St. Paul and the author 
of Revelations (and perhaps also to Jesus Christ), this is considered a 
very great virtue, and has continued to be so regarded by the Roman 
Catholic Church. For all I know, the church may be right.

And that is the point. Does Quart consider the Catholic Church to be 
stupid and neurotic for encouraging celibacy, and demanding it of those 
with a vocation to become a priest, monk or nun? If so, fine. For all I 
know, SHE may be right. But it doesn't seem quite fair to savage 
Isabella for wanting to follow the dictates of her faith and her sense 
of being called by God, even though the faith is dead wrong. If not, of 
course, then it follows likewise that Isabella is simply following the 
guidance of her church, which turns out to be quite correct in its view.

It is a question of (1) logic, the relationship of an act to an accepted 
religious conviction, and (2) respect for religious convictions.

Cheers,
don

PS. A religious vow is a matter between the individual and God. In the 
case of celibacy, it becomes public and formalized when one enters the 
priesthood or takes the veil, but it can easily exist beforehand, and 
commonly does.

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Peter Bridgman <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: 		Thursday, 29 Sep 2005 12:03:30 +0100
Subject: 16.1643 Performing Angelo
Comment: 	Re: SHK 16.1643 Performing Angelo

Abigail Quart asks ...

 >... does anyone believe she [Isabella] blows off the Duke and returns 
to the nunnery for her wedding date with Jesus?

Of course she "blows off the Duke".  If Shakespeare's intention is that 
Isabella accepts the Duke's marriage offer, there is no reason at all 
for WS not to show this.  A "happy ending" would satisfy the conventions 
of Comedy writing, and would give the play the resolution it lacks.

WS broke with conventions and left his play with an unsatisfactory 
ending for a very good reason.  Because it would've been dangerous for 
WS to show Isabella returning to the convent.

Peter Bridgman

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