The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0254 Wednesday, 20 May 2009
From: Mike Shapiro <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Monday, 18 May 2009 14:12:16 -0700
Subject: 20.0236 Playing Capulet
Comment: RE: SHK 20.0236 Playing Capulet
As pointed out earlier arranged marriages during the period were
politically influenced. It has been reported that QE1 was extremely
interested in marriages of those in her circle and required such unions
be first cleared with her. These concerns were related to personal
safety in that some unions might provide fertile ground for
conspiratorial activity. Could these types of concerns be also on the
minds of the upper crust families?
One thing that caught my attention was that WS plays included a number
of plots involving father/daughter betrothal disputes. Othello, Merchant
of Venice, Cymbeline are a couple of examples. In MSD Hermia's father
successfully pleads his case to the Duke that his daughter must marry
her father's choice of husband or face banishment or death.
Mike Shapiro
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