The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 20.0267 Wednesday, 27 May 2009
From: Donald Bloom <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2009 09:44:28 -0500
Subject: 20.0254 Playing Capulet
Comment: RE: SHK 20.0254 Playing Capulet
Mike Shapiro offers this suggestion:
>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?
Apparently not. The Duke of Verona doesn't seem to care whom Juliet
marries, although we presume he has no objection its being his kinsman
Paris. Theseus doesn't seem to care whom Hermia marries except that her
father's brutal demand causes him a lot of grief in the middle of his
wedding celebration. Likewise with Othello. The fathers involved don't
seem to have any politics
Elizabeth's situation was peculiar and vulnerable -- both to
assassination and to a coup. But even monarchs less vulnerable would be
(and were) cautious about the marriage alliances of the great ones. I
think the point about Capulet, Egeus, and Brabantio is that, although
prominent, they are apparently not among the great and their daughters'
marriages are only of incidental concern to the monarchs.
Cheers,
don
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