Gallathea Flashcards
Who was Gallathea played for?
A court audience that included Queen Elizabeth
Who performed it?
A troop of boys
What two classical stories does Lyly mash up?
Iphis and Ianthe from Metamorphoes, Hesione, daughter of Troy
Plot of Iphis and Ianthe
Ipsis brought up as a boy, betrothed to Ianthe, so Isis solves the problem by actually turning Ipsis into a boy
Hesione’s story
virgin sacrifice to a sea monster at the advice of an oracle
Which Roman gods figure?
Venus, Diana, Cupid, Poseidon
How does Lyly’s work draw on the Italian pastoral tradition?
The figure of the truant cupid
Which Classical unities are found in Gallathea?
Unity of place
How is the year 1588 important in the play?
The satirical subplot depends on prophecies about the annus mirabilus
How does Lyly mix classics with English-ness?
Some Roman names, some british names
English history and geography–flooding in Lincolnshire, Neptune’s wrath is because the Danish invasion destroyed temples
What is the great debate of the play?
Which is better, love or chastity?
Who figures Elizabeth in the play?
Diana
What is the solution to love v chastity?
it’s too complicated. for ordinary mortals without Elizabeth/Diana’s strength, love is also acceptable
Who says it? “It is no second thing to be a woman”
Phyllida, as an aside
Who says it?
X: “Diana cannot yield, she conquers affection.”
Y: “Diana shall yield, she cannot conquer destiny”
X: Nymph
Y: Cupid
What happens when Phyllidia and Gallathea encounter the nymphs?
The nymphs all fall in love, Diana sets them to work beating the bushes
Connections to 12th Night?
Phyllidia and Gallathea use the same strategies Viola uses to dissemble honestly about their gender (discussing daughters and sons of their fathers)
What is Gallathea’s advice to the audience in her closing speech?
Ladies, yield to love
How is the gender problem solved?
Diana says it is unnatural, but Venus says it’s love, so she’ll fix it. At the door of the church, one of them will turn into a boy
How is the Diana/Venus dispute solved?
Neptune arbitrates. Diana releases Cupid, and Neptune will stop the virgin sacrifice
