Society critics Flashcards
What does Knight say about society in the play?
the play presents a society in a
“corrupt state of manners”
“corrupt state of manners”
What does Rob Worral say about Vienna?
Argues the Duke is the cities father but it lacks a mother
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA195069191&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09558950&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=dobs37232&aty=ip
The Vienna we are introduced to is ‘akin to many a child of a wealthy but split family: partly neglected, partly over-indulged.’
2008 Review
What does Rob Worral say about patriarchy in Vienna?
‘an unnaturally male dominated world and one curiously antipathetic to marriage.’
antipathy
noun
a deep-seated feeling of aversion.
What does Rob Worral say about the fact that in the first three scenes the only woman who seems to command respect is Mistress Overdone?
‘This suggests that the play raises troubling questions about the societal role of women, in which their identities are defined by male needs and desires’
What does Sanchez say about marriage
“Rather than celebrate marriage, ‘Measure for Measure’ treats it as a form of salutary public shame.”
Melissa. E. Sanchez,
Salutary:
Producing good effects; beneficial, especially for health or well-being.
Example: The strict regulations had a salutary effect on workplace safety.
Promoting moral or spiritual improvement.
Example: The defeat was a salutary lesson in humility for the overconfident team.
What does Hopkins say about comedy and marriage
“The most outstanding feature of Shakespearean comedy is its pervading obsession with marriage.” -
Lisa Hopkins, 1998, Marriage as Comic Closure
What does Skelton say about marriage?
Due to the thematic congruity with John Skelton’s Magnyfycence (which strongly features the effects of Law, Authority and Control), audiences (Jacobean-albeit with more difficulty-and 21st Century alike) may intuit that ”The only truly happy marriage is that of Claudio and Juliet. This point forces the audience to question the idea of marriage, or at least Shakespeare’s view of marriage”
While not a direct or prominent connection, the play “Measure for Measure” by Shakespeare and the poetry of John Skelton share some thematic overlaps, particularly concerning the nature of authority, law, and social control. Skelton’s satirical poems, like “Magnyfycence,” often critique power structures and the potential for abuse, echoing some of the themes explored in “Measure for Measure,” which examines the dangers of unchecked authority and the complexities of justice.
Here’s a more detailed look at the potential connections:
1. The Nature of Authority and Power:
Skelton:
Skelton’s works often satirize the arbitrary nature of power, questioning the legitimacy of those in authority and their potential for corruption.
Measure for Measure:
The play directly confronts the question of authority, with the Duke’s absence and Angelo’s subsequent rule raising questions about the legitimacy of power and its potential for abuse. Angelo’s harsh enforcement of laws, especially his demand for Isabella’s sexual compliance, exemplifies this abuse of power.
2. Law and Social Control:
Skelton:
Skelton’s poetry often critiques the laws of the time, suggesting that they can be used to oppress and control people.
Measure for Measure:
The play explores the relationship between law and morality, with Angelo’s legalistic approach to justice clashing with the Duke’s more merciful inclinations. The play examines how laws can be used to enforce social norms and control behavior.
3. Satire and Criticism:
Skelton:
Skelton’s work is known for its satirical and often harsh critique of social and political figures, using wit and wordplay to expose hypocrisy and corruption.
Measure for Measure:
While not a direct satirical play in the same vein as Skelton, “Measure for Measure” employs satire to critique the characters’ flaws and the absurdities of the legal system.
In essence: While not a direct influence in the sense of one writer borrowing directly from the other, the thematic concerns of Skelton’s satirical verse and Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure” overlap in their exploration of power, law, and social control. Both authors grapple with the complexities of human nature and the potential for abuse when power is unchecked.
Project MUSE - “Too Much Liberty” - Johns Hopkins University
12 Apr 2023 — “Too Much Liberty”:Measure for Measure and Skelton’s Magnyfycence. Phoebe S. Spinrad (bio). As Claudio is led off to ja…
Project MUSE
Measure for Measure - Act 4, scene 2 - Folger Shakespeare Library
Measure for Measure * Characters in the Play. * Entire Play Human nature and the law often collide in Measure for Measure. … *
Folger Shakespeare Library
Language analysis in Measure for Measure | Shakespeare Learning …
The theme of power is central to Measure for Measure. The plays explores all different types of power, how it can change people an…
Royal Shakespeare Company | RSC
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Generative AI is experimental.
Thinking Through Skelton (4)
University of Cambridge
https://www.english.cam.ac.uk › research › cogblog
16 Apr 2018 — Most of his poetry is satirical. It demonstrates his learning with lots of classical and Biblical references, and lots of ingenious wordplay.
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Project MUSE - “Too Much Liberty” - Johns Hopkins University
Project MUSE
https://muse.jhu.edu › article › summary
by PS Spinrad · 1999 · Cited by 4 — In John Skelton’s early-sixteenth-century Magnyfycence, especially, the relationships of liberty, measure, restraint, and governance are strikingly portraye
What does Juliet Dusinberre say about women in Renaissance drama?
“Renaissance drama places in a hostile environment women whose educations renders them as eloquent and as rational as men”
What does Watson say about marriage?
“Marriage becomes … a way of maintaining the substance and order of the social fabric.”
Robert.N.Watson,
What does John Roe say about James 1?
James wishes to bring stability to his kingdom
University of York Professor
