Kavar's Corner Book Club: Reloaded

[Pavlos]

Well, the last attempt at a book club ended... did it even end? Regardless, it failed miserably so it now being months since we last tried I thought we should give it another go.

 

I have arbitrarily decided to go with an early 17th century revenge tragedy called The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley. Middleton and Rowley were more famous for their comedy than their tragedy and naturally, when they collaborated on this -- widely regarded to be the best tragedy in the English language not written by Shakespeare but, to be honest, whether or not Shakespeare should be the gold-standard of English Literature is debatable, anyway -- there was always going to be a strong comic element; an element which may end up magnifying the tragedy of the events by several thousand times or diminishing them completely, it really depends on the reader/viewer.

 

The Changeling is thematically heavy so there's plenty to talk about -- from the role of women in the 17th century to lapsarian criticism -- and it relies more on what is said than how something is said so, despite the similar time period, many people will probably find it far less taxing than Shakespeare.

 

A play drenched in blood and filled with sex, it's the sort of thing schools should be teaching if they want to get 14-year-olds interested in Literature instead of poncing around with A Midsummer Night's Dream and should be great fun to both read and analyse for the readers and posters of Kavar's Corner.

 

I just read that paragraph again and realised that I sound like a sickly distorted Disney advert. Anyway, let me know if you're interested.

 

De Flores: You must forget your parentage to me:

Y'are the deed's creature;

 

How ominous...

 

Alibius: I would wear my ring on my own finger;

Whilst it is borrowed it is none of mine,

But his that useth it.

Lollio: You must keep on it still, then; if it but lie by,

one or other will be thrusting into it.

Alibius: Thou conceiv'st me, Lollio; here thy watchful eye

Must have employment; I cannot always be

At home.

Lollio: I dare swear you cannot.

Alibius: I must look out.

Lollio: I know't, you must look out, 'tis every man's case.

Alibius: Here I do say must thy employment be,

To watch her treadings, and in my absence

Supply my place.

 

Yes, you did just read that the man wants his employee to sleep with his wife because he's afraid of her sleeping with other men. Makes perfect sense and he shouldn't at all be locked up in the mad-house than he runs... no, not at all.

[jonathan7]

Heya Pavlos, always a pleasure to see your posts in KC, let me know if you decide to read an non-fictions books and I'll happily participate, I'm not much a fiction reader I'm affraid. Sorry!