COL 49 Chapter 4 Starters

[JBFRAME at aol.com]

In a message dated 08/15/2001 11:03:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
DMillison at ftmg.net writes:


> Can anybody explain more about the
> 

No expert myself, but these "Jacobean" plays were written in England during 
the reign of James I Stuart (ruled from 1603-1625).  He was the father of 
King Charles I of the Civil War period.  James believed in the divine right 
of kings to rule their subjects in the way they saw fit.  In short, he was a 
totalitarian dictator, who had pretty good control of his nobles & absolute 
sway over his lesser subjects.  He believed in mercy & benevolence when it 
suited him.  He was the successor of Queen Elizabeth I, who was also  pretty 
strict.  

I have seen only one play from this period, The Revenger's Tragedy by 
Tournier  (although I read The White Devil by Webster).  It seemed almost 
farcical in its nihilism.  I think many of these plays were a kind of English 
propaganda written to show the contrast between the well-ordered rule of the 
Tudors & Stuarts & the horrible anarchy of the Italian late renaissance, with 
its scheming & poisonings, etc. BTW, did anyone catch the portrayal of little 
Johnnie Webster in the Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle Shakespeare in Love ?  It was 
one of the delights of the entertainment.

love & peace

jbf
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