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C0RI0LANUS

(3,015 posts)
25. Having never read Mucedorus (but I will now) here is my analysis. Apologies for the length.
Fri Jan 3, 2025, 09:07 PM
Jan 3

By the arc and evolution of Shakespeare's plays, ending with the Tempest (which was solely written by the Bard of Avon without collaboration), I would argue not.



If Mucedorus takes place in one entire day in the classical Greek play tradition, then Shakespeare did not write it. By then, Shakespeare wrote his plays to take place over time. In Hamlet and the Tempest we see or hear about the past and we look forward to a future.

Shakespeare finally reverts back to the one-day form in The Tempest. Also in his swansong, no one dies as the play is not dependent on violence like his earlier works.

Shakespeare wrote about real problems facing Londoners, but disguised them in historical plays so as not to offend the Privy Council or Queen Elizabeth. In Henry V and Julius Caesar, Shakespeare made fun of the monarchy's handling of the once-Catholic holidays.

If there are real problems in Mucedorus that he pokes fun at in camouflage, then the Bard of Avon may have written it. I'll read it and see.

If Shakespeare scholars contend that Gentle Will wrote Mucedorus, so be it. He may have collaborated on it as those London playwrights were friends and rivals. Ben Jonson ridicules Falstaff in "Every Man in His Humour" with his Captain Bobodil character and Shakespeare takes it with aplomb as they were friends. In fact, Shakespeare reportedly played the role of Bobadil on stage a few times for Ben Jonson.

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Great post Prairie Gates Jan 3 #1
Edison and Ford also GreatGazoo Jan 3 #2
Huckleberry Finn had nothing to do with Finnish people. Finn is a Irish-derived name and Twain stated the inspiration Celerity Jan 5 #35
Yes - Blankenship was an inspiration but GreatGazoo Jan 5 #37
FWIW, everyone agrees it's the Irish origin. It came from a real "Jimmy Finn" muriel_volestrangler Jan 5 #41
I concede. GreatGazoo Jan 5 #42
This message was self-deleted by its author Celerity Jan 5 #44
That's a refreshing reminder peggysue2 Jan 3 #3
Shakespeare was observant, empathic, and quick witted. haele Jan 3 #4
We often use "art" or "artist" as a general complement GreatGazoo Jan 3 #8
Shakespeare had it easy in school... underpants Jan 3 #5
Loved Cunk on Shakespeare GreatGazoo Jan 3 #9
Hilarious underpants Jan 3 #13
I loved the bit with the gloves GreatGazoo Jan 3 #19
That's the most irreverent take on Shakespeare I've ever heard peggysue2 Jan 3 #15
And a case in point: Good Will Hunting localroger Jan 3 #6
Yes! GreatGazoo Jan 3 #10
Probably the best thing about that flick was the music. miyazaki Jan 3 #18
I have that soundtrack in my CD jukebox GreatGazoo Jan 3 #20
Ya it does have a certain moodiness for sure. miyazaki Jan 3 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 5 #33
Armageddon makes specific reference to the K-T impactor. So what? localroger Jan 5 #40
It's relatively easy to explain how Shakespeare could have set his plays thucythucy Jan 3 #7
Exactly. Shakespeare's true gift was his knack for beautiful prose and poetry. Aristus Jan 3 #11
Respectfully, pub conversations don't fill the gap. GreatGazoo Jan 3 #12
He very well might have visited Italy thucythucy Jan 3 #14
I had heard about Patrick Stewart's Shakespeare roles but had not seen any clips GreatGazoo Jan 3 #17
Your work sounds fascinating. thucythucy Jan 3 #26
Thanks -- History is much more fun that I thought it would be GreatGazoo Jan 5 #38
The printing press was over a hundred years old Retrograde Jan 3 #28
I approach the Shakespeare biography as a historian GreatGazoo Jan 4 #30
Thanks for the info on Henslowe Retrograde Jan 4 #31
Marchette Chute's "Shakespeare of London" is also another valuable resource. C0RI0LANUS Jan 5 #34
Henslowe is a gold mine GreatGazoo Jan 5 #36
I dont want bloody knuckles or nose, I confess GusBob Jan 3 #16
Shakespeare was forgotten for 150 years Blue_Tires Jan 3 #22
Thanks for the wonderful post, GreatGazoo. C0RI0LANUS Jan 3 #23
Do you think he wrote Mucedorus? GreatGazoo Jan 3 #24
Having never read Mucedorus (but I will now) here is my analysis. Apologies for the length. C0RI0LANUS Jan 3 #25
Hi Great Gazoo C0RI0LANUS Jan 5 #32
Thanks for that. Now I have to re-read it... GreatGazoo Jan 5 #39
You're welcome-- it won't take long. The version I read has Mucedorus using a club to kill Bremo with one blow. C0RI0LANUS Jan 5 #43
A grammar-school education was pretty rigorous back then. The church also educated. viva la Jan 3 #27
Wonderful post, will re-read soon, thanks! UTUSN Jan 4 #29
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