In North’s Dial of Princes, Marcus Aurelius complains that in most instances, religious teachings and concern for reputation are often enough to keep women virtuous. But, he says, “if the fear of the Gods, the infamy of the person, and the speech of men do not restrain the woman, all the chastisements of the worldContinue reading “Arden’s Speech on the Fear of God and Speech of Men”
Author Archives: Dennis McCarthy
North’s “Dial” and Caesar’s Speech on Death and Cowards
As is well known, Caesar’s speech that “Cowards die many times before their deaths” was hinted at in North’s Plutarch’s Lives. But previously, it was believed that Shakespeare took that hint and then refashioned it himself with many new details. Yet, as we see both above and below, the specific words and notions of theContinue reading “North’s “Dial” and Caesar’s Speech on Death and Cowards”
Romeo’s Sorrow
In North’s own copy of his translation of the 1582 edition of The Dial of Princes, the translator adds a marginal note highlighting the “description of sorrow (Fol. 296 in 1582 edition; 475 in 1619 ed.) The passage describes how people act when they are depressed: they crave solitude, hate the day, love the night,Continue reading “Romeo’s Sorrow”
The Miseries of Hecuba and Hamlet’s Play to Catch The Conscience of a King
After Hamlet watches an actor perform a tragic description of Hecuba’s agonies caused by the “tyrant Pyrrhus,” he expresses astonishment at the actor’s abilities to fake such deep sorrow: “For Hecuba! / What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, / That he should weep for her?” (2.2.558-60). In this same speech, the Prince thenContinue reading “The Miseries of Hecuba and Hamlet’s Play to Catch The Conscience of a King”
Lear’s Poor Naked Wretches Who Must Borrow Clothing From Beasts
In The Dial of Princes, North contrasts the poor state of human beings, who are born naked and defenseless, with that of beasts, who possess a number of natural gifts that help them survive: “to birds she [Nature] hath given wings … to the lions teeth … to the foxes subtilty” (471). The chapter especially stressesContinue reading “Lear’s Poor Naked Wretches Who Must Borrow Clothing From Beasts”
Iago’s Speech on He Who Robs Me of My Good Name
Thomas North would publish his first translation, The Dial of Princes, in 1557, seven years before Shakespeare was born. And we do not even complete its first page before we come across something that sounds suspiciously Shakespearean — specifically, a passage that reads much like Iago’s speech on the thief of reputation in Othello. North’sContinue reading “Iago’s Speech on He Who Robs Me of My Good Name”
Why Wasn’t This Discovered Till Now?
The short answer is: 21st-century digital technologies. Before the advent of literary databases, like Google Books and Early English Books Online, and new computer tools, like plagiarism software, this discovery could never have been made. In the past, a scholar wanting to read certain books or manuscripts might have to pack a suitcase and renewContinue reading “Why Wasn’t This Discovered Till Now?”
Wouldn’t Someone Have Complained That Shakespeare Used Old Plays? (They Did!)
Another question I often hear is: “Why didn’t anyone complain about this? Why didn’t people at the time mention that Shakespeare was just working from old plays?” I always respond that many people did complain about it—and many of these complaints are well known. Literary insiders repeatedly bemoaned the fact that Shakespeare was getting tooContinue reading “Wouldn’t Someone Have Complained That Shakespeare Used Old Plays? (They Did!)”
Why Didn’t North Publish His Plays?
“Why would anyone write an Othello or a Macbeth and then not publish them so they could get credit for them and people could read them?” This is perhaps the most common question that I hear, and it is an excellent one. I typically respond that Shakespeare never published the majority of his plays eitherContinue reading “Why Didn’t North Publish His Plays?”
North’s Handwritten Notes in his “Dial” Mark the Passages He Used for his Plays
On March 29, 1591, Thomas North purchased a used, 1582-edition of his Dial of Princes for 5 shillings, signing the back and dating the purchase—a copy now kept at the Cambridge University Library. Then he began rereading or skimming certain sections, skipping from here to there, underscoring certain lines and passages, and adding various notesContinue reading “North’s Handwritten Notes in his “Dial” Mark the Passages He Used for his Plays”