Jaques and Touchstone play the parts of the jesters in 'As You Like It'. In comedies, says page 87 of your textbook, "jesters usually operate as a kind of corrective to the irrational thoughts of other characters. Jesters have insight because they see the world through comic and ironic eyes." Rosalind and Celia recognise these qualities in Touchstone.
Your textbook continues, "Jesters are also constructed as being more observant than other characters... This is a recognisable aspect of humanity - that sometimes people offer comic insight into events and situations."
For detailed commentary on Touchstone's role in the play, see http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/asu/touchstone.html.
For detailed commentary on Jaques' role, see Act 2 Scene 7 where Jaques gives his famous 'Seven ages of man' speech at http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/asu_2_7.html.
Over the Globe Theatre was the Latin motto, "Totus mundus agit histrionem," meaning All the world plays the actor. Shakespeare did not have to go far for the introductory thought.
See also a character analysis of Jaques at http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/asu/characterasu.html.
No comments:
Post a Comment