Compare And Contrast The Theory Of The King's Two Bodies
Post Discussion #1
1. Theory of the King’s Two Bodies, Puns and Equivocations and Primogeniture
Theory of the King’s two bodies was a theory that the crowned head, for this it would be Queen Elizabeth, was divided into two the mortal body and the immortal body. The mortal body being “the body natural” which was subject to the failings of human flesh and eventual death and the immortal body being the “body politic” which is seen as timeless and perfect (Greenblatt 20). This is helpful in understanding the concept of the phrase “long live the queen/ long live the king” meaning the immortal body of the crown living immortally and passing the crown onto the next living heir. But with Queen Elizabeth, there was no living heir because she had not …show more content…
yet married and had no son or daughter that would be stepping up and taking over whenever she passed. This left the citizens on edge not knowing who the next heir to the throne was and not being able to prepare for any foreseeable changes in their future. Something that Shakespeare himself would have also been aware of at the time. His understanding of the Theory of the King’s two bodies is seen in Hamlet when Hamlet himself is faced with his father's ghost addressing him in hopes to be avenged in his death. The ghost that appears is the immortal body of the king that lives on post his death. Shakespeare's understanding of this theory allows for him to utilize this term within his works to add a deeper level of complexity to the script.
Puns and Equivocations were one of Shakespeare’s ways of adding dramatic irony and a comedic break to the tragedies within the plays. His use of puns and equivocations adds a “streak of wildness that they so deliberately disclose” (Greenblatt 69). This play on language is seen throughout many of Shakespeare's works including, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He uses puns and dramatic irony to ease some of the intense tension within his plays and adds brief comedic relief.
Primogeniture was the inheritance system that was used at the time that resulted in the transmission of property from father to oldest male heir. But in 40% of the families there was no male heir so the inheritance would then go to the oldest living female heir (Greenblatt 11). This was important for understanding Shakespeare’s tendency to have feuds between brothers because the oldest would receive the inheritance unless for some reason they were to die, then it would go to the next oldest male. Similarly to struggles within the monarchy in Shakespeare's plays with male heirs fighting over the throne as well
2.
I think it is important to also discuss the additional amount of pressure amongst the townsfolk and players within London at the time. There is the discussion of the King's Men and the Chamberlain's Men, who were in good terms with the aristocracy at the time, but there isn't as much emphasis on the looming fate of the players and playwrights if something was deemed unfit or too bold by the Master of Revels. There was a sense of fear amongst the arts to stay in line with what the censors would allow them to say. But if they slipped up or wrote something they shouldn't, their lives and careers would be in danger. Shakespeare in particular was able to write a little more freely due to his position within the King’s men and his relationship with the monarchy. But he was one of many playwrights and his acting troupe was just one of the groups of men performing at the time. Other troupes would travel from town to town, and sometimes were denied permission to perform due to their content or the fact that they would be distracting the town members from their duties and responsibilities. A lot of the arts at the time were observed under certain limitations and extreme censorship. This is slightly highlighted within the terms for this section but not as greatly discussed for other troupes and playwrights besides Shakespeare. This is important for understanding Shakespeare’s pieces because of his position amongst the Kings Men. Compared to other playwrights and players that were scrutinized more intensely due to their positions outside of the monarchies reigns, therefore they were watched and censored more than Shakespeare would have been at the time. If he wasn't amongst the few selected to be apart of the King's Men he may not of been able to write many of the pieces that he
did.
1. Theory of the King’s Two Bodies, Puns and Equivocations and Primogeniture
Theory of the King’s two bodies was a theory that the crowned head, for this it would be Queen Elizabeth, was divided into two the mortal body and the immortal body. The mortal body being “the body natural” which was subject to the failings of human flesh and eventual death and the immortal body being the “body politic” which is seen as timeless and perfect (Greenblatt 20). This is helpful in understanding the concept of the phrase “long live the queen/ long live the king” meaning the immortal body of the crown living immortally and passing the crown onto the next living heir. But with Queen Elizabeth, there was no living heir because she had not …show more content…
yet married and had no son or daughter that would be stepping up and taking over whenever she passed. This left the citizens on edge not knowing who the next heir to the throne was and not being able to prepare for any foreseeable changes in their future. Something that Shakespeare himself would have also been aware of at the time. His understanding of the Theory of the King’s two bodies is seen in Hamlet when Hamlet himself is faced with his father's ghost addressing him in hopes to be avenged in his death. The ghost that appears is the immortal body of the king that lives on post his death. Shakespeare's understanding of this theory allows for him to utilize this term within his works to add a deeper level of complexity to the script.
Puns and Equivocations were one of Shakespeare’s ways of adding dramatic irony and a comedic break to the tragedies within the plays. His use of puns and equivocations adds a “streak of wildness that they so deliberately disclose” (Greenblatt 69). This play on language is seen throughout many of Shakespeare's works including, Romeo and Juliet, Othello and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He uses puns and dramatic irony to ease some of the intense tension within his plays and adds brief comedic relief.
Primogeniture was the inheritance system that was used at the time that resulted in the transmission of property from father to oldest male heir. But in 40% of the families there was no male heir so the inheritance would then go to the oldest living female heir (Greenblatt 11). This was important for understanding Shakespeare’s tendency to have feuds between brothers because the oldest would receive the inheritance unless for some reason they were to die, then it would go to the next oldest male. Similarly to struggles within the monarchy in Shakespeare's plays with male heirs fighting over the throne as well
2.
I think it is important to also discuss the additional amount of pressure amongst the townsfolk and players within London at the time. There is the discussion of the King's Men and the Chamberlain's Men, who were in good terms with the aristocracy at the time, but there isn't as much emphasis on the looming fate of the players and playwrights if something was deemed unfit or too bold by the Master of Revels. There was a sense of fear amongst the arts to stay in line with what the censors would allow them to say. But if they slipped up or wrote something they shouldn't, their lives and careers would be in danger. Shakespeare in particular was able to write a little more freely due to his position within the King’s men and his relationship with the monarchy. But he was one of many playwrights and his acting troupe was just one of the groups of men performing at the time. Other troupes would travel from town to town, and sometimes were denied permission to perform due to their content or the fact that they would be distracting the town members from their duties and responsibilities. A lot of the arts at the time were observed under certain limitations and extreme censorship. This is slightly highlighted within the terms for this section but not as greatly discussed for other troupes and playwrights besides Shakespeare. This is important for understanding Shakespeare’s pieces because of his position amongst the Kings Men. Compared to other playwrights and players that were scrutinized more intensely due to their positions outside of the monarchies reigns, therefore they were watched and censored more than Shakespeare would have been at the time. If he wasn't amongst the few selected to be apart of the King's Men he may not of been able to write many of the pieces that he
did.