You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gabardine,

And all for use of that which is mine own.

-Shylock

The Merchant of Venice                Act I, scene iii, line 111

 

Day two of semi-random Merchant, and what do we have here. I’ll tell you what we have. We have cut right to the heart of the play. If not the heart as Will intended it, certainly the heart of the play as it is viewed today, and the reason that the play is considered a bit problematic in the twenty-first century.

Bassanio and Antonio have come to Shylock to borrow money, and Shylock is raising the issue of his own Jewishness and how he has been persecuted for it.

Now, do we discuss what’s going on in the play here and what we think Will meant, or do we discuss modern sensibilities and why this line is emblematic of why the play can be difficult to deal with in 2022? Related as they are, these two topics diverge significantly, but  both of them require careful consideration in any modern presentation, interpretation, or retelling of this play. Whilst I'm not going to delve further into it now, I lay this out there for your consideration with the promise that we will be considering this further as we continue our semi-random Merchant journey. 

 

Simon & Garfunkel - America (from The Concert in Central Park) - YouTube

 No pic today, just a song. I picked it because it has the word gaberdine in it and this is the only time I've ever run into that word other than here in Merchant. But it's also a great song.

 

 8/8/22

 

 

But little: I am arm’d and well prepared.

-Antonio

The Merchant of Venice                Act IV, scene i, line 264

 

You merchant, have you anyhing to say? This is what Portia asks Antonio as she is about to let Shylock loose to collect his pound of flesh. Today’s Totally Random Line is Antonio’s answer. I guess that by arm’d he means ready to accept his fate, not arm’d in that he has a weapon. He has no weapon. And his reply that he has but little to say seems appropriate. Antonio is the titular Merchant, and yet he really doesn't have all that much to say in this play. Bassanio, Portia, Shylock, heck even Launcelot Gobo seem to have a lot more to say than Antonio. I'm just saying. 

Now, something new: Our Totally Random Line(s) are going to be semi-random for a little while. Let me explain. Bill and I started our second book a while back and it’s a retelling of The Merchant of Venice. We’ve been a bit lax on sticking with it, so in an effort to change that and to get myself to write more, I’m going to restrict my random line picks to Merchant for the next little while. How long? Not sure. As long as it takes, I suppose. I had kicked around the idea of Bill and I taking a trip to Venice to get us going on the project, but I don’t see that happening any time in the near future. So perhaps this is the next best thing to get us going. But, who knows, Venice may still be in the cards. Someday.

Maybe someday, but not today.

 

Merely awry: when he did love his country,

It honour’d him.

-Junius Brutus

Coriolanus                      Act III, scene i, line 304

 

The crowd, led by the two tribunes Sicinius Veletus and Junius Brutus, is calling for the head of Caius Marcius Coriolanus. Menenius Agrippa, the voice of reason, is trying to calm the crowds by telling them that Coriolanus fought and bled to defend Rome and that if he were now to be killed by Romans it would be a mark of dishonour against Rome that would last to the end of the world. Sicinius says that’s absolutely wrong, and Junius follows him up with Today’s Totally Random Line.

I guess I now realize why this play is not taught in high schools: the representation of Sicinius and Junius is so like today’s politicians that it would not be allowed.

Quel dommage.

The summer growth, the patio furniture, and a migrating flamingo have taken over quite a bit of the view outside my cellar office window. Thinking about the state of our nation's politics and realizing that this sorry state hasn't changed in centuries (and probably never will- it's part of the human condition) is a bit depressing. So I'm posting a pic that's got nothing to do with that. Can you blame me?

 

 

It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and therefore I will say nothing:

 

-Costard

Love’s Labour’s Lost            Act I, scene ii, line 155

 

Costard seems to be contradicting himself in this sentence, doesn’t he? He is told he’s going to prison, and he says Well, if ever I do see the merry days of desolation that I have seen, some shall see--. Moth interrupts with What shall some see?, and Costard replies with Today’s Totally Random Line(s).

 

Nay, nothing Master Moth, but what they look upon. It is not for prisoners to be too silent in their words; and therefore I will say nothing: I thank God I have as little patience as another man; and therefore I can be quiet.

 

So, what exactly is Costard saying? It seems to be a whole lot of contradiction, doesn’t it? Every piece of this seems to be a self-contained contradiction: They won’t see anything but what they see; It’s not for me to say nothing, so I’ll say nothing; I have little patience, so I can exercise patience and be quiet. What the heck?

This whole scene, most of it dominated by Armado and Moth, is a lot of wordplay. Will loves wordplay, especially in his comedies. And this is, of course, a comedy.

So Costard gets led away by Moth to confinement directly after speaking these lines, and Armado finishes the scene talking to himself about the country wench that he is in love with.

But, what’s it all mean Basil? I think that’s up to you.

This is Veronica Roodt. I was going to say that this picture is completely irrelevant, but now that I think about it:

Veronica's mere presence, at the time and place that we met her, seemed to be a contradiction in and of itself. And today's line is all about contradictions, isn't it?

 

[to Gaunt] O thou, the earthly author of my blood,-

Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate,

Doth with a twofold vigor lift me up

To reach at victory above my head,-

Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers;

And with thy blessings steel my lance’s point,

That it may enter Mowbray’s waxen coat,

And furbish new the name of John o’ Gaunt,

Even in the lusty haviour of his son.

 

 -Henry Bolingbroke

King Richard the Second       Act I, scene iii, line 70

 

This is son addressing father. Bolingbroke is about to fight Mowbray and he’s asking his father, John of Gaunt, … well you can plainly see what he's asking his father.

I really like the first line, the earthly author of my blood. It’s a really interesting use of all three words: earthly, author, and blood, and a way to describe a father that's quite unique.

 

 

We have received your letters full of love;

-Princess

Love’s Labour’s Lost      Act V, Scene ii, Line 770

Yes, that’s right: line 770. It’s a fairly long scene. But it’s the last scene of the play so Will is tying up all the loose ends. Anyway, it’s a nice line to start the month on. We have received your letters full of love. I mean, at least on the surface, without delving into it, it seems like a nice sentiment. Right? I think I’m just going to leave it at that for the first day of the month.

Very random pic today.

 

Thou shalt have cause to fear before I leave thee.

-Walter Whitmore

King Henry the Sixth Part II      Act IV, Scene i, Line 118

So says Walter Whitmore to the Duke of Suffolk. And he’s right, because before the end of the scene he leaves and re-enters with Suffolk’s lifeless body. Simple as that.

It’s a little bit funny that this guy has a first and last name. He’s just one step above an anonymous henchman, and yet he’s got a full name. Walter Whitmore. Hmmm.

 

Here's a pic of a different Walter, a fellow I worked with. His name was Walter Frankenburger. Walt was a good guy, and he certainly never threatened me like Walter Whitmore apparently would have.