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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, 08:07 PM
Jan 2025

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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Shakespeare and Myths About Genius [View all] GreatGazoo Jan 2025 OP
Great post Prairie Gates Jan 2025 #1
Edison and Ford also GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #2
Huckleberry Finn had nothing to do with Finnish people. Finn is a Irish-derived name and Twain stated the inspiration Celerity Jan 2025 #35
Yes - Blankenship was an inspiration but GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #37
FWIW, everyone agrees it's the Irish origin. It came from a real "Jimmy Finn" muriel_volestrangler Jan 2025 #41
I concede. GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #42
This message was self-deleted by its author Celerity Jan 2025 #44
That's a refreshing reminder peggysue2 Jan 2025 #3
Shakespeare was observant, empathic, and quick witted. haele Jan 2025 #4
We often use "art" or "artist" as a general complement GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #8
Shakespeare had it easy in school... underpants Jan 2025 #5
Loved Cunk on Shakespeare GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #9
Hilarious underpants Jan 2025 #13
I loved the bit with the gloves GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #19
That's the most irreverent take on Shakespeare I've ever heard peggysue2 Jan 2025 #15
And a case in point: Good Will Hunting localroger Jan 2025 #6
Yes! GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #10
Probably the best thing about that flick was the music. miyazaki Jan 2025 #18
I have that soundtrack in my CD jukebox GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #20
Ya it does have a certain moodiness for sure. miyazaki Jan 2025 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jan 2025 #33
Armageddon makes specific reference to the K-T impactor. So what? localroger Jan 2025 #40
It's relatively easy to explain how Shakespeare could have set his plays thucythucy Jan 2025 #7
Exactly. Shakespeare's true gift was his knack for beautiful prose and poetry. Aristus Jan 2025 #11
Respectfully, pub conversations don't fill the gap. GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #12
He very well might have visited Italy thucythucy Jan 2025 #14
I had heard about Patrick Stewart's Shakespeare roles but had not seen any clips GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #17
Your work sounds fascinating. thucythucy Jan 2025 #26
Thanks -- History is much more fun that I thought it would be GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #38
The printing press was over a hundred years old Retrograde Jan 2025 #28
I approach the Shakespeare biography as a historian GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #30
Thanks for the info on Henslowe Retrograde Jan 2025 #31
Marchette Chute's "Shakespeare of London" is also another valuable resource. C0RI0LANUS Jan 2025 #34
Henslowe is a gold mine GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #36
I dont want bloody knuckles or nose, I confess GusBob Jan 2025 #16
Shakespeare was forgotten for 150 years Blue_Tires Jan 2025 #22
Thanks for the wonderful post, GreatGazoo. C0RI0LANUS Jan 2025 #23
Do you think he wrote Mucedorus? GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #24
Having never read Mucedorus (but I will now) here is my analysis. Apologies for the length. C0RI0LANUS Jan 2025 #25
Hi Great Gazoo C0RI0LANUS Jan 2025 #32
Thanks for that. Now I have to re-read it... GreatGazoo Jan 2025 #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 2025 #43
A grammar-school education was pretty rigorous back then. The church also educated. viva la Jan 2025 #27
Wonderful post, will re-read soon, thanks! UTUSN Jan 2025 #29
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