The Merry Wives of Windsor: middle earth, In love the Heavens themselves do guide the state

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glennlouisfeole@gmail.com

Other blogs: readingthedictionaryztoa.blogspot.com (essays on reading the dictionary) artbyglennfeole.blogspot.com


The Merry Wives of Windsor

    I have to agree with the consensus of critics that this is not a very laudable play…among the weakest to be politic.  Falstaff, according to Harold Bloom, is not even truly Falstaff here.  The witty, irresistible Falstaff is reduced to a lusty buffoon… and Bloom was not amused. 
     In any case, it was a hard read for me until, thankfully, I got to the very last page.  And there it was: a beautiful passage on love.  It was as if, finally, the true Shakespeare emerged with all his poignancy and poetic insight.  It is one of only three quotes that I will list from this play, if that says something…

“In love the Heavens themselves do guide the state.
Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate.”  Ford.  5.5.240-241.

“I must advance the colors of my love.”  Fenton.  3.4.88


“A kind heart he hath: a woman would run through fire and water for such a kind heart.”  Quickly.  3.4.110-111. 

(I would add that so would a man…this man.)   

Vocabulary:
scurvy
lascivious
the short and the long of it (twice)
punk
dickens
obsequious
middle earth

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