The Old Wives' Tale is a play by George Peele first printed in England in 1595.[1] The play has been identified as the first English work to satirize the romanticdramas popular at the time. Although only the titles of most of these popular works have survived, they seem to be unrelated composites of popular romantic and fairy-tale motifs of the era. They were full of romantic inventions but devoid of moral content.[2] Peele here presents an amiably ironic and exaggerated version of such a play.[3]
The Old Wives' Tale uses the device of a play within a play to add to the confusion.[4] Peele's version, however, was more carefully composed than similar works of the period. He distilled the romantic and fairy-tale, but he was also able to create detachment; the audience became aware of its taste for the pure romance of the fairy-tale. Some critics regard the play as intentional satire constructed to highlight generic absurdities.[2] Peele's other plays employed a similar structure.
The play has been criticized as a "confusing jumble of theatrical nonsense" and for being a burlesque.[4] However, some praised it as a charming fantasy, an innocent sentimental comedy.[4] Others have called it a "fantastical comic romance".[5]
Plotedit
The plot centers around three young men who become lost in the woods, but are given shelter for the night by Clunch, a blacksmith, and his wife Madge (the eponymous 'old wife'). During their stay, one retires to bed with Clunch, while the other two are entertained by their hostess, who tells them a fairy-tale, which, to her surprise, comes to life: her characters appearing and telling it for her (the 'play-within-the play').[citation needed] One strand of the plot involves two brothers who are on an adventure searching for their sister, Delia, who is being held captive by the magician Sacrapant (compare Milton's Comus). The magician also captures the brothers. Eventually they are all rescued by a knight aided by a ghost who is motivated by gratitude for past acts of kindness by the knight. Songs and magical invocations are interwoven into the play, imbuing it with a magical atmosphere.[3]
^Baskervill, Charles Read, ed. (1934). "George Peele". Elizabethan and Stuart Plays. New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 205–206. The Old Wives' Tale was entered in the Stationer's Register, April 16, 1595, and printed by John Danter the same year. The identification of the initials "G.P." on the title page as those of George Peele, which was made by Herbert in Typographical Antiquities, has never been challenged. The date of composition is usually thought to lie between 1590 and 1593, but recently Larson has argued for a date between January, 1593, and May, 1594. The play is essentially a medley of motives and incidents drawn from folk tales.
^ "George Peele (English dramatist) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
April 14, 2024
wives, tale, play, wives, tale, play, george, peele, first, printed, england, 1595, play, been, identified, first, english, work, satirize, romantic, dramas, popular, time, although, only, titles, most, these, popular, works, have, survived, they, seem, unrela. The Old Wives Tale is a play by George Peele first printed in England in 1595 1 The play has been identified as the first English work to satirize the romantic dramas popular at the time Although only the titles of most of these popular works have survived they seem to be unrelated composites of popular romantic and fairy tale motifs of the era They were full of romantic inventions but devoid of moral content 2 Peele here presents an amiably ironic and exaggerated version of such a play 3 The Old Wives Tale uses the device of a play within a play to add to the confusion 4 Peele s version however was more carefully composed than similar works of the period He distilled the romantic and fairy tale but he was also able to create detachment the audience became aware of its taste for the pure romance of the fairy tale Some critics regard the play as intentional satire constructed to highlight generic absurdities 2 Peele s other plays employed a similar structure The play has been criticized as a confusing jumble of theatrical nonsense and for being a burlesque 4 However some praised it as a charming fantasy an innocent sentimental comedy 4 Others have called it a fantastical comic romance 5 Plot editThe plot centers around three young men who become lost in the woods but are given shelter for the night by Clunch a blacksmith and his wife Madge the eponymous old wife During their stay one retires to bed with Clunch while the other two are entertained by their hostess who tells them a fairy tale which to her surprise comes to life her characters appearing and telling it for her the play within the play citation needed One strand of the plot involves two brothers who are on an adventure searching for their sister Delia who is being held captive by the magician Sacrapant compare Milton s Comus The magician also captures the brothers Eventually they are all rescued by a knight aided by a ghost who is motivated by gratitude for past acts of kindness by the knight Songs and magical invocations are interwoven into the play imbuing it with a magical atmosphere 3 See also editOld wives taleReferences edit Baskervill Charles Read ed 1934 George Peele Elizabethan and Stuart Plays New York Henry Holt and Company pp 205 206 The Old Wives Tale was entered in the Stationer s Register April 16 1595 and printed by John Danter the same year The identification of the initials G P on the title page as those of George Peele which was made by Herbert in Typographical Antiquities has never been challenged The date of composition is usually thought to lie between 1590 and 1593 but recently Larson has argued for a date between January 1593 and May 1594 The play is essentially a medley of motives and incidents drawn from folk tales a b Fowler Alastair 1991 A History of English Literature Cambridge MA Harvard University Press p 71 ISBN 0 674 39664 2 a b Jenny Stringer Margaret Drabble Old Wives Tale The Guide to Old Wives Tale The www encyclopedia com Retrieved 15 December 2009 a b c Rockey Laurlilyn JSTOR Educational Theatre Journal Vol 22 No 3 Oct 1970 pp 268 275 22 268 275 JSTOR 3205533 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help George Peele English dramatist Britannica Online Encyclopedia britannica com Retrieved 15 December 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Old Wives 27 Tale play amp oldid 1133922071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
