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You ignore the possibility...

>>>>But all in all, it makes more sense than them being published
>>>> against the author's wishes, especially as biusiness-like an
author as Shakespeare supposedly was. Wouldn't he want to
profit by them? <<<
>>> If he was a businessminded man who made his living by
the written word, of course he would. <<<

You ignore the evidence which suggests that some poets of
the period considered publication somewhat "vulgar," and a
tainting of the art form. You ignore poets such as John
Donne, for instance. He professed not to care about wider
recognition, and expressed his dismay with the idea of
"publication for profit."

We cannot say whether Shakespeare was motivated in this way.
However, others certainly were.

And, Donne and several others were reportedly "dismayed"
when pirated versions of their works were published, yet it happened
again and again, to many other poets of this period. So,
why do you profess such surprise?

I also find your assumption that Shakespeare was "business-
like" interesting. The "business" of published poetry does
not seem to be something that Shakespeare was all that concerned
with. After "The Rape of Lucrece" and "The Venus and Adonis,"
he never again attempted any publication, period (as far as
we can tell). Even in these two cases (both so early in his
literary endeavors), it appears that he did not actually see
the works through to their "published" form.

So, what exactly is it which casues you to refer to
Shakespeare as "biusiness-like" [SIC] and "businessminded"?
The fact that he was paid for his services in writing those
plays for the company?

His real estate holdings?

-Bruce

• The "I Think So, Despite History" Page

Posted by Bruce Spielbauer on April 14, 1997 at 18:36:24
In Reply to "may I sugest another?" posted by Bill Routhier on April 11, 1997 at 20:34:52

 Replies

• how about the fac t that during a famine in Stratford, Shakespeare hoarded grain Bill Routhier 06:49:07 4/15/97 (10)
  • Evidence Thersites 09:34:33 4/15/97 (9)
    • no, not folklore... Bill Routhier 13:42:20 4/15/97 (8)
      • Privy Council Thersites 00:54:05 4/16/97 (1)
        • you are right that the Privy council in London Bill Routhier 08:39:12 4/16/97 (0)
      • The author of Lear was not this man... Professor Mike 13:52:03 4/15/97 (5)
        • Ruling Classes Thersites 03:04:35 4/16/97 (2)
          • Superflux Bill Routhier 08:34:33 4/16/97 (1)
            • Ruling Classes Professor Mike 09:39:32 4/17/97 (0)
        • You might be interested... Cloten 18:58:21 4/15/97 (1)
          • well, shakespeare truely was conflicted... Bill Routhier 20:40:28 4/15/97 (0)

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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help