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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help
and I think that this is Oxford/Shakespeare being very
slyly witty, an inside joke only the court would appreciate,
since he IS making fun of Polonious/Burghely within the play
itself. But you are indeed right that anyone could satirize
Burghley. (There could, of course be consequences) But the
point I was really making was that the public wasn't aware
Burghley had a list of precepts, and it wasn't the sort of
that would easily find its way out,especially to a commoner,
which shakespeare was. Remember, this was not an open, democratic
society. So, therefore, though it is possible that Shakespeare
somehow can across this piece of knowledge and decided, (for
reasons that don't seem to make much sense for playwright
trying to stay in business) to lampoon the the most powerful
person in England, after the Queen. Anyway, for Oxford, it
makes all the sense in the world. In his letters to Burghley
there is much evidence of resentment and strain on the part
of the young Earl as he fights for independence from his
guardian. This went on all throughout their relationship,
sometimes things were better than others.... so, Oxford of
course knows of the precepts, they've been dictated to him
for years, and he resents Burgley as authority figure,
(Burghley opposed the Earl's interest in the theater)
therefore he has alll the reason in the world to
Lampoon Burghley. Put Oxford in Shakespeare's place and
Shakespeare suddenly makes perfect sense.
Posted by Bill Routhier on April 15, 1997 at 14:05:18
In Reply to "Burghley : a very well known figure" posted by Florence Amit on April 15, 1997 at 11:17:42
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