Philaster - Beaumont and Fletcher

 

Philaster - Beaumont and Fletcher

Main characters

1.The King  2. Philaster  – the "true heir"  3. Pharamond – the Prince of Spain

4. Dion – A Lord  5.Cleremont and Thrasiline – noble gentlemen his associates

6.Arethusa – the King's Daughter  7. Galatea & Megra (gentlewomen of the court)

8. Euphrasia (Bellario) – Daughter of Dion   9. Bellario - Page of Arethusa

Beaumont and Fletcher made one of the most successful collaborations in the history of the English drama. They have produced excellent plays. They are said to have popularized a new form of drama called tragicomedy. ‘Philaster’  is one of the most successful works of their collaboration .

The play is a tragicomedy  set in the Kingdom of Sicily. It ruled by an unnamed king. This king's father and predecessor, the ruler of Southern Italy (the Kingdom of Naples), had conquered the island of Sicily and displaced the native royal house; but the heir of that house, and rightful king of Sicily, is Philaster. He lives as a nobleman in the royal court. The king fears him, but cannot kill him because of the passionate loyalty of the people. The king has a plan, however: with no son of his own, he will marry his daughter Arethusa to a Spanish prince named Pharamond, and make the Spaniard his heir.

Arethusa, however, is in love with Philaster, and disdains the Spaniard. Philaster reciprocates the princess's affections, and sends his page Bellario to serve her and to be their intermediary. Arethusa is able to frustrate her father's plan by exposing Pharamond's affair with Megra, a loose gentlewoman of the court; but the Spaniard seeks revenge, by spreading reports that Arethusa is having an affair with Bellario. The passionate Philaster is deceived by the slander. During a hunt, Philaster confronts Arethusa; the overwrought protagonist stabs the princess (the incident that gives the play its subtitle ‘Love Lies a Bleeding’). Philaster is interrupted by a passing countryman; they fight, and both men are wounded. Philaster crawls off, and Arethusa is discovered by nobles of the court.

Arethusa's and Philaster's wounds are not fatal; both recover. Philaster is found, arrested, and sentenced to death. The king places Philaster in Arethusa's custody; she quickly marries him, which causes the king to decree her death as well. The executions are frustrated when the rebellious citizens capture Pharamond and hold him hostage. The falsehood of Pharamond's accusation against Arethusa is exposed when Bellario is revealed to be a disguised woman (she is Euphrasia, a courtier's daughter, infatuated with Philaster). Pharamond retreats to Spain. Since the rightful ruler of Sicily is now the king's son and no alternative presents itself, Philaster is restored to his crown.

 

 

An outline story of Oliver Goldsmith’s "She Stoops to Conquer"

 

An outline story of Oliver Goldsmith’s "She Stoops to Conquer"

The setting of the play is in the rural countryside of England, particularly the home of Mr. Hardcastle.  The time period is the 18th century.

Main Characters:

1. Kate Hardcastle : The intelligent and witty daughter of Mr. Hardcastle, who is seeking to marry well but is also determined to find true love.

2. Charles Marlow: A young gentleman, the son of Sir Charles Marlow, who is shy and awkward around women of his own class but confident and flirtatious with lower-class women.

3. Mr. Hardcastle : Kate’s father, a somewhat old-fashioned, kind-hearted man who values respectability and tradition.

4. Mrs. Hardcastle: Mr. Hardcastle’s wife, obsessed with social status and eager to marry her son, Tony, to a wealthy woman.

5. Tony Lumpkin: Mrs. Hardcastle's mischievous son from a previous marriage, who plays pranks and creates much of the confusion in the play.

6. Hastings: A friend of Marlow, a charming young man who is in love with Miss Neville.

7. Miss Neville: Mrs. Hardcastle’s niece, who is in love with Hastings and is also seeking to secure her inheritance.

Plot Outline:

Act 1: Introduction of characters and setting: 

  The play opens with the Hardcastle family at their country home. Mr. Hardcastle is preparing for the arrival of Charles Marlow, a young man whom he hopes will marry his daughter, Kate. Meanwhile, Marlow’s friend, Hastings, is also traveling with him. Hastings is secretly in love with Miss Neville, Mrs. Hardcastle’s niece.Tony Lumpkin, Mrs. Hardcastle’s son, plays a prank by misleading Marlow and Hastings into thinking that the Hardcastle house is an inn.Mr. Hardcastle is excited about the visit but unaware that his daughter’s suitor is coming under false pretenses.

Act 2:  Marlow's arrival: 

  When Marlow and Hastings arrive at the house, they believe they are at an inn due to Tony's mischief. Marlow behaves poorly, treating Mr. Hardcastle (whom he thinks is an innkeeper) with disdain and asking for elaborate service. Kate, disguised as a maid, decides to "stoop to conquer" and becomes part of the charade, trying to charm Marlow by lowering her social status and pretending to be a simple servant. Marlow behaves differently with Kate, as he is shy and awkward around women of his own class but becomes more confident and flirtatious with lower-class women. Meanwhile, Hastings and Miss Neville continue their secret courtship.

Act 3: The confusion escalates: 

 As the play progresses, the misunderstandings and mistaken identities become more entangled. Tony continues his pranks, and the charade between Kate and Marlow deepens. Mr. Hardcastle, frustrated by Marlow’s behavior, becomes more determined to set things right, unaware that Kate is in on the scheme.

Act 4: The unveiling of truths: 

  Eventually, the confusion reaches a breaking point, and the truth begins to emerge. Marlow learns that he has been duped and that Kate is, in fact, the daughter of Mr. Hardcastle. Marlow is initially embarrassed but is impressed by Kate’s intelligence and beauty. He begins to develop genuine feelings for her, realizing that he has been foolish.

Act 5 : Resolution and marriages: 

  The play ends with a series of reconciliations and marriages. Marlow, now aware of Kate’s true identity, asks for her hand in marriage. Hastings and Miss Neville are also allowed to marry, despite Mrs. Hardcastle's objections.Tony, having caused much of the chaos, is forgiven for his pranks, and it is hinted that he may marry someone of his own choosing. The play closes with a joyful and comedic resolution, with all the characters getting what they want.

Conclusion: 

She Stoops to Conquer is a lighthearted comedy that uses humor and farcical situations to explore the complexities of love, class, and identity. Through mistaken identities and clever disguises, the characters ultimately find happiness, making it a joyful and satisfying conclusion.

 

Gulliver’s Travels (Part I) – Jonathan Swift

 

Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathan Swift

 Gulliver’s Travels is a four-part satirical work by Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745). The full title of the work is ‘Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, in four Parts’. Gulliver’s Travels combines adventure with savage satire, mocking English customs and the politics of the day. Gulliver’s Travels is a first-person narrative that is told from the point of view of Lemuel Gulliver.

Gulliver is purely an imaginary character. He a surgeon and sea captain who visits remote regions of the world, and it describes four adventures. The places that he visits, as described in the following four parts of the book are also imaginary.

Part I –Lilliput

Part II – Brobdingnag

Part III – Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdrib, Luggnagg and Japan.

Part IV – The country of the Yahoos and the Houyhhnhmms

 In the first part, Gulliver boards the Antelope (a Ship) on 4^th May 1699.  He is the only survivor of a shipwreck, and he swims to Lilliput, where he is tied up by people who are less than 6 inches  tall. He is then taken to the capital city and eventually released. The Lilliputians’ small size mirrors their small-mindedness. Initially, the Lilliputians view Gulliver with fear, but they quickly realize that he is not a threat and decide to use his immense size to their advantage. Gulliver is restrained by thousands of tiny ropes and taken to the capital city. Despite his size, he remains courteous and tries to respect the Lilliputians’ laws and ways.

The Lilliputians are a highly organized society, with complex politics and customs. For example, they are divided between men who wear high-heeled shoes  and those who wear low ones.  These groups represent the Whigs and the Tories respectively. At the Lilliputian court only those who prove their skill in rope-dancing can get appointed as ministers. Gulliver's enormous size becomes both a blessing and a curse.

Gulliver is asked to help defend Lilliput against the empire of Blefuscu, with which Lilliput is at war over which end of an egg should be broken, this being a matter of religious doctrine. Gulliver captures Blefuscu’s naval fleet, thus preventing an invasion, but declines to assist the emperor of Lilliput in conquering Blefuscu. Later Gulliver extinguishes a fire in the royal palace by urinating on it. Eventually he falls out of favour and is sentenced to be blinded and starved. He flees to Blefuscu, where he finds a normal-size boat and is thus able to return to England.

The story serves as a satirical commentary on human nature, politics, and the absurdity of societal norms, highlighting the pettiness of conflicts and the arrogance of power.

Dr.Faustus - Christopher Marlowe

 

Dr.Faustus  - Christopher Marlowe

The key characters in Dr.Faustus are,

 Doctor Faustus : The protagonist, a brilliant scholar who becomes dissatisfied with traditional forms of knowledge and turns to necromancy to gain power and knowledge through a pact with Lucifer.

Mephistopheles: A demon and servant of Lucifer who becomes Faustus’s intermediary. He attempts to dissuade Faustus from his pact while also fulfilling his role as a servant.

Lucifer: The figure representing evil, he is the ruler of hell who grants Faustus his powers in exchange for his soul.

Wagner: Faustus's servant who exhibits some of Faustus's traits and engages in his own brand of necromancy.

Chorus: A group that provides commentary on the action of the play, framing the story and giving insights into Faustus’s character.

Good Angel: Represents Faustus’s conscience and the voice of reason, urging him to repent.

Bad Angel: Represents temptation, encouraging Faustus to continue on his dark path.

The Scholars: Friends of Faustus who express concern about his studies and eventual deal with the devil.

Historical Figures (like Helen of Troy): Faustus conjures various spirits and historical figures, including the legendary beauty Helen of Troy, to showcase his powers.

These characters help to explore the central themes of ambition, knowledge, morality, and the conflict between good and evil in "Doctor Faustus."

Brief summary of the play

"Dr. Faustus" is a play written by Christopher Marlowe. It tells the story of a brilliant scholar, Dr. Faustus. Dr.Faustus becomes dissatisfied with the limits of traditional forms of knowledge, such as theology and medicine. Instead, he seeks greater power and knowledge through necromancy, the practice of magic.  

He believes that through magic, he can gain knowledge and power beyond human comprehension. He makes a pact with the devil, selling his soul to Lucifer in exchange for 24 years of service from Mephistopheles, a servant of Lucifer. Faustus asks for knowledge, wealth, and power.

Faustus begins to explore his new powers. He summons Mephistopheles, who warns him about the consequences of his actions but ultimately serves him. Faustus uses his newfound powers to play pranks and show off, but he struggles with doubt and fear about his soul's fate. Despite warnings, he continues to indulge in worldly pleasures.

In this play the seven deadly sins are represented in a particular scene where they appear to Faustus. These sins are a reflection of the moral and spiritual decline that Faustus experiences as he pursues power and knowledge through dark magic.

Pride: Faustus shows pride by believing he can surpass the limits of human knowledge and power. He feels superior to traditional forms of scholarship and religion.

Greed: Faustus's desire for wealth and power leads him to make a pact with the devil, showing his insatiable greed for more than what is naturally possible.

Lust: Faustus indulges in lustful desires, seeking sensual pleasures and women through the power of magic rather than using his gifts for higher purposes.

Envy: Throughout the play, Faustus exhibits envy towards the power of God and the abilities of those who have succeeded without using dark magic. He envies the knowledge that he seeks to attain.

Gluttony: This sin reflects Faustus's excessive consumption of knowledge and power, as he continuously craves more and more without consideration of the consequences.

Wrath: Faustus displays wrath when he feels frustrated or disappointed with his limited powers or when he faces the consequences of his actions.

Sloth: Faustus's procrastination and refusal to repent or seek redemption demonstrate sloth. Instead of turning back to God, he remains stuck in his sinful path.

In the play, when the seven deadly sins appear, they serve as a warning to Faustus of the consequences of his actions and the moral decay that results from his choices. Each sin embodies a facet of his character and the ultimate lesson about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the failure to seek redemption.

Faustus travels across Europe, showcasing his magical abilities. Here are some notable pranks he orchestrates:

Summoning Spirits: Faustus conjures the spirits of the dead and showcases them to his friends, which terrifies and impresses them.

The Horse-Courser: Faustus tricks a horse dealer into buying a horse that he causes to turn into a pile of hay as soon as it is sold, thus leaving the dealer bewildered and embarrassed.

The Pope's Feast: Faustus attends a banquet where he publicly displays his power by sneaking in uninvited and then using magic to play tricks on the Pope, such as stealing his food and causing various disturbances.

Disguises and Illusions: Faustus uses illusions to create a false image of a beautiful woman, which he displays to his fellow scholars and friends, who are mesmerized.

Mocking Scholars: He plays pranks on fellow students and scholars, making them look foolish and demonstrating his power in a condescending manner.

These pranks show Faustus's desire for attention and validation, as well as his hubris as he abuses the powers granted to him by Lucifer. However, they also serve to highlight the emptiness of his pursuits and foreshadow his tragic end.

Faustus is filled with regrets and fears about the consequences of his choices. He tries to repent and seeks redemption, but he is tormented by Mephistopheles and the realization that it's too late for him. He grapples with his fate and contemplates the nature of his own humanity versus the powers he has gained.

As the 24 years come to an end, Faustus faces the reality of his impending doom. He wishes for the chance to turn back and save his soul but succumbs to despair. Even while he tries to repent, Mephistopheles and Lucifer loyal to their pact remind him that he cannot escape his fate. In the final moments, Faustus is taken to hell, lamenting over his lost opportunity for salvation.

Ultimately, "Dr. Faustus" is a tragic story about ambition, despair, and the struggle between the desire for power and the need for redemption. Faustus's tragic decline serves as a reflection on the human condition and the perils of unchecked ambition.