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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1948  Thursday, 25 November 2005

[1] 	From: 	Marvin Bennet Krims <marvin_krims@hms.harvard.edu>
	Date: 	Wednesday, 23 Nov 2005 09:42:26 -0500
	Subj: 	RE: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets

[2] 	From: 	Bill Arnold <barnold_pb@yahoo.com>
	Date: 	Wednesday, 23 Nov 2005 06:52:37 -0800 (PST)
	Subj: 	Re: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets

[3] 	From: 	Stefan Andreas Sture <stefansture@gmail.com>
	Date: 	Thursday, 24 Nov 2005 08:25:50 +0100
	Subj: 	Re: SHK 16.1936 The Sonnets

[4] 	From: 	Elliott Stone <elliott.stone@comcast.net>
	Date: 	Thursday, 24 Nov 2005 11:13:57 -0500
	Subj: 	Re: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Marvin Bennet Krims <marvin_krims@hms.harvard.edu>
Date: 		Wednesday, 23 Nov 2005 09:42:26 -0500
Subject: 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets
Comment: 	RE: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets

 From Meres' comment that they were meant for circulation among his 
"priuate friends" and the frequent use of the first person throughout, I 
would think the sonnets referred to Shakespeare himself.
	
Marvin Krims
	
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Bill Arnold <barnold_pb@yahoo.com>
Date: 		Wednesday, 23 Nov 2005 06:52:37 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets
Comment: 	Re: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets

Thomas Jensen writes, "My wife and I are reading Helen Vendler's 1997 
edition of the Sonnets.  It seems everyone who approaches them, 
including Professor Vendler,  infers some level of biography from them, 
(if only to the extent of the  person or persons to which they are 
addressed.)"

It is *more than* inference.  The factual evidence is that Will 
Shakespeare refers to himself, "Will," in numerous sonnets: highly 
autobiographical, to say the least.  Check Hardy's archives, as this is 
well discussed on SHAKSPER and in my 2002 book, Jesus: The Gospel 
According To Will.

Bill Arnold
http://www.cwru.edu/affil/edis/scholars/arnold.htm

[3]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Stefan Andreas Sture <stefansture@gmail.com>
Date: 		Thursday, 24 Nov 2005 08:25:50 +0100
Subject: 16.1936 The Sonnets
Comment: 	Re: SHK 16.1936 The Sonnets

There's an excellent book on the sonnets by Paul Edmondson and Stanley 
Wells that discusses the sonnets and theater among other things. An 
essential read for anyone interested in the sonnets.

Stefan Andreas Sture

[4]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: 		Elliott Stone <elliott.stone@comcast.net>
Date: 		Thursday, 24 Nov 2005 11:13:57 -0500
Subject: 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets
Comment: 	Re: SHK 16.1925 Commissioned Sonnets

It seems quite clear to me that Shakespeare believed that his plays were 
a commentary on the current events of his times. Prince Hamlet 
specifically makes this point.

If we were to agree that in a like manner the sonnets were a commentary 
on the major events of the Elizabethan Court then all sorts of 
interesting and exciting possibilities would come to mind.

1.The major issue of the day would be the successor  to the throne of 
Queen Elizabeth. The need of the Queen to marry and to have a child. 
Would the Tudor line continue?

2. The Essex Rebellion.

3. The struggle between the Catholics and the new Church of England. 
Professor Vendler chose not to examine these questions but that should 
not mean we should forgo these important lines of literary criticism.

Best,
Elliott H. Stone

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