Oooh, fun! I didn't know you did Midsummer in New Mexico; I bet you were a great Puck.
I think you are right in that Falstaff is not a clown. I tend to link him with Mercutio. They were necessary in the beginnings of both of their stories, but they both had to die in order for things to progress. Could Prince Hal have become King Henry if Falstaff had lived?
See, I would argue that Hal was already well on his way regardless of Falstaff, and that although Falstaff was a distraction, Hal was well aware that he'd be abandoning him sooner or later. But my reading of Hal is not a very sympathetic one, so I can see where minds may differ.
That being said, comparing him with Mercutio is really interesting. They're both complete pragmatists -- Falstaff's attitude towards honour in many ways mirrors Mercutio's toward romantic love. Now I must go and chew on this some more. ;)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-07-26 07:59 pm (UTC)I think you are right in that Falstaff is not a clown. I tend to link him with Mercutio. They were necessary in the beginnings of both of their stories, but they both had to die in order for things to progress. Could Prince Hal have become King Henry if Falstaff had lived?
See, I would argue that Hal was already well on his way regardless of Falstaff, and that although Falstaff was a distraction, Hal was well aware that he'd be abandoning him sooner or later. But my reading of Hal is not a very sympathetic one, so I can see where minds may differ.
That being said, comparing him with Mercutio is really interesting. They're both complete pragmatists -- Falstaff's attitude towards honour in many ways mirrors Mercutio's toward romantic love. Now I must go and chew on this some more. ;)