CANS 406 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cheapside, Confidence Trick
22 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, Woodbridge
-Woodbridge argues there isn’t really anything under the surface in the play
-She emphasizes farcicality and savagery as central to the vitality/spirit of the play
-Play takes place during Lent, so people cannot eat meat – naturally, people want to do the
opposite of what they’re meant to do
-This means there is a Black Market for meat
-Economy in the play connects human beings and meat, almost equating humans (and babies) as
meat – they are sought out as commodities in early modern London
-The Kixs cannot produce this valuable commodity, a child
-Con artist gets conned by the wench – this evidence goes against Woodbridge’s account of the
play
-They dedicate earnings to the upbringing of the child
-Infant flesh and animal basket joined together in Act 2 Scene 2
-This association isn’t new – it can be found in medieval tradition, like the Second
Shepherd’s play reference to eating the baby/eating the flesh of God, etc.
-There is a relationship between the most Christian of plays and Chaste Maid – does this suggest
that Woodbridge’s view of the play is limited?
-Bastardization of baptism of Moll rather than a real spiritual experience – there is no sign of
rebirth
-Distancing between emotions and artificiality of what’s happening on stage – there are things
that recall the resurrection, but it’s not a resurrection (no one is a martyr, no one gives up
anything, it’s more a reenactment)
-Whorehound’s repentance is more comedic than honest, he says ridiculous things and the
weight of his words doesn’t reflect the weight of his actions
-Ridiculous will writing
-Over the top, melodramatic words
-Contrast between Whorehound’s speech and everyone else’s
-Last-ditch effort to gain the sympathy of the Allwits
-There are underlying philosophical question and themes of human psychology, however
-The play is complex – it is not either farce or serious, there are elements of both
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Document Summary
Woodbridge argues there isn"t really anything under the surface in the play. She emphasizes farcicality and savagery as central to the vitality/spirit of the play. Play takes place during lent, so people cannot eat meat naturally, people want to do the opposite of what they"re meant to do. This means there is a black market for meat. Economy in the play connects human beings and meat, almost equating humans (and babies) as meat they are sought out as commodities in early modern london. The kixs cannot produce this valuable commodity, a child. Con artist gets conned by the wench this evidence goes against woodbridge"s account of the play. They dedicate earnings to the upbringing of the child. Infant flesh and animal basket joined together in act 2 scene 2. This association isn"t new it can be found in medieval tradition, like the second. Shepherd"s play reference to eating the baby/eating the flesh of god, etc.
