One more note on Lear

[redbird]

As far as I can tell, there is not a character in all of Shakespeare who can recognize their most-loved relative, nor their most dangerous enemy, by voice, or if that person changes clothes. Was this a convention of the Elizabethan stage, or his own invention?

Comments

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Actually, it was realistic. During the Tudor and Stewart periods, clothing was the only way to identify one another. This was the reason for sumptuary laws at the time: if someone dressed above their station, everyone would assume that they were of that station, and they could do whatever they wanted -- if you were wearing red clothing, you could order anyone around.

Modern historians often wonder how Walshingham was able to have his agents infiltrate Catholic cells so effectively; the truth is that he just had them change clothes, and nobody could recognize them.

This also explains why Mary, Queen of Scots attempted to escape from her confinement after being captured by the English, in a laundry basket. It would have worked, except that she forgot to actually WEAR the clothes in the laundry basket, and just hid in it.

This was also, of course, the reason Cromwell ordered the theaters closed: they had costumes, and could therefore have infiltrated any Roundhead gathering and nobody would have been able to tell the difference.

[cheshyre]

Also keep in mind, those days they had a lot of lead in the water, wore arsenic-based makeups, imbibed mercury-based potions and most beverages were alcoholic.

Folks back then killed off a lot of braincells ;}

[callunav.livejournal.com]

Because Shakespeare and his cronies were notable morons? :)

[callunav.livejournal.com]

This is very silly.