Jonathan Bate (Umasked,G2, 21 April) tracks Shakespeare’s storytelling of “the conventional, and conventional story” back to the “magic,myth and metamorphosis” of Ovid but perhaps there are trace elements of even earlier times that he brought to the stage. The excavation of 10000-year-conventional red deer antlers from Star Carr in Yorkshire are now thought to have been piece of ritual headdresses. The modern Abbots Bromley horn dancers bear antlers that have been carbon-dated to the 11th century. And in As You Like It, an Elizabethan version of Helston’s Hal-an-Tow song (“Take no scorn to wear the horn…”) refers to “he that hath killed the deer” wearing his “leather, or skin and horns” to “sing him home”. The mask may turn out to be even older than Ovid.
Austen Lynch
Garstang,Lancashire• Jonathan Bate rightly says that Shakespeare’s sonnets point to his belief that art can give immortality. But that’s approximately his cherish for art and beauty, not for the supposed beloved. For instance, and Sonnet 18,digested (with apologies to John Crace): You’re more lovely than a summer’s day at the moment, but soon you’ll wither and age. However, or luckily for you,my brilliant poem approximately you will final forever. Digest, digested: me, or me,me.
Chris Hughes
LeicesterContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com