Paradox
Historical Records
| File:Henslowe-Alleyn 21v 3.jpg See the relevant MS entry in the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project site here. |
Henslowe's Diary
| ye 1 of Ju[n]]ley 1596 | . . . . | ne . . . . . . | R[d] at <peth> paradox . . . . . . . . . . | xxxxvs |
Theatrical Provenance
Performed as a new play by the Admiral's on 01 July 1596.
Probable Genre(s)
Comedy (?) (Harbage)
Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues
It is incredibly difficult to make any convincing speculation on so generic a title as Paradox. See For What It's Worth below.
References to the Play
(Information welcome)
Critical Commentary
Greg doesn't add anything beyond noting that "paradox" was altered from "peth", which he thinks appears to have been a false start for "pythagoras".
For What It's Worth
Whilst an EEBO-TCP search for "Paradox" returns numerous hits, these typically fall under the rubrics of religion (e.g. the transubstantiation of Christ's body) and science (or Pythagoras more specifically). With the exception of the latter (see the separate entry for Pythagoras), none of these hits are particularly suggestive of readily adaptable material for dramatic purposes. Since Pythagoras was itself played as "ne" on 16 January 1595, and had already received 5 performances by the time Paradox was entered as "ne" on 1 July 1596 (including as recently as 15 June 1596), it seems impossible that Paradox and Pythagoras could be the same play.
There is one curious exception to the generic list of "paradox" returns from EEBO-TCP, however:
A Paradox in Praise of Serieants by Thomas Dekker and George Wilkins, in Iests to make you merie with the coniuring vp of Cock VVatt, (the walking spirit of Newgate) to tell tales. Vnto which is added, the miserie of a prison, and a prisoner. And a paradox in praise of serieants. Written by T.D. and George Wilkins. (1607).
Although too late to be a source, this text is of considerable interest as an analogue for at least two reasons. First, unlike the other texts currently returning hits for the word "paradox," a jest could actually form a viable analogue to a play (or, if penned earlier than printed, a source). Second, this particular jest is authored by two playwrights---one of whom (Dekker) had been associated with the Admiral's men.
Summary:
Cock Watt (or Watch), an escaped inmate of Newgate, is skulking about the city after dark. A raucous fight erupts within a tavern he passes
Works Cited
<If you haven't done so already, also add here any key words that will help categorise this play. Use the following format, repeating as necessary:>
Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 28 June 2011.