Paradox: Difference between revisions

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==Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues==
==Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues==


See [[#For What It's Worth|'''For What It's Worth''']] below.
It is incredibly difficult to make any convincing speculation on so generic a title as ''Paradox''. See [[#For What It's Worth|'''For What It's Worth''']] below.
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==Critical Commentary==
==Critical Commentary==


Greg doesn't add anything beyond noting that "paradox" was altered from "peth", which appears to have been a false start for "pythagoras". But ''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.
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".  




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==For What It's Worth==
==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.
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, however:
There is one curious exception to the generic list of "paradox" returns from EEBO-TCP, however:
<blockquote>''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).</blockquote>
<blockquote>''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).</blockquote>
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.
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.
 
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Summary:
Summary:
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<blockquote>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
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==Works Cited==
==Works Cited==


<List all texts cited throughout the entry, except those staple texts whose full bibliographical details have been provided in the masterlist of Works Cited found on the sidebar menu.>
<div style="padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;">Dekker, Thomas, and George Wilkins. ''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). Print. </div>




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Site created and maintained by [[your name]], affiliation; updated DD Month YYYY.
Site created and maintained by [[David McInnis]], University of Melbourne; updated 28 June 2011.
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Revision as of 22:17, 27 June 2011

Anon. (1596)


Historical Records

File:Henslowe-Alleyn 21v 3.jpg
See the relevant MS entry in the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project site here.

Henslowe's Diary

F.21v / Greg 1.42:

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

Dekker, Thomas, and George Wilkins. 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). Print.


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Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 28 June 2011.