Joseph Stephenson 🇺🇦
@joestephenson.bsky.social
Professor of English. Renaissance and Restoration Drama. Researching a formerly lost play, /The Dutch Lady/.
Sorry--just couldn't resist the echo of the silly ad.
November 8, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Sorry--just couldn't resist the echo of the silly ad.
The issue is open access; take a browse and see what you think.
October 16, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The issue is open access; take a browse and see what you think.
Thoughts and prayers.
October 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Thoughts and prayers.
Meanwhilom, the Frenshe hav hadde manye of hir wordes receyved into Englisshe. Yt is nat juste.
September 8, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Meanwhilom, the Frenshe hav hadde manye of hir wordes receyved into Englisshe. Yt is nat juste.
That's some bullshit.
Ukraine--use stuff like this as a chance to motivate your citizenry. "We are not like Russia."
Ukraine--use stuff like this as a chance to motivate your citizenry. "We are not like Russia."
September 2, 2025 at 5:13 PM
That's some bullshit.
Ukraine--use stuff like this as a chance to motivate your citizenry. "We are not like Russia."
Ukraine--use stuff like this as a chance to motivate your citizenry. "We are not like Russia."
According to RT....
August 21, 2025 at 3:27 AM
According to RT....
They continue looking without speaking for several seconds.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE TO BLACK.
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
They continue looking without speaking for several seconds.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE TO BLACK.
. . . keeping his eyes fixed on Malvolio. He sees that Malvolio has been crying.
MALVOLIO (still looking down): I was seeking no company here.
ANTONIO: Faith, nor was I.
Malvolio hears something--kindness? empathy?--in the sailor's voice, and looks up. He sees a tear starting in Antonio's eye . . .
MALVOLIO (still looking down): I was seeking no company here.
ANTONIO: Faith, nor was I.
Malvolio hears something--kindness? empathy?--in the sailor's voice, and looks up. He sees a tear starting in Antonio's eye . . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
. . . keeping his eyes fixed on Malvolio. He sees that Malvolio has been crying.
MALVOLIO (still looking down): I was seeking no company here.
ANTONIO: Faith, nor was I.
Malvolio hears something--kindness? empathy?--in the sailor's voice, and looks up. He sees a tear starting in Antonio's eye . . .
MALVOLIO (still looking down): I was seeking no company here.
ANTONIO: Faith, nor was I.
Malvolio hears something--kindness? empathy?--in the sailor's voice, and looks up. He sees a tear starting in Antonio's eye . . .
. . .lifts his tankard off the table; Antonio clinks it and downs half a quart of sack in one gulp. Impressed, Malvolio takes a better look at him. Antonio swallows hard, opens his eyes, and notices Malvolio's gaze. Malvolio quickly looks away, fumbles with his drink. Antonio lifts his drink . . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
. . .lifts his tankard off the table; Antonio clinks it and downs half a quart of sack in one gulp. Impressed, Malvolio takes a better look at him. Antonio swallows hard, opens his eyes, and notices Malvolio's gaze. Malvolio quickly looks away, fumbles with his drink. Antonio lifts his drink . . .
. . . does not recognize Malvolio at first but then sees a bit of the yellow stocking under the coat and offers a consolatory grimace and a raised tankard. Malvolio refuses to lift his glass at first, but then notes that Antonio is not mocking or judging, just acknowledging him. He reluctantly. . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
. . . does not recognize Malvolio at first but then sees a bit of the yellow stocking under the coat and offers a consolatory grimace and a raised tankard. Malvolio refuses to lift his glass at first, but then notes that Antonio is not mocking or judging, just acknowledging him. He reluctantly. . .
. . . where Malvolio is sitting with his back to Antonio. Antonio sits without speaking and turns away from Malvolio, whom he does not immediately recognize. Malvolio looks up, annoyed. A flicker of recognition crosses his face, and he lifts his chin in a barely polite acknowledgement. Antonio . . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
. . . where Malvolio is sitting with his back to Antonio. Antonio sits without speaking and turns away from Malvolio, whom he does not immediately recognize. Malvolio looks up, annoyed. A flicker of recognition crosses his face, and he lifts his chin in a barely polite acknowledgement. Antonio . . .
. . . (which Sebastian has returned to him) and just looks at it. He forgets what he's doing.
BARKEEP: Do ye have the money, sailor?
ANTONIO: Oh, aye. Here's for you.
Antonio takes his drink and looks for a place to sit in the crowded room. There is an extra stool at the table in the corner . . .
BARKEEP: Do ye have the money, sailor?
ANTONIO: Oh, aye. Here's for you.
Antonio takes his drink and looks for a place to sit in the crowded room. There is an extra stool at the table in the corner . . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
. . . (which Sebastian has returned to him) and just looks at it. He forgets what he's doing.
BARKEEP: Do ye have the money, sailor?
ANTONIO: Oh, aye. Here's for you.
Antonio takes his drink and looks for a place to sit in the crowded room. There is an extra stool at the table in the corner . . .
BARKEEP: Do ye have the money, sailor?
ANTONIO: Oh, aye. Here's for you.
Antonio takes his drink and looks for a place to sit in the crowded room. There is an extra stool at the table in the corner . . .
Twelfth Night
Fade in on the Elephant Bar in Illyria. Malvolio, yellow stockings showing under his coat, sits in a corner drinking himself into a stupor. He mumbles and fights back tears.
ENTER Antonio, who orders a quart of sack. The barkeep needs the money first. Antonio pulls out his purse . . .
Fade in on the Elephant Bar in Illyria. Malvolio, yellow stockings showing under his coat, sits in a corner drinking himself into a stupor. He mumbles and fights back tears.
ENTER Antonio, who orders a quart of sack. The barkeep needs the money first. Antonio pulls out his purse . . .
July 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Twelfth Night
Fade in on the Elephant Bar in Illyria. Malvolio, yellow stockings showing under his coat, sits in a corner drinking himself into a stupor. He mumbles and fights back tears.
ENTER Antonio, who orders a quart of sack. The barkeep needs the money first. Antonio pulls out his purse . . .
Fade in on the Elephant Bar in Illyria. Malvolio, yellow stockings showing under his coat, sits in a corner drinking himself into a stupor. He mumbles and fights back tears.
ENTER Antonio, who orders a quart of sack. The barkeep needs the money first. Antonio pulls out his purse . . .
(just another delay!)
July 6, 2025 at 11:42 PM
(just another delay!)
Correction: in my third reply in this series, read "F's uncle" for "F's father."
July 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Correction: in my third reply in this series, read "F's uncle" for "F's father."
Hamlet's revenge is famously too cold (he can't even understand himself why it takes him so long); Laertes's is too hot (cut his throat in the church? that's against sanctuary--not to mention the poisoned rapier plot ends up killing Laertes himself); while Fortinbras's is just right. (end)
July 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Hamlet's revenge is famously too cold (he can't even understand himself why it takes him so long); Laertes's is too hot (cut his throat in the church? that's against sanctuary--not to mention the poisoned rapier plot ends up killing Laertes himself); while Fortinbras's is just right. (end)
The Branagh film shows F's intentions very well, with the excellent casting of Rufus Sewell as a very canny and determined F.
In a film that famously sticks very close to the text, the added word "Attack!" as F's army kills one of the guards makes what is happening quite clear.
(cont'd)
In a film that famously sticks very close to the text, the added word "Attack!" as F's army kills one of the guards makes what is happening quite clear.
(cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The Branagh film shows F's intentions very well, with the excellent casting of Rufus Sewell as a very canny and determined F.
In a film that famously sticks very close to the text, the added word "Attack!" as F's army kills one of the guards makes what is happening quite clear.
(cont'd)
In a film that famously sticks very close to the text, the added word "Attack!" as F's army kills one of the guards makes what is happening quite clear.
(cont'd)
--not by messenger--the easier to assassinate him. If Hamlet had delayed twenty minutes longer (and his action is only brought on by Claudius and Laertes' plot, not by his own decision), F would have taken out Claudius himself. (cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
--not by messenger--the easier to assassinate him. If Hamlet had delayed twenty minutes longer (and his action is only brought on by Claudius and Laertes' plot, not by his own decision), F would have taken out Claudius himself. (cont'd)
(because everyone knows that the best way to get to Poland from Norway is to disembark hundreds of miles from the target and march overland in the dead of winter), but he is just invading. Just before these lines, F made clear than he'd be interested to meet with Claudius "in his eye" (cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
(because everyone knows that the best way to get to Poland from Norway is to disembark hundreds of miles from the target and march overland in the dead of winter), but he is just invading. Just before these lines, F made clear than he'd be interested to meet with Claudius "in his eye" (cont'd)
he wags his finger at F and tells him to stop that. F promises (insincerely) to obey--for which he is rewarded with enough money to raise and support a proper fighting force. F asks his father to ask Claudius for permission to march through Denmark--supposedly on his way to Poland, (cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 11:01 AM
he wags his finger at F and tells him to stop that. F promises (insincerely) to obey--for which he is rewarded with enough money to raise and support a proper fighting force. F asks his father to ask Claudius for permission to march through Denmark--supposedly on his way to Poland, (cont'd)
Fortinbras plays his "impotent" uncle expertly (in contrast to Hamlet, whose feigned madness and cruel words to Ophelia almost lead to Hamlet's execution by the English king). F had been openly mustering an army to invade Denmark and take the throne; when his uncle comes to know this . . .(cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Fortinbras plays his "impotent" uncle expertly (in contrast to Hamlet, whose feigned madness and cruel words to Ophelia almost lead to Hamlet's execution by the English king). F had been openly mustering an army to invade Denmark and take the throne; when his uncle comes to know this . . .(cont'd)
Spoiler alert: it is an invasion. They say they are going to Poland but Fortinbras--like Hamlet, Laertes, and (yes) Pyrrhus--is seeking revenge for the death of his father. He has planned carefully, and strikes when the time is right. (cont'd)
July 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Spoiler alert: it is an invasion. They say they are going to Poland but Fortinbras--like Hamlet, Laertes, and (yes) Pyrrhus--is seeking revenge for the death of his father. He has planned carefully, and strikes when the time is right. (cont'd)