I feel one of the reasons that Shakespeare put this direction into the play has to do with what Professor Burton talk about in class. This play is a romance, with comedic elements in the second half. This bear seems to be a transition into the summer portion of the play by giving us a comedic situation at the end of the tragedy. Although Antigonus does die by this bear, it would be hard to portray it, whether realistically as a man in a costume or through some special effect, without being slightly comical or delightful to watch. We don't see the actual kill, and who doesn't find a man being chased onstage by a bear funny? Even if that part is slightly serious, Shakespeare has his Clown character come onstage to describe the death, and he describes it in a humorist manner and cracks jokes as he does. Shakespeare plays a trick on his audience here. Up till now it has been a complete tragedy, but even as the tragedy is playing out to its ends, with Antigonus' death, here is an introduction of romantic comic material. Oh wait, the bear says, we're in for a completely different play.
Interesting how on little stage direction can do so much! Well done, Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery surrounding the bear is a fascinating historical treasure. I mean, it could easily have been a comedic plant. I know that a random bear attack in the midst of heavy tragedy would tip me off that the tone is flexible. However, there is always the possibility that Shakespeare got lazy and needed to kill off a character that ultimately doesn't really matter. Why waste time? Kill him off stage in a crowd-pleasing gory way.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting theory. It definitely does stick out from the rest of the play (why else would it be remembered so well). I can see Rosemary's point that it could have just been Shakespeare getting rid of a character, but to me it feels more intentional than that. He could have just killed off Antigonus off stage and talked about it later, like he did with Mamillus and Hermione. But instead he decided to actually show the bear, which is a lot different from his normal ways of killing people (that we can see from his other tragedies as well.) I think he must have done it for a reason, and using it as a transition into the next part of the play does make sense, especially since it's in the same location as the next act.
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