The Fancies Chaste and Noble
Encyclopedia
The Fancies Chaste and Noble is a Caroline era stage play, a comedy
written by John Ford
, and notable for its treatment of the then-fashionable topic of Platonic love
.
at the Phoenix or Cockpit Theatre
. Queen Henrietta's Men performed at the Cockpit from their inception in late 1625 to May 1636, when the theatres of London suffered their longest shutdown due to bubonic plague
. When the theatres finally re-opened in October 1637, the Queen Henrietta's company was esconced in the Salisbury Court Theatre
, not the Cockpit. Some scholars point to the 1635–36 interval as the most likely time for the play's genesis — though a few dissenters date the play as early as 1631.
. The quarto
was published by the bookseller Henry Seile, who had issued Ford's The Lover's Melancholy
nine years earlier. Like other quartos of Ford's plays, the title page bears Ford's anagrammatic motto "Fide Honor." Ford dedicated the play to Lord Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim
and Lord Viscount Dunluck (1609–83).
The Anatomy of Melancholy
is an important influence on Ford's canon as a whole; one clear index of that influence occurs Ford's choice of setting for The Fancies. In Vol. 3 of his masterwork, Burton notes that the northern European custom of men and women dancing together is not tolerated in Italy, except for the city of Siena
; Ford sets his play in Siena, and has men and women dancing together at the wedding of Secco and Morosa in Act II, scene ii.
, especially with Queen Henrietta Maria
, her ladies in waiting, and their coterie of courtier poets and dramatists, like Sir John Suckling
. It is not surprising that Ford would choose the subject for dramatic treatment. The treatment he gave the subject, however, was roundly condemned for its "coarseness" and "prurience" by more straightlaced later critics, especially those of the Victorian era. The play relies heavily on the spectre of virtue and chastity tested by false accusations and suspicions and tricks — that strange obsession of English Renaissance drama.
In the second-level plot, the spendthrift Fabricio has sold his wife Flavia to Julio, a wealthy nobleman. Flavia pretends to embrace her new fortune, adopting the fashionable tastes and habits of a nouveau-riche aristocrat — though she still loves her first husband. When Fabricio, regretting what he's done, bids her farwell to join a religious order, Flavia can barely hide her sorrow. Flavia resists amorous suits from two noblemen, Camillo and Vespucci, to prove her honor to her brother (Romanello) and her new husband.
The comic subplot concerns the barber Secco and his marriage to Morosa, the older "religious matron" who serves as the guardian of the Fancies. The page Nitido and the character Spadone are involved with them in bawdy humor.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
written by John Ford
John Ford (dramatist)
John Ford was an English Jacobean and Caroline playwright and poet born in Ilsington in Devon in 1586.-Life and work:...
, and notable for its treatment of the then-fashionable topic of Platonic love
Platonic love
Platonic love is a chaste and strong type of love that is non-sexual.-Amor Platonicus:The term amor platonicus was coined as early as the 15th century by the Florentine scholar Marsilio Ficino. Platonic love in this original sense of the term is examined in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, which has...
.
Date and performance
The dates of authorship and first performance of the play are uncertain, though the limited historical information does provide some clues. The title page of the first edition states that the play was acted by Queen Henrietta's MenQueen Henrietta's Men
Queen Henrietta's Men was an important playing company or troupe of actors in Caroline era London. At their peak of popularity, Queen Henrietta's Men were the second leading troupe of the day, after only the King's Men.-Beginnings:...
at the Phoenix or Cockpit Theatre
Cockpit Theatre
The Cockpit was a theatre in London, operating from 1616 to around 1665. It was the first theatre to be located near Drury Lane. After damage in 1617, it was christened The Phoenix....
. Queen Henrietta's Men performed at the Cockpit from their inception in late 1625 to May 1636, when the theatres of London suffered their longest shutdown due to bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
. When the theatres finally re-opened in October 1637, the Queen Henrietta's company was esconced in the Salisbury Court Theatre
Salisbury Court Theatre
The Salisbury Court Theatre was a theatre in 17th-century London. It was located in the neighbourhood of Salisbury Court, which was formerly the London residence of the Bishops of Salisbury. Salibury Court was acquired by Richard Sackville in 1564; when Thomas Sackville was created Earl of Dorset...
, not the Cockpit. Some scholars point to the 1635–36 interval as the most likely time for the play's genesis — though a few dissenters date the play as early as 1631.
Publication
The play was first published in 16381638 in literature
The year 1638 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 6 - Luminalia, a masque written by Sir William Davenant and designed by Inigo Jones, is staged at the English Court....
. The quarto
Book size
The size of a book is generally measured by the height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of its cover. A series of terms is commonly used by libraries and publishers for the general sizes of modern books, ranging from "folio" , to "quarto" and "octavo"...
was published by the bookseller Henry Seile, who had issued Ford's The Lover's Melancholy
The Lover's Melancholy
The Lover's Melancholy is an early Caroline era stage play, a tragicomedy written by John Ford. While the dating of the works in Ford's canon is very uncertain, this play has sometimes been regarded as "Ford's first unaided drama," an anticipation of what would follow through the remainder of his...
nine years earlier. Like other quartos of Ford's plays, the title page bears Ford's anagrammatic motto "Fide Honor." Ford dedicated the play to Lord Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim
Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim was a Roman Catholic landed magnate in Scotland and Ireland, son of the 1st Earl of Antrim. He was also chief of Clan MacDonnell of Antrim...
and Lord Viscount Dunluck (1609–83).
Burton
Robert Burton'sRobert Burton (scholar)
Robert Burton was an English scholar at Oxford University, best known for the classic The Anatomy of Melancholy. He was also the incumbent of St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford, and of Segrave in Leicestershire.-Life:...
The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy (Full title: The Anatomy of Melancholy, What it is: With all the Kinds, Causes, Symptomes, Prognostickes, and Several Cures of it. In Three Maine Partitions with their several Sections, Members, and Subsections...
is an important influence on Ford's canon as a whole; one clear index of that influence occurs Ford's choice of setting for The Fancies. In Vol. 3 of his masterwork, Burton notes that the northern European custom of men and women dancing together is not tolerated in Italy, except for the city of Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
; Ford sets his play in Siena, and has men and women dancing together at the wedding of Secco and Morosa in Act II, scene ii.
Platonic love
The subject of Platonic love was highly fashionable in the court of Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, especially with Queen Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, her ladies in waiting, and their coterie of courtier poets and dramatists, like Sir John Suckling
John Suckling (poet)
Sir John Suckling was an English poet and one prominent figure among those renowned for careless gaiety, wit, and all the accomplishments of a Cavalier poet; and also the inventor of the card game Cribbage...
. It is not surprising that Ford would choose the subject for dramatic treatment. The treatment he gave the subject, however, was roundly condemned for its "coarseness" and "prurience" by more straightlaced later critics, especially those of the Victorian era. The play relies heavily on the spectre of virtue and chastity tested by false accusations and suspicions and tricks — that strange obsession of English Renaissance drama.
Synopsis
As is normal in his dramaturgy, Ford provides the play with a multi-level plot. The main plot portrays the bachelor Octavio, Marquis of Siena, and his establishment of his "Bower of Fancies," something like a Platonic academy for those he calls the "fancies" — Clarella, Silvia, and Floria, three young women who are, or are said to be,"young, wise, noble, fair, and chaste." The three are widely believed to be Octavio's paramours, and the Bower of Fancies his harem. Livio, newly arrived at the court, is a friend to Octavio's nephew, Troylo-Savelli. Livio's sister Castamela is also brought in as a companion to the "fancies" — and becomes a target for the apparent amorous intentions of both the Marquis and his nephew. An underlying plot is eventually revealed: Castamela has been brought to the court by the nephew, to separate her from her suitor Romanello so that the nephew can marry her himself. The three "fancies" turn out to be, not the sexual partners of the Marquis, but his nieces and wards.In the second-level plot, the spendthrift Fabricio has sold his wife Flavia to Julio, a wealthy nobleman. Flavia pretends to embrace her new fortune, adopting the fashionable tastes and habits of a nouveau-riche aristocrat — though she still loves her first husband. When Fabricio, regretting what he's done, bids her farwell to join a religious order, Flavia can barely hide her sorrow. Flavia resists amorous suits from two noblemen, Camillo and Vespucci, to prove her honor to her brother (Romanello) and her new husband.
The comic subplot concerns the barber Secco and his marriage to Morosa, the older "religious matron" who serves as the guardian of the Fancies. The page Nitido and the character Spadone are involved with them in bawdy humor.