Shakespeare Studies: What's New?
Shakespeare Studies Links
Early Mod Research Links
OTHER ENGLISH LIT LINKS
Bartholomew Fair
BRIEF Plot Synopsis (plot points only, no character or interpretive notes):
1.1 — Littlewit & Win introduced.
1.2 — Winwife is courting Win’s mother. Littlewit says Dame Purecraft plans to marry a madman and is under the influence of Busy.
1.3 — Quarlous warns Winwife against marrying an old lady. Busy discussed.
1.4 — Wasp comes to get the marriage license from Littlewit, insults Littlewit and Win.
1.5 — Cokes , Mrs. Overdo and Grace — Cokes wants to see the fair. Littlewit talks Win into “longing” to see the fair, because he has written a puppet-play to be performed that day.
1.6 — Dame Purecraft and Busy are talked into going to the fair.
2.1 — Overdo introduces self.
2.2 — Fair folk introduced; Overdo presents self as Mad Arthur.
2.3 — Knockem introduced.
2.4 — Edgeworth/Nightingale introduced, Overdo wants to “save” Edgeworth.
2.5
— Winwife/Quarlous
taunt Ursula; she burns herself with her own
scalding-pan
2.6 — Overdo “preaches” against ale & tobacco; Cokes’ purse is stolen; Wasp beats Overdo
3.1 — Whit gives the watchmen their orders
3.2 — Whit offers to get whores for Winwife/Quarlous ; Busy & family find the pig booth; Winwife has second thoughts about Dame Purecraft
3.3 — Overdo talks to self
3.4 — Cokes buys Leatherhead & Trash’s whole booths
3.5 — During a long ballad, Edgeworth steals Cokes’ other purse; Overdo is blamed and arrested; Leatherhead /Trash escape with their goods and Cokes’ money; Winwife/Quarlous blackmail Edgeworth into stealing Wasp’s “black box” with Grace’s marriage license; Grace tells them why she’s forced to marry Cokes
3.6 — Busy starts preaching & is arrested, allowing Littlewit & Win to see the Fair, but Win needs to pee, so they go back to Ursula’s
4.1 — Trouble-All appears as Overdo put in stocks, demands warrant. Overdo distressed at Trouble-All’s plight. Busy brought on in custody. Overdo and Busy taken to Overdo’s court.
4.2 — Cokes is lost; Nightingale & Edgeworth trip him and steal his cloak, Cokes asks Trouble-All for help, unsuccessfully.
4.3 – Winwife/Quarlous fight over Grace. She proposes to let the next person who comes along choose one of them at random (it’s Trouble-All). They plan to get a priest after seeing a wrestling match.
4.4 — Wasp drawn into game of “vapours” and fights; Edgeworth steals the license. Mrs. Overdo tries to break it up. Wasp arrested. Whit offers to help Mrs. Overdo, who needs to pee. He takes her to Ursula & Knockem.
4.5 — Littlewit leaves Win at Ursula’s. Whit & Knockem talk Win into becoming a whore. Punk Alice comes in and beats Mrs. Overdo for being competition. Knockem & Whit kick her out, and outfit the ladies in green gowns & red petticoats.
4.6 — Quar gets the license from Edgeworth. Wasp is put in the stocks, along with Overdo & Busy. Wasp escapes. Trouble-All enters, then Dame Purecraft. Quarlous asks Trouble-All which name he marked, but Trouble-All only ways “Overdo.” Trouble-All fights with watchmen and Overdo and Busy escape. Dame Purecraft enamored of Trouble-All’s madness.
5.1 — Leatherhead advertises the puppet-play
5.2 — Overdo re-disguised as a porter. Winwife and Grace meet Quarlous disguised as Trouble-All, pursued by Dame Purecraft. As "Trouble-All," Quarlous asks to see the marked name in Grace’s book; it’s “Palemon” (Winwife). Dame Purecraft gives her bio and proposes to Quarlous /"Trouble-All." Stopped by Overdo, who offers to give him his seal (blank license) — Quarlous makes it a marriage license for him & Dame Purecraft. Overdo goes to seek Edgeworth.
5.3 — Cokes, followed by children, sees the ad for the puppet-play, goes in with Littlewit. Leatherhead, now called “Lantern,” shows puppets to Cokes, who wants to buy them as “fairings”. (Overdo still there)
5.4 — Winwife & Grace arrive at the puppet-booth. Knockem & Whit & Edgeworth bring masked Win & Mrs. Overdo (who is drunk & sick). Whit offers the “whores” to Overdo. Wasp enters, learns that everyone knows he was in stocks. Puppet-play begins; Cokes talks back to the puppets. Leatherhead fights with own puppets; Puppet Damon & Pythias fight with each other.
5.5 — Busy interrupts puppet-play, pronounces it “abomination” because puppets cross-dress. Disputes with puppet Dionysius, who answers by pulling up gown and showing it has no sex. Busy is “converted.” Overdo reveals himself.
