A place in the story : servants and service in Shakespeare's plays

This book explores the virtues Shakespeare made of the cultural necessities of servants and service. Although all of Shakespeare's plays feature servants as characters, and many of these characters play prominent roles, surprisingly little attention has been paid to them or to the concept of service. A Place in the Story" is the first book-length overview of the uses Shakespeare makes of servant-characters and the early modern concept of service. Service was not only a fact of life in Shakespeare's era, but also a complex ideology. The book discusses service both as an ideal and an insult, examines how servants function in the plays, and explores the language of service. Other topics include loyalty, advice, messengers, conflict, disobedience, and violence. Servants were an intrinsic part of early modern life and Shakespeare found servant-characters and the concept of service useful in many different ways" (Publisher) Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 List of Abbreviations......Page 16 1. “The lives of other”: Introduction......Page 20 2. “What duty is”: Service as Ideal and Indignity......Page 31 3. “The need we have to use you”: Uses of Servants......Page 64 4. “The mere word’s a slave”: Language and Service......Page 89 5. “If I last in this service”: Loyalty and Disloyalty......Page 117 6. “Good counsel”: Servants’ Advice and Commentary......Page 144 7. “A losing office”: Messengers......Page 159 8. “ ’Tis proper I obey him, but not now”: Conflicts of Service......Page 178 9. “Every good servant does not all commands”: The Duty to Disobey......Page 201 10. “Duty in his service perishing”: Servants and Violence......Page 220 11. “Remember I have done thee worthy service”: Conclusion......Page 238 Notes......Page 244 Bibliography......Page 314 B......Page 332 C......Page 333 H......Page 334 M......Page 335 R......Page 336 S......Page 337 W......Page 339 Z......Page 340 Although All Of Shakespeare's Plays Feature Servants As Characters, And Many Of These Characters Play Prominent Roles, Surprisingly Little Attention Has Been Paid To Them Or To The Concept Of Service. A Place In The Story Is The First Book-length Overview Of The Uses Shakespeare Makes Of Servant-characters And The Early Modern Concept Of Service.--jacket. The Lives Of Other: Introduction -- What Duty Is: Service As Ideal And Indignity -- The Need We Have To Use You: Uses Of Servants -- The Mere Word's A Slave: Language And Service -- If I Last In This Service: Loyalty And Disloyalty -- Good Counsel: Servants' Advice And Commentary -- A Losing Office: Messengers -- 'tis Proper I Obey Him, But Not Now: Conflicts Of Service -- Every Good Servant Does Not All Commands: The Duty To Disobey -- Duty In His Service Perishing: Servants And Violence -- Remember I Have Done Thee Worthy Service: Conclusion. Linda Anderson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-330) And Index.