The Platonick Lovers
Encyclopedia
The Platonick Lovers is a Caroline era stage play which blends the genres of tragicomedy
, satire
, and comedy of manners
. It was written by Sir William Davenant
and first printed in 1636. The play can be regarded as one of the more subtle and successful satires in the English language: Davenant managed to ridicule the obsession of his employer without losing his job.
The play was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels
, on Nov. 16, 1635, and was acted by the King's Men
at the Blackfriars Theatre
. It was first published in quarto
in 1636 by the bookseller Richard Meighen
. Davenant dedicated the play to his patron Henry Jermyn
. A second edition followed in 1665, in which The Platonick Lovers is paired with Davenant's comedy The Wits.
The play contains the first instance of the phrase "Platonic love
" recorded in written English (in the 1636 first edition), although the concept itself had existed in English society for some time.
The Platonick Lovers has been called a "minor masterpiece" of satire. Davenant sought and attained the patronage of Henrietta Maria
, the queen consort of King Charles I
. Henrietta Maria had revived the medieval tradition of courtly love which had been popular at the French court, where she had grown up. http://www.polybiblio.com/quaritch/E947.html Davenant wrote several works in honor of the Queen, most notably the final masques staged at the Stuart
Court, from The Temple of Love (1635) through Luminalia
(1638) and Salmacida Spolia
(1640). The Platonick Lovers is thought to have been written either at her orders or on her request. In his prologue, Davenant wrote that the title of his play might be above the heads of the common people, but that the Court would appreciate it.
Yet Davenant subtly manages "to expose the snobbery of Platonic love" and to poke fun at its pretensions. http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/08-1/dawsnew.htm
Theander and Eurithea, the title characters, originally feel only courtly, intellectual love for each other. It is not until Theander is given medicine to "cure" him of his chastity that he sees women as existing primarily as objects meant solely for men's desire. At that point, the "unnatural" courtly and intellectual love between equals turns to "natural" physical love between a controlling man and his submissive wife.
Theander and Eurithea's high-flown love is also contrasted with the physical love between Phylomont and Ariola, brother to Eurithea and sister to Theander respectively. Davenant shows how (at least at the beginning of the play) Theander and Eurithea are free to kiss and to touch, as their idealized love does not tempt them, but that Phylomont and Ariola, whose love is more physical, must remain physically chaste before their wedding.
The play was one of Davenant's major successes, and was frequently revived. Its satire appears never to have registered on the author's patron: The Platonick Lovers was one of Henrietta Maria's favorite plays as late as the 1660s.
Tragicomedy
Tragicomedy is fictional work that blends aspects of the genres of tragedy and comedy. In English literature, from Shakespeare's time to the nineteenth century, tragicomedy referred to a serious play with either a happy ending or enough jokes throughout the play to lighten the mood.-Classical...
, satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
, and comedy of manners
Comedy of manners
The comedy of manners is a genre of play/television/film which satirizes the manners and affectations of a social class, often represented by stock characters, such as the miles gloriosus in ancient times, the fop and the rake during the Restoration, or an old person pretending to be young...
. It was written by Sir William Davenant
William Davenant
Sir William Davenant , also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned both the Caroline and Restoration eras and who was active both before and after the English Civil...
and first printed in 1636. The play can be regarded as one of the more subtle and successful satires in the English language: Davenant managed to ridicule the obsession of his employer without losing his job.
The play was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels
Master of the Revels
The Master of the Revels was a position within the English, and later the British, royal household heading the "Revels Office" or "Office of the Revels" that originally had responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities, known as revels, and later also became responsible for stage censorship,...
, on Nov. 16, 1635, and was acted by the King's Men
King's Men (playing company)
The King's Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain's Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King's Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company's patron.The...
at the Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
. It was first published in 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"...
in 1636 by the bookseller Richard Meighen
Richard Meighen
Richard Meighen was a London publisher of the Jacobean and Caroline eras. He is noted for his publications of plays of English Renaissance drama; he published the second Ben Jonson folio of 1640/1, and was a member of the syndicate that issued the Second Folio of Shakespeare's collected plays in...
. Davenant dedicated the play to his patron Henry Jermyn
Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans
Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of Saint Albans KG was an English politician and courtier. He sat in the in the House of Commons at various times between 1625 and 1643 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Jermyn...
. A second edition followed in 1665, in which The Platonick Lovers is paired with Davenant's comedy The Wits.
The play contains the first instance of the phrase "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...
" recorded in written English (in the 1636 first edition), although the concept itself had existed in English society for some time.
The Platonick Lovers has been called a "minor masterpiece" of satire. Davenant sought and attained the patronage of 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...
, the queen consort of King Charles I
Charles 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...
. Henrietta Maria had revived the medieval tradition of courtly love which had been popular at the French court, where she had grown up. http://www.polybiblio.com/quaritch/E947.html Davenant wrote several works in honor of the Queen, most notably the final masques staged at the Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
Court, from The Temple of Love (1635) through Luminalia
Luminalia
Luminalia or The Festival of Light was a late Caroline era masque or "operatic show", with an English libretto by Sir William Davenant, designs by Inigo Jones, and music by composer Nicholas Lanier...
(1638) and Salmacida Spolia
Salmacida Spolia
Salmacida Spolia was the last masque performed at the English Court before the outbreak of the English Civil War. Written by Sir William Davenant, with costumes, sets, and stage effects designed by Inigo Jones and with music by Lewis Richard, it was performed at Whitehall Palace on January 21,...
(1640). The Platonick Lovers is thought to have been written either at her orders or on her request. In his prologue, Davenant wrote that the title of his play might be above the heads of the common people, but that the Court would appreciate it.
-
- ...the Title needs must cause
- From the indulgent Court, a kind applause,
- Since there hee learn't it first, and had command
- T'interpret what hee scarce doth understand.
- ...the Title needs must cause
Yet Davenant subtly manages "to expose the snobbery of Platonic love" and to poke fun at its pretensions. http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/08-1/dawsnew.htm
Theander and Eurithea, the title characters, originally feel only courtly, intellectual love for each other. It is not until Theander is given medicine to "cure" him of his chastity that he sees women as existing primarily as objects meant solely for men's desire. At that point, the "unnatural" courtly and intellectual love between equals turns to "natural" physical love between a controlling man and his submissive wife.
-
- This bounty had been excellent, when you
- Had privilege to give, or to deny; but now
- Your charter's out of date, and mine
- Begins to rule: the Priest attends below
- To celebrate our Nuptiall rites, which is
- The happy houre that doth advance
- The husband's government; come, to the Chappell, Love.
- This bounty had been excellent, when you
Theander and Eurithea's high-flown love is also contrasted with the physical love between Phylomont and Ariola, brother to Eurithea and sister to Theander respectively. Davenant shows how (at least at the beginning of the play) Theander and Eurithea are free to kiss and to touch, as their idealized love does not tempt them, but that Phylomont and Ariola, whose love is more physical, must remain physically chaste before their wedding.
The play was one of Davenant's major successes, and was frequently revived. Its satire appears never to have registered on the author's patron: The Platonick Lovers was one of Henrietta Maria's favorite plays as late as the 1660s.
Sources
- Broom, Wendell W. An old-spelling critical edition of William Davenant's The platonic[k] lovers by Sir William D'Avenant. New York: Garland Press, 1987. ISBN 0824084020.
- Logan, Terence P., and Denzell S. Smith, eds. The Later Jacobean and Caroline Dramatists: A Survey and Bibliography of Recent Studies in English Renaissance Drama. Lincoln, NE, University of Nebraska Press, 1978.
- MacGuire, Nancy Klein. Regicide and Restoration: English Tragicomedy 1660–1671. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1992.
External links
- Platonism in English Poetry - discusses The Platonick Lovers
- "New Sects of Love": Neoplatonism and Constructions of Gender in Davenant's The Temple of Love and The Platonick Lovers by Lesel Dawson of the University of Bristol