This section contains 4,804 words (approx. 17 pages at 300 words per page) |
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SOURCE: Axton, Marie. “Thersites.” In Three Tudor Classical Interludes: Thersites, Jacke Jugeler, Horestes, edited by Marie Axton, pp. 5-15. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1982.
In the following essay, Axton examines the drama Thersites and compares Udall's work with earlier versions of the story.
Thersites [hereafter abbreviated as T] has plenty of action but little plot. The cowardly anti-hero sets off for war with swaggering words and a Herculean club, browbeating Mulciber into forging him some armour. Loftily resisting his Mother's entreaties to stay at home, he shows his valour in combat with a passing snail, but soon takes refuge in Mater's skirts when an honest English soldier appears. A letter comes from Ulysses, delivered by his son, Telemachus, begging his old enemy to intercede with Mater: her aid is sought in curing Telemachus of the worms. Thersites now berates his Mother, knocking her about the stage till her curses...
This section contains 4,804 words (approx. 17 pages at 300 words per page) |
![]() |