Original scientific paper

A Zadar Falstaff of 1575

Slobodan Prosperov Novak ; Faculty of philosophy in Split

Abstract

This paper shows that William Shakespeare in the creation of Falstaff, one of his best known characters, was partially influenced by the comedy Il Fidele by Luigi Pasqualigo, which was written in 1575 and was shown during carnival time in Zadar. The comedy was printed a year later in Venice, with a foreword describing the occasion for which the work was created and performed in Zadar. The comedy was reprinted several times, and translated Latin and French, and was translated into English by Antony Munday, who printed his version of the comedy in 1585, under the title of Fedele and Fortunio or Two Italian Gentlemen. This reworking toned down somewhat the drastic sexuality of the Zadar original, but the character of the soldier Frangipietre is significantly emphasised; in the English version, he turned into Crackstone, the first English Falstaff, which Shakespeare used in the creation of his archetypal braggart.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

72871

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/72871

Publication date:

2.5.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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