Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MOTHER

in Appius and Virginia — B., R.

Metadata

PlayAppius and Virginia
AuthorB., R.
Year (catalogued)1575
First performance1564
Decade1570s
GenreTragedy
Play typeInterlude
Speech prefix(es)Mater. | Mater
Words201
Characters1031
Typicality0.42 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA00456
BritDrama no.432
ClusterCluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Then if the Gods have granted Thee, such grace to love thy syer, When time shall choose thee out a make be constant I require: Love, live, and like him well, before you grant him grace or faith, So shall your love continue long, experience thus he says. Nay rather deer spouse how much is my case, To be now advanced by such happy grace: Does daily distil, my husband so loving, Granting and giving to all thing behooving, Joying in me, and in the fruit of my womb. Who would not requited it, the Gods yield their dome And if it be I, the Gods do destroy Me, Rather then sin, so soar should annoy me. O Husband. When time King Nisus would not let, his daughter to be taught, Of any one correcting hand to nurtue to be brought: She void of duty cut his locks, and golden tresses clear, Whereby his realm was overrun, and she was paid her hisr, The trustiest treasure in earth as we see, Is man wife and children. &c. Oh deer Virginius Joy to me, o peerless spouse and mate, In health I praise the Gods I am and joyful for thy state,

Plot summary

Plot — Appius and Virginia
Virginius is thankful for his good wife and virtuous daughter. Judge Appius falls in love with Virginia. Instigated by the vice Haphazard, he induces Claudius to help him in a scheme to get her. Claudius lays perjured testimony that Virginia is his own daughter, stolen by Virginius when she was a baby. Appius rules that she must be placed in his own custody until the matter is resolved; once she is under his roof, he will be able to seduce or rape her. Summoned by Appius, Virginia asks for death rather than dishonour, and her father beheads her; he is about to kill himself too when Comfort prevents him. He brings her head to Appius, who calls on Justice and Reward to execute him, but on arrival they accuse Appius himself. He commits suicide in prison. Claudius has his death sentence commuted to banishment at Virginius’ request. Haphazard is hanged. Virginius and the virtues celebrate the memory of his daughter’s chastity.