Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

DRAWER

in The Miseries of Enforced Marriage — Wilkins, George

Metadata

PlayThe Miseries of Enforced Marriage
AuthorWilkins, George
Year (catalogued)1607
First performance1606
Decade1600s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
Speech prefix(es)Drawer | Draw. | Dr.
Words154
Characters799
Typicality0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA15352
BritDrama no.1521
ClusterCluster 16 — Errand servants & brief parts

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 16 (nat, ningle, chould, numps, terry, dery…). Matches are highlighted.

further sa tisfaction, did you ever see a young whelp and a Lion play to gether. Such is master Scarborrows company Within Oliver. Anon, anon, look down to the Pomgranate there. I'll do your message: Anon, anon there. Anon, anon, look down into the Dolphin there.

Full speech

Anon, anon, sir. The pure element of Claret sir. I am not so well acquainted with the Art of Face mending sir: but they would speak with you. Heres the pure and neat grape Gent. I hate for you. Here sir, what a jest is that, where should he be else, I would have you well know my master Hope's to grow rich before he leaves him. Faith Sir not so long as Noahs flood, yet long enough to have drowned up the livings of three Knights, as Knights goes now adais, some month or there about. Pitch, Pitch, but I must not say so, but for your further sa tisfaction, did you ever see a young whelp and a Lion play to gether. Such is master Scarborrows company Within Oliver. Anon, anon, look down to the Pomgranate there. I'll do your message: Anon, anon there. Anon, anon, look down into the Dolphin there.

Plot summary

Plot — The Miseries of Enforced Marriage
The ward William Scarborow betroths himself to Clare Harcop, but on his return to London he is forced to marry Katherine, the niece of his guardian, Lord Falconbridge. He is rewarded with control of his own’ and his younger brothers’ property. He writes to tell Clare the news of his unwelcome marriage; upon receiving the letter, she dies (possibly by suicide). ===== PAGE 337 ===== 1606 Scarborow takes her death badly: he blames his wife, and becomes prodigal. Ilford fakes his own arrest for debt in order to induce Scarborow to guarantee the supposed loan, thereby defrauding him of his money. This still leaves him with the patrimony of his younger brothers, Thomas and John; but he spends it, and drunkenly assaults his friends and kinsmen. The brothers and the honest family servant Butler are forced into theft to keep themselves from starvation. They steal £300 from Harcop, Clare’s father, which they use to make their sister appear to be a rich woman. Butler tricks Ilford into marrying her, but on learning that she is penniless her new husband throws her out; Butler offers to support her out of his meagre wages. Thomas confronts and fights with his elder brother, but saves his life when they are attacked by Ilford. Now penitent, Thomas declares his intention to confess to Harcop that he and John stole the money, even though it will mean hanging for them both. John falls out with him over this, but they are reconciled by Butler. Dr Baxter, who married Scarborow to Katherine, talks him into repentance. On his deathbed, Lord Falconbridge also repents and leaves the Scarborow brothers double their original wealth in restitution, along with a dowry for their sister.