Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

1 PRISONER

in Eastward Ho — Chapman, George; Jonson, Ben; Marston, John

Metadata

PlayEastward Ho
AuthorChapman, George; Jonson, Ben; Marston, John
Year (catalogued)1605
First performance1605
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Queen's Revels
TheaterBlackfriars;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Pri. 1. | Priſ. 1.
Words209
Characters1094
Typicality0.17 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA18407
BritDrama no.1473
ClusterCluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Oh he is a rare young man. Do you not know him? I, this is he. Troth it should seem so: and it's great pity; for he is exceeding penitent. Oh 'tis rarely written: why Tobis may get him to sing it to you, he's not curious to any body. Oh no. He would that all the world should take know ledge of his Repentance, and thinks he merits in't, the more shame he suffers. Pray thee try, what thou canst do. You never saw a more courteous creature, then he is; and the Knight too: the poorest Prisoner of the house may command them. You shall hear a thing, admirably pend. Oh, that's voluntary in him; he gave away all his rich clothes, assoon as ever he came in here, among the Prisoners: and will eat o'the Basket, for humility. And excellent temper! No, but he will speak very well, and discourse admi rably of running Horses, and Whitefriars, and against Bawds; and of Cocks; and talk as loud as a Hunter, but is none. See, he has brought him, and the Knight too. Salute him I pray, Sir, this Gentleman, upon our report, is very desirous to hear some piece of your Repentance. Enter Quick. Pet. &c.

Plot summary

Plot — Eastward Ho
The goldsmith [owehstone has two apprentices, the rebellious prodigal QUIEKSIWVEF and the virtuous Golding, and two daughters, the proud Gertrude and the modest Mildréd. Mistress Touchstone insists that Gertrude should marry above her rank to Sim@PéetronelFlash, while Touchstone bestows Mildred on Golding. Quicksilver is sacked after appearing for work drunk; Golding is also released from his indentures to become his former master’s son-in-law. Quicksilver considers becoming a merchant, then conspires with Security to entrap Sir Petronel Flash into debt to finance the secret expedition to Virginia he is planning. While Gertrude travels to her new husband’s fictitious country castle, Sir Petronel plans a _ - sexual liaison with [Winifméd| Security’s wife. Quicksilver and Sir Petronel both set sail, each in a different vessel, with the jealous S€@uirity following in a third, but a storm wrecks all three boats at Cuckold’s Haven. Winifred convinces Security that his suspicions are groundless. Quicksilver and Sir Petronel are arrested and sent to prison by Golding, now a deputy alderman, on suspicion of stealing from Touchstone. They and Security become penitent in their incarceration, but Touchstone is determined to prosecute them. Golding wishes to be more forgiving, and feigns his own imprisonment to bring his father-in-law to the jail. There Touchstone sees and accepts the sincerity of the miscreants’ repentance; Quicksilver, Sir Petronel, and Security are released, and Quicksilver promises to marry Sindefy, his punk.