H05032 HARDY AND *THE WINTER'S TALE* - 4/5/05 - HARDY FORUM ARCHIVES ____________________________________________________________________________

From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk

Subject: A Winter's Tale

Date: April 5, 2005 9:51:40 AM PDT

Hello! Here I am again.

At the moment I am working on the carnivalesque elements in the sheep-shearing supper sequence in FFMC. My tutor referred me to Act IV, scenes 1-4 in this play. I can fully understand why, there are so many parallels and hints. I wonder if any of you know of any specific mention of hardy and his interest in this particular play? So far I have failed to trace a connection, but buzzing round in the back of brain is an idea that there is one, and if there isn't there should be, because there is a definite affinity there. Help! Anybody!

Thanks

Jacky Wilkinson

jacky@wilkibob.me.uk

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From: Rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu

Subject: Re: A Winter's Tale

Date: April 9, 2005 5:43:49 AM PDT

Jacky -

I can't help with *The Winter's Tale*, and unfortunately Hardy's letters are thin on the ground at this early stage of his career ; the only ref I can find to that play comes much later (1926) when he's discussing the Polish corridor (Pact of Locarno) where he alludes to 'Bohemia'; and "The Winter's Tale,* III. iii.

However, if you haven't done so already could I suggest that you look at Leslie Stephen's cuts to the Supper scene? They are substantial & were primarily verboten in Stephen's view for the refs to the Fanny Robin scandal. You can find the excised fragments in my edition of FFMC (Penguin World Classics).

Good Luck,

Best,

Rosemarie

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From: jacky@wilkibob.me.uk

Subject: RE: A Winter's Tale

Date: April 9, 2005 6:34:13 AM PDT

Been there, seen it, done it! Yes, Rosemarie, I have noted the changes, and also used your info. in 'Cancelled Words' - all most helpful, thank you very much. In fact I hope to devote the main part of one chapter to the cuts which made it so difficult for Hardy to use the carnivalesque and the grotesque to a greater extent, after all, he couldn't even use 'buttocks'! It's very interesting to note the similarities in the political and social strictures under which both Hardy and Bakhtin were writing. In fact hyman writes: 'it may be where precisely where laughter is most forbidden that the carnivalesque becomes most meaningful.'

Jacky

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From: hardycor@owl.csusm.edu

Subject: Re: A Winter's Tale

Date: April 9, 2005 1:04:53 PM PDT

Jacky, I've looked through every likely place in the books I have here at

home, and can't find any mention of *The Winter's Tale* being referred to

by Hardy. However, we do know that he was thoroughly conversant with

Shakespeare, and I am sure he must have known this play. There are, as you

say, some interesting parallels between the scenes you cite and the

sheep-shearing supper. The fact that no one seems to have made this

observation before leaves the field wide open for you to come up with

something quite original in your thesis.

Good Luck With It.

Betty

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