Michael Seitz English University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireMichael Seitz English University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Campion, Thomas. Masque at the Earl of Somerset’s Marriage [The Masque of Squires. London. 1614. EEBO. STC: 12283Harrison, Steven. The Entertainment through London [Harrison’s Arches of Triumph] 1604. EEBO. STC: 4539Mahood, Molly. Playing Bit Parts in Shakespeare. New York: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 1992. Print.McDonald, Russ. The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare.

Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2001. Print.Middleton, Thomas. The Witch. New York: Manchester University Press, 1986. Print.

Firestone; More than a Minor Character:Examining Character use in Thomas Middleton’s, The WitchFirestone; More than a Minor Character:Examining Character use in Thomas Middleton’s, The Witch

The role of a minor character within a play can easily be considered one dimensional and even unimportant. However, minor characters are very important and have a large impact on both the plot and bigger roles. This is very true of early British literature and we can see this when examining Firestone from Thomas Middleton’s The Witch.

The Witch is a Jacobean witchcraft play that was written around 1613. It follows characters who, throughout the play, seek the aid of witches. These witches are in three acts of the play and Firestone is the son of Hecate, the senior witch. Firestone’s main role is the clown of the play.

Thesis

Works Cited

The Name ‘Firestone’

Firestone has a very complicated relationship with his mother, Hecate. Besides wanting to see her die, Firestone also shares a sexual relationship with her. Since it was also a common belief that witches attained their power though sex that involved a demonic spirit, having the two commit incest created a stronger connection with witchcraft.

This unnatural relationship is complicated further, since Hecate has the power in the relationship. Early British societies believed that women who were empowered were also promiscuous and empowered women were feared. Considering that Firestone’s name provokes thoughts of masculinity, it creates a contrast since the masculine figure was supposed to have the power. Here, we see an example in which the woman dominates the relationship. Firestone wants to see his mother dead, possibly a response to wanting that power back. These elements create a relationship that set the characters further apart from the audience.

Firestone’s Father?Something that is important to look at when examining

Firestone is his name and what can be learned from it. One method I used for this was comparing Firestone to other characters that had the name Fire, in this period. I found two Masques that had such characters.

The Entertainment through London [Harrison’s Arches of Triumph], by Steven Harrison, had a character named Fire who appears after the celebration in the masque has started. He is described as being an unhallowed fire. This makes an appropriate comparison to Firestone, who is not only a bastard child but also the son of a witch. In the masque, Fire also speaks about his connection with Mars, the god of war from Greek mythology. Characters in masques were very allegorical and in this case, Fire represented struggle and hardship. Firestone could have had his name for similar reasons, since he deals with so many difficulties.

Masque at the Earl of Somerset’s Marriage [The Masque of Squires], by Thompson Campion, also had a character named Fire. In this Masque, Fire is seen with the other elements; wind, earth, and water. These elements were composed of a mixture of qualities, and the warmer elements were associated with masculinity (McDonald 254). With a name that includes “fire,” early British audience would expect Firestone to be a masculine character and this creates an interesting contrast when looking at his mother.

Special Thanks

I’d like to thank Jan Stirm for all of her wonderful support and help with this project.

I’d also like to thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for supporting this research, and Learning & Technology Services for printing this poster.

Firestone and Hecate

Although Firestone’s father is absent, there are many hints to suggest that a demonic spirit is his father. After telling Hecate that he will be out for the night, this dialog occurs in Act 1, Scene 2 lines 97-98:

Ad Hoc MessengerFirestone acts as an ad hoc messenger for the

audience from time to time, by “getting the story of the play off the pages and onto the stage” (Mahood 70). A good example of this is seen in Act 1, Scene 2 lines 185-189 in which Firestone explains a comical scene that occurs off stage.

Despite the fact that Firestone is the clown, he is still a very multidimensional character and serves many roles besides bringing comic relief. The goal of my research was to show the importance and depth of his character in The Witch.

Firestone. There’s the bravest young gentleman within, and the fineliest drunk; I thought he would have fallen into the vessel. He stumbled at a pipkin of child’s grease, reeled against Stadlin, overthrew her, and in the tumbling cast, struck up old Puckle’s heels with her clothes over her ears.

This action would have been very difficult to perform on stage since it involves so much action and leaves the character Puckle exposed. Although Puckle is a female character, the role would have been played by a man on an early British stage. Middleton didn’t need to enact this scene on stage though, because Firestone could bring it to the audience. Since this scene is also very physical, it would probably require the use of physical comedy as well, so he is able to perform multiple tasks. His character is very versatile and can function an ad hoc messenger while playing the clown at the same time.

Conclusion

Introduction

As I’ve shown with my research, his role may be minor but with a closer look, Firestone is a very complicated and interesting character. He is able to bring actions the occurs off stage to the audience and makes the play more interesting. Overall, he demonstrates how important minor characters are and why they deserve more attention.

Hecate. And who shall lie with me then?Firestone. The great cat.

For one night, mother, ‘Tis but a night— Make shift with him for once.

Witches attaining their powers through sex with the devil/demonic spirits was a common belief. A spirit in the form of a large cat called Malkin appears from time to time and this is the only spirit that appears in this form. Firestone is most likely the result of a sacrilegious relationship with Malkin or a similar spirit.