This depiction sets the tone for the dominant image of Wolsey, a figuring which Buckingham reinforces at every opportunity. However, it is Buckingham who initially presents both the main themes of characterization. As we have seen, he makes Wolsey’s repeated references to base heritage, often related to the Wolsey’s Cardinal’s father’s trade as a butcher. Buckingham is also the first character to introduce the second theme: paperwork. The Duke of Buckingham first draws the awareness to audience’s Wolsey’s proclivity for paperwork with a pun: Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, Without the King, privity o’th’ t’appoint Who should attend on him? He makes up the file Of all the gentry, for the most part such To whom as great a charge, as little honour He meant to lay upon; and his own letter— The honourable board of Council out— Must fetch him in he papers. (1.1.72-80) The pun here is on meaning both a catalogue or list as well as a row or order of “file”, people. The further paper-themed connections to and in lines 78 and “letter” “papers” 80 are less clear in a grammatical sense, but certainly reinforce the paperwork trope. Buckingham gives perhaps the most succinct connection of his feelings regarding Wolsey and paperwork when he sardonically laments that book / Outworths “A beggar’s a complaint is one of class resentment: his noble’s blood” (1.1.122-123). Buckingham’s noble ancestry appears to matter little when set against bureaucratic Wolsey’s administration. His concerns are prescient as his downfall is brought about not by any on-stage action, but rather by evidence given in his trial. As Henry observes, it is the machinery of law which passes judgment on Buckingham, and even the king cannot (or will not) attempt to force an he may / Find mercy in the law, if outcome: “If ’tis his; none, / Let him not of (1.2.211-213). seek’t us.” thus introduces the audience to the second main Buckingham’s “beggar’s book” characterization of Wolsey. Though it is perhaps more subtle than the image of the grandiose, obese Cardinal, paperwork is an essential component of Wolsey’s
This depiction sets the tone for the dominant image of Wolsey, a figuring which Buckingham reinforces at every opportunity. However, it is Buckingham who initially presents both the main themes of Wolsey’s characterization. As we have seen, he makes repeated references to Wolsey’s base heritage, often related to the Cardinal’s father’s trade as a butcher. Buckingham is also the first character to introduce the second theme: paperwork. The Duke of Buckingham first draws the audience’s awareness to Wolsey’s proclivity for paperwork with a pun: Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, Without the privity o’th’ King, t’appoint Who should attend on him? He makes up the file Of all the gentry, for the most part such To whom as great a charge, as little honour He meant to lay upon; and his own letter— The honourable board of Council out— Must fetch him in he papers. (1.1.72-80) The pun here is on “file”, meaning both a catalogue or list as well as a row or order of people. The further paper-themed connections to “letter” and “papers” in lines 78 and 80 are less clear in a grammatical sense, but certainly reinforce the paperwork trope. Buckingham gives perhaps the most succinct connection of his feelings regarding Wolsey and paperwork when he sardonically laments that “A beggar’s book / Outworths a noble’s blood” (1.1.122-123). Buckingham’s complaint is one of class resentment: his noble ancestry appears to matter little when set against Wolsey’s bureaucratic administration. His concerns are prescient as his downfall is brought about not by any on-stage action, but rather by evidence given in his trial. As Henry observes, it is the machinery of law which passes judgment on Buckingham, and even the king cannot (or will not) attempt to force an outcome: “If he may / Find mercy in the law, ’tis his; if none, / Let him not seek’t of us.” (1.2.211-213). Buckingham’s “beggar’s book” thus introduces the audience to the second main characterization of Wolsey. Though it is perhaps more subtle than the image of the grandiose, obese Cardinal, paperwork is an essential component of Wolsey’s
GSL_PhD_Thesis_Library_Copy.docx