Disc Meets Globe Shakespearean Reflexions in Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters Diplomarbeit zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades einer Magistra der Philosophie an der Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz vorgelegt von Sarah GRYNKIEWICZ am Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik Begutachter: Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.phil. Martin Löschnigg Graz, 2013 Dedication For my grandmother (*1918 - †2013). “Them as can do has to do for them as can't. And someone has to speak up for them as has no voices.” ― Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men1 This is a topsy-turvy THANK YOU to all the people who helped me write and FINISH this thesis! Dear Prof. Löschnigg, thank you sooo much for your patience, concerns, and good advice! My husband David: you are wonderful! Thanks for reading and re-reading and re-re-re- reading everything and for reminding me that I’m a perfectionist. Love you! Cecilia Servatius: you are awesome, but I think you already knew that. Thanks for all the formatting, reading and long “I hate diploma thesis” talks we had. My parents, Peter and Koma for supporting me. Now you don’t have to ask anymore when I’ll hand in, right? Everybody else who read and corrected the thesis and kept me alive and sane(ish) with coffee! You guys rock! 1 Chandler, Otis et al. (2013). “The Wee Free Men Quotes“. Goodreads. [Online]. Goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/62580-the-wee-free-men [2013, December 17]. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 1: Shakespeare, Theory and Turtles.............................................................................. 7 1.1 Terry Pratchett’s Discworld ............................................................................................. 7 1.2 The Instruments of Analysis ............................................................................................ 9 1.2.1 Transtextuality ......................................................................................................... 10 1.2.2 Parody ...................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 The Poet and the Turtle .................................................................................................. 13 1.3.1 Shakespeare in 3D ................................................................................................... 13 1.3.2 Awareness ............................................................................................................... 13 1.3.3 Ignorance vs. Initiation ............................................................................................ 14 Chapter 2: Witches Wyrd and Weird ....................................................................................... 15 2.1 Who Are The Wyrd/Weird Sisters? ............................................................................... 16 2.1.1 The Weird Sisters as Goddesses of Fate ................................................................. 16 2.1.2 Personifications of Macbeth’s Inner Guilt .............................................................. 17 2.1.3 Temptations ............................................................................................................. 17 2.2. Witches in General ........................................................................................................ 18 2.2.1 Influences ................................................................................................................ 18 2.3 The Wyrd and Weird Sisters as Individuals ................................................................... 21 2.3.1 The Witches of Lancre ............................................................................................ 21 2.3.2 The Weird Sisters of Macbeth – Individuals? ......................................................... 27 2.3.3 Round versus Flat Characters .................................................................................. 28 2.4. Acting as a group ........................................................................................................... 29 2.4.1 Hierarchy ................................................................................................................. 29 2.4.2 Sabbats and Covens ................................................................................................. 30 2.4.3 Witches and ‘Normal’ People ................................................................................. 32 2.4.4 Recognizing a Witch ............................................................................................... 34 2.4.5 Language ................................................................................................................. 35 2.4.6 ‘Fairy’ Godmothers ................................................................................................. 36 2.4.7 Being ‘Psychically Inclined’ ................................................................................... 37 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 3: A Tale of Three Kings ............................................................................................ 44 3.1 The Role of the Kings .................................................................................................... 44 3.2 The Living Kings ........................................................................................................... 45 3.2.1 Appearance, Personality and Reign ........................................................................ 45 3.2.2 “Real” vs. “Symbolic” Kings .................................................................................. 48 3.3 Death .............................................................................................................................. 49 3.3.1 Murder ..................................................................................................................... 49 3.3.2 Reactions ................................................................................................................. 50 3.3.4 Cover-Ups ............................................................................................................... 51 3.3.5 Consequences .......................................................................................................... 52 3.3.6 Order Restored ........................................................................................................ 56 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 57 Chapter 4: Villain, villain ......................................................................................................... 58 4.1 Duke Felmet ................................................................................................................... 58 4.2. Lady Felmet ................................................................................................................... 65 Summary .................................................................................................................................. 69 Chapter 5: Theatre .................................................................................................................... 70 5.1 The “Physical” Theatre ...................................................................................................... 71 5.1.1 Strolling Players ...................................................................................................... 71 5.1.2 The Dysk and The Globe – Playhouses .................................................................. 75 5.1.3 Theatre “Conventions” ............................................................................................ 80 5.1.4 The Audience .......................................................................................................... 81 5.1.5 The Playwright ........................................................................................................ 82 5.2 “Wyrd” Plays .................................................................................................................. 84 5.2.1 Seeing is Believing .................................................................................................. 84 5.2.1 The Power of Words ............................................................................................... 85 5.2.2 The “Untitled” Play ................................................................................................. 87 5.2.3 A Night of Kings – Felmet’s Drama ........................................................................ 89 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 95 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 96 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 98 Primary Literature: ............................................................................................................... 98 Secondary Literature: ........................................................................................................... 98 Online Sources: ...................................................................................................................