Two Gentlemen of Lebowski
Page 9
japes: jokes, jests
Alack the day!: an expression of sorrow, mourning, or regret
gull-crack’d: deceived or taken advantage of, probably from ‘gulled’
stridence sick: harshness or vociferousness taken to cruel or unreasonable levels
argosies: merchant ships
academe: scholarly community or environment
fairer wind: better news
wild notions: carnal thoughts
woman’s part: the organ that defines a female’s sex
country … encircled … ring … two legs … head … no thing … pause: puns on characteristics of the female genitalia
King Richard the Third: the last king of the House of Plantagenet, and the central character of one of Shakespeare’s histories; also, one’s selfsame Johnson
rod: a sexual pun on the unit of measurement—about five metres, derived from the average length of a medieval ploughman’s ox goad
Benjamin Jonson: playwright, poet, and urban achiever. A contemporary of Shakespeare’s, his best-known works include Volpone and The Alchemist. Although it is not clear how close he and Shakespeare actually were, Jonson’s eulogy for the Bard is well-known: ‘He was not of an age, but for all time,’ and not exactly a lightweight.
marquess: the female equivalent of a marquis; in British peerage, the title below duke and above earl
women of my stripe: i.e., women of my type. ‘Stripe’ here could also mean the scar or bruise from a beating; Maude may be hinting at sadomasochism or harness play.
satyrs: male woodland creatures with goatlike qualities and insatiable appetites for sexually-charged revelry; from Greek mythology
nymphs: nubile special ladies, fond of coitus; literally, ‘tree dwellers,’ from Greek mythology
Oberon: the king of fairies—a real reactionary
‘Log Jamming’: a mass of logs crowding a river and creating an impasse. This portentous imagery suggests that perhaps the cable never will be fixed.
rid: had sex with
beast with two backs: an unseemly sexual act. The phrase is most famously found in Shakespeare’s Othello, but it is not an original coinage—a version was used by Rabelais in La vie de Gargantua et de Pantagruel, c. 1532. (‘These two did oftentimes do the two-backed beast together, joyfully rubbing and frotting their bacon ’gainst one another.’)
The cable broke: Karl Hungus is describing a nautical disaster, again in keeping with Shakespeare’s interest in the theme. See Henry VI, Part 3.
I should have old: i.e., I would wear myself out
turning his key: sexual reference, exactly what it sounds like
fatuous: foolish, silly
parlance of our times: the contemporary idiom or style of speech; from the French parler
fornicator: a wanton practitioner of coitus; from the Latin fornix, underground brothel
thorough: Maude’s emphasis on the doctor’s thoroughness may be Shakespeare’s commentary on the bold if misguided state of medicine of the day. Further information available in The Medical Mind of Shakespeare by Audrey C. Kail (Balgowlah, New South Wales: Williams & Wilkins, 1986).
borough: a town granted self-governance by the Crown in medieval times. The term may stem from Alfred the Great’s system of autonomous burghs; the concept survived the Norman conquest even though the burghs did not.
beverage: a flavoured drink, generally ‘hard’ or ‘soft,’ meaning alcoholic or non-alcoholic; from the Old French boivre, to drink
shag-hair’d: i.e., with rough and untamed hair
Zeus’s noble chariot: Zeus, the chief Greek god, commanded a chariot of gold. Unlike in Christianity, Greek gods would regularly join the mortal realm and partake in mortal practices like sex and gravity.
‘we’ of royalty: pluralis maiestatis, the use of a plural pronoun to refer to a single person of high status
a wilderness of monkeys: unknown
equerry: a senior attendant within a household; from the French écuyer, squire
excises: taxes
least wholesome: most evil
Vexatious: perplexing, worrisome
favour: appearance
cockerel: rooster
soil’d with fear: i.e., so afraid as to soil ourselves
temperance: the cardinal virtue of moderation
prior restraint: the outmoded legal practice of shackling a suspect before a crime has been committed; a corruption of basic freedoms
smote: struck down
without: outside, but also punning on the Knave having left ‘without’ drinking
Alarums: call to battle or arms
marmot: a large ground squirrel that feeds on grasses, mosses and lichens; possibly amphibious
lance: euphemism for penis; see also most nouns in Shakespeare
eunuch: a man castrated for social or religious reasons
Doctor Faustuses: as in The Merry Wives of Windsor, a reference to the title character of the popular play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. A contemporary of Shakespeare’s, Marlowe’s work also influenced the Bard’s The Merchant of Venice and inspired a host of controversial authorship theories.
usurpers: illegitimate claimants to power or a title, often taking it by force or subterfuge
geld the lily: to cut off a man’s testicles, or more colloquially, to deprive one of an essential part
Wouldst thou …?: i.e., Do you wish to?
sad: sober, melancholy
sarsaparilla: a trailing vine native to Central America used medicinally and to flavour beverages
Indian: or possibly ‘Judean’; see Othello. In this case the word is probably ‘Indian,’ if only because Judas Iscariot’s views on sarsaparilla remain unknown.
bear: a stocky mammal reputed to consume and be consumed by humans. The sport of bear-baiting, where dogs would be set on restrained bears for public amusement, was wildly popular in the Elizabethan era, with Queen Elizabeth herself so favouring the pastime that in 1591 she outlawed play performances on Thursdays so they would not conflict with the weekly bear-themed entertainment. Here, the word might also be ‘bar,’ an obstacle or impediment.
fashion: personal style
crave a boon: ask for a favour
Knox Harrington: Maude suggests that this artist is so well-known that the Knave should recognise him by name. If the character does have a basis in history, he might be Sir John Harington, godson of Queen Elizabeth, who was well known to her court for his wit and epigrams—as well as for inventing a forerunner to the flush toilet. (Given the Knave’s urine-based misadventures in Act 1, this could explain his instant dislike of Knox.) Harington’s jests went a little too far, and his popularity was in decline as Shakespeare’s star ascended; perhaps this character’s name is a stab at “noxious Harington.’
pilgrim: a traveller on a religious journey
humour: mood; punning on Harrington’s laughter at a private amusement
waylaid: unavoidably detained
hired player: an actor retained on a freelance basis, not part of an established company
titter: giggle in a nervous or affected fashion
parlay: exploit or make investment of. The Knave means ‘parley,’ chat or converse.
Doctor Butts: possibly William Butts, the King’s personal physician, also seen in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII
slide: remove
monarch of the vine: Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, grapes and fertility. This is a drinking song for a festive occasion.
back-door mine: this reference to a back-door (and adjoining yard, presumably) may indicate that despite being a deadbeat, the Knave was a man of lands
churl: a rude, boorish person, from the Old English ceorl, peasant
not born under a rhyming planet: i.e., not a talented poet
King of France: unknown. Research on the King’s identity and real estate holdings continues at the Université d’Orléans with the support of young scholars worldwide.
; Laurence: perhaps from St. Lawrence of Rome, a patron saint of students. He was martyred for stealing valuable Church treasure to distribute to the poor and then stonewalling the Prefect when questioned.
Bulk: majority; from the Old Norse bulki, a ship’s cargo
dunce: a fool or simpleton, incapable of learning; the insult was derived from the name of theologian and scholar John Duns Scotus by his apparently numerous enemies.
corvette: a small warship, smaller than a frigate; from the French corvair
muse: a source of inspiration. From the eponymous Greek goddesses who would spark the creation of art; for Walter, Sellers might have been most analogous to Calliope, muse of epic poetry, who inspired long narratives of great deeds and cultural heroes.
orthography: correct method of writing
parchment: thin material made from animal skin, used as a writing surface
chattels: goods, merchandise
mewling: crying or whimpering, as a baby
impudence: excessively bold or disrespectful behaviour
This hath no end: used in the conventional sense, but also to mean that there is no point or goal to be achieved in questioning Laurence further
firk’st: to beat or strike
Clown: comic relief character, often lower-class, though not necessarily a circus-style clown as we understand the term today. Clowns often existed outside the main plot and provided commentary or insight into the action; aside from traditionally garbed jesters, examples from Shakespeare include the gravediggers in Hamlet and the porter in Macbeth.
shuffled off this mortal coil: died. ‘Mortal coil’ refers to the collection of suffering and troubles that plague, or perhaps comprise, life on earth.
The theatre of Jaques Treehorn: Treehorn, like Shakespeare, writes for his own specific company. Shakespeare started out as an actor before writing for the Lord Chamberlain’s Men beginning in 1594, performing at The Theatre in Shoreditch and then moving to the Curtain Theatre three years later. In 1599, they constructed their own playhouse, the Globe. The business savvy of a well-compensated house playwright is reflected in the quality of Treehorn’s estate.
crack’d: i.e., surrendered, owing to overwhelming emotional pressure
sprite: spirit
brew of whitest Russia: the Knave may be suggesting, in jest, that he be served a then-unknown ambrosia of unsurpassed perfection
as fair York’s rose: i.e., as white as the heraldic rose of the House of York
dumb-show: a pantomime act
mechanicals: manual labourers
compass: accomplish, bring about
read … manually: by hand. The Knave may be affirming his literacy here; he can read, and write or copy text by hand, and thus has no need for the dramatic wonders of Treehorn’s theatre.
rub: obstacle
clamorous: loud
detention: withholding, delay
facets: sides or surfaces, as in gemwork or architecture
jib-cut: the fashion of a ship’s foremost staysail
carouses: drinks in celebration
treacherous: guilty of betrayal
Devonshire: county of Devon in southwestern England
condition: behaviour
liked my jerkin not: probably an insult related to social class. The jerkin, as compared to the doublet, was workman’s wear for the middle and lower classes, and unsuitable attire for a garden party. The constable may have reacted to the Knave’s ignoble fashion in addition to his behaviour. For more information, consult Janet Winter and Carolyn Savoy, Elizabethan Costuming for the Years 1550–1580, 2nd edition (Oakland, CA: Other Times Publications, 1987).
beach community: probably Dover, a port town known primarily for the sheer white cliffs that overlook its shoreline but also for its strict constabulary
eagles: a reference to the eagle as a hated symbol of the Holy Roman Empire and German fascists
queen: the Knave’s tacit admission that by lying with him and wearing his clothes, she has become his queen, i.e., become his wife and in charge of running his home
special ladies: a term of endearment indicating a woman’s position of great respect within the social order
Port Huron … Seattle: possibly settlements in the New World, the details of which have been lost to history
claims it as his crop: Lebowski pretends that his inheritance was produced by his own achievement. Shakespeare, an eldest surviving son whose own father left behind only financial problems, apparently took a dim view of inheritances: he left his wife, Anne Hathaway, only his second-best bed.
I’ll live unpartner’d: Maude’s refusal to marry is tremendously unorthodox. That she has secured power over men while remaining unmarried could be a Shakespearean parody of Queen Elizabeth. Because of this, and her general audacity, Maude’s role would likely have been costumed with red hair.
govern’d by humours: swept up by excitement and new thoughts
Evensong: evening prayer
dirk: a Scottish dagger or small sword. Brother Seamus is boasting of his speed and undetectability.
lady friend: a term of endearment for a woman, used in informal courtship. Contrast with ‘special lady.’
swell her womb: conceive
wand’ring daughters: Shakespeare’s plots occasionally featured young women who were unaccountably bold for the norms of the time. Examples include Rosalind and Celia from As You Like It ‘wandering’ in Arden forest, and Cordelia, the only daughter of King Lear who refused to flatter him.
Moorhead: unknown, probably a peasants’ settlement in the North
paint: indicating that Bonnie is a painted lady, or whore. See Act 1, Scene 4.
pastoral: bucolic, rural
steward: caretaker
vows of Sabbath pure: the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, i.e., shomer Shabbos
catharsis: a Greek term (from kathairein, to purify or purge) signifying emotional cleansing. In his Poetics, Aristotle defined the function of tragedy as a catharsis of pity and fear. Shakespeare’s familiarity with Aristotle is unknown, though his tragedies do conform to some of the Poetics’ requirements for drama, such as including a flawed protagonist.
afoot: in progress, in motion
no true gold: ’fool’s gold’; the Knave is indicating he has been treated as a fool
accord: harmony or agreement; the Knave was not given the money Lebowski agreed to provide
Methinks: i.e., it appears to me
Papists: Catholics
converted: changed one’s religion. Given the rampant and state-supported persecution of Jews, an Elizabethan audience would have understood Walter’s choice to turn Jewish as a terrible risk, and thus an act of supreme, even suicidal, devotion to Cynthia.
divorce: to end a marriage; an option readily available under Jewish law even in Elizabethan times, though much more difficult under English and Church law. Not until the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857 was the governance of divorce moved from the ecclesiastical Court of Arches to the civil courtroom.
rock: i.e., rock-solid, steadfast, unmoving
synagogue: Jewish house of prayer; from the Greek synagein, to bring together
Moses: from the Book of Exodus, the most respected prophet in Judaism
in her cups: drunk
brave: admirably
came … to wive: undertook the search to get married
palmer: holy pilgrim
Beshrew me: as earlier. Note the additional pun that the big Lebowski’s ‘shrew’ (Bonnie) has returned.
curst: crossed, shrewish. Or possibly ‘cursed.’
bolting-hutch: a bin, tub, or receptacle for meal or flour
knotty-pated: block-headed
paroquet: parakeet. In addition to insulting Lebowski’s intelligence and substantiality, the Knave is also calling him unsanitary, spreading foul droppings and disease.
tallow: cattle fat rendered into a hard lump
Tush, tush: an expression of mild admonition or reproof
sea-legs: the ability to walk steadily on a ship; Lebowski has none. Walter’s aggression toward him, ironically, will not stand.
armour’d conflict: a battle on land
Sir Charles: probably a slight to a historical knight or peer of Walter, probably French. Candidates include suspected witch Charles I, Count of Nevers; greedy Charles of Valois; or the aptly nicknamed Charles the Bad. Anglo-French relations in Shakespeare’s day were calmer than usual, in light of the Spanish threat, but memories remained long.
eaters of the fig: foreigners; nothing to be afraid of
bareback: without the protection of a saddle
laughable: provoking derisive laughter. The coinage of this word is often attributed to Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
Greek fire: an incendiary compound developed by the Byzantines to burn on water
ninnies: simpletons or foolish people. Possibly derived from ‘innocent.’
in any case: possibly a nod to Walter’s prior use of a ringer
cabbage-fed: low-class; only able to afford cabbage for meals
consort: a romantic companion
a thousandfold: i.e., a thousand times over
empty wares: i.e., goods of no value
quarrel: argument, but also the ammunition used in a crossbow
fly: flee, depart
what minor gold: i.e., whatever small amount of money
doublets: men’s buttoned jackets, often padded and decorated
Fie: an interjection indicating dismissal, annoyance or contempt
pity my case: i.e., have mercy on me
haters of Jewry: anti-Semites. In Elizabethan England, practically a synonym for ‘everyone.’
potent fervour: intense feeling
fields Elysian: the final resting place of heroes or men of great virtue; from Greek mythology
urn: in Shakespeare’s day, cremation carried theological implications. The Catholic Church frowned on the practice, viewing it as denying the possibility of resurrection, but the Church of England was less restrictive. Cremation was also employed for practical reasons, such as disposing of large numbers of bodies after a battle; perhaps Walter is remembering Donald as a fallen soldier.
quest: inquest; an investigation into the surroundings of a death in the hope new stuff will come to light