Understanding Shakespearean Pronouns

Understanding

Shakespearean Pronouns

QUESTION!

How Pronouns affect meaning?

Thou/Thee vs You

True or False: Besides "thou"/"thee", Shakespeare also used "you".

Changing from thou to you or you to thou in a conversation always conveys a contrast in meaning - a change of attitude or an altered relationship.

Use thou as a sign of a deteriorating relationship.

Example from The Two Noble Kinsmen

Palamon: You must not love her (II..216)

Arcite: I will not, as you do (II.i.217)

Palamon: Thou art a traitor (II.i.226)

Use "thou" when speaking to an inferior.

Hamlet (prince to Horatio): "Thou art e'en as just a man" (III.ii.64)

Use "you" when speaking to a superior.

Horatio (to the prince): "At your service" (III.ii.63)

It is TRUE!

Although "you" and "thou" have the same denotation, their connotation differs making the sentence produce distinct meanings.

Shakespeare indeed took this into consideration when making word choices between pronouns, and therefore used "you" when most appropriate.

Use thou to show reciprocal affection

-Hamlet (to father as ghost): Whither wilt thou lead me? (I.v.1)

-King Hamlet as ghost (to Hamlet): lend thy serious hearing (I.v.5)

Use you to show mutual respect

Example from The Two Noble Kinsmen

Palamon (to Arcite): I thank you (II.i.150)

Arcite (to Palamon): I would hear you still. (II.i.165)

Kinder Definition

What is a PRONOUN?

A pronoun can replace a noun or another pronoun. You use pronouns like "he," "which," "none," and "you" to make your sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.

But what about Shakespearean Pronouns?

Thou - You (Subject) [Thou art a villain!]

Thee - You (Object) [I give this to thee.]

Thy - Your [Thy sheet is stained.]

Thine - Yours [It shall always be thine.]

Thyself - Yourself [Kill thyself.]

Use you and then thou to mark a change of attitude from serious to friendly.

-Polonius (to Laertes): And you are stayed for (I.iii.57) (father to son, serious)

-Polonius (to Laertes): My blessing with thee (I.iii.57) (fatherly affection)

Quick Outline!

Depending on the sentence, thou can give a meaning of

• inferiority
• excitement/intensity
• sympathy
• affection
• pleasure

• anger
• confidence
• intimacy
• forgiveness
• grief

Depending on the sentence, you can give a meaning of

• respect
• superiority
• business
• affection
• courtesy

Use thou and then you to mark a change of attitude from friendly to serious

- Bernardo (to Francisco): Get thee to bed (I.i.7) (friendly suggestion)

- Bernardo (to Francisco): Have you had quiet guard? (I.i.10) (professional inquiry)

-Hamlet (to Ophelia): Go thy ways to a nunnery (III.i.129) (intimate)

-Hamlet (to Ophelia): Where's your father? (III.i.130) (suspicion)

Want the info even clearer?

Video SUMMARY!

Video: http://y2u.be/JS6xCW7LPrE

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