Act
1, Scene 2, Lines 86-89
Segismund:
Unhappy me!
Oh, miserable me! You heavens above,
I try to think what crime I’ve done
against you
By being born.
Act
1, Scene 6, Lines 526-530
Basil:
…So I, believing in the Fates, and in
The havoc that their prophecies
predestined,
Determined to cage up this newborn
tiger
To see if on the stars we sages have
Some power…
Act
1, Scene 6, Lines 570-575
Basil:
…And so, between one motive and another
Vacillating discursively, I hit
On a solution that will stun you
all.
I shall tomorrow, but without his
knowing
He is my son—your king—place
Segismund
Here on my throne…
From Rosaura and Clarion’s first interactions with Segismund in
the tower where he remains imprisoned, he comes across as miserable and bitter
at his situation. While understandable given the fact that he was confined in
order to prevent the fate that was foretold to his father, the reader is given
an inclination that decisions that he will make in the near future will not be
made rationally. This initial seen sets the stage for his father’s speech later
in the act. While speaking with Stella and Astolfo in the hallway, Basil
declares that he has decided to place Segismund on the thrown, but if all else
fails, he will place him back in the tower and tell him that it was only a
dream. Given Segismund’s current situation, it is not difficult to see why
Basil believes Segismund’s ruling Poland will end fairly poorly. Because this
scene takes place in the hallway, the reader gains an understanding of Basil’s
skepticism in Segismund’s ability to rule. He does not declare Segismund the
new king of Poland in front of the people or an official royal court, but
rather with his niece and nephew in a palace hallway. This scene cheapens his
attempt to right his wrong in placing Segismund on the throne in the first
place because he concedes to Stella and Astolfo that they will be kind and
queen if Basil does not believe Segismund rules fairly.
In my opinion, the setting plays a major role in the reader’s
interpretation of the point of the play. As in other plays that we have read,
the inability of a character to escape their fate presents itself yet again.
After hearing of his fate, Basil attempts to prevent it by locking Segismund in
a castle, but in order to right this wrong, he decides to free him and let him
rule Poland. However, Basil’s decision to tell Stella and Astolfo in a palace
hallway leads the reader to infer that he does not intend to follow through
with this at all but rather imprison him once again when things go poorly.
While the ending of the story is unknown at this time, the reader concludes
that fate will run its course eventually, no matter Basil’s half-hearted
attempt to make things right.
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