Posted by Jan den Breejen on March 30, 2001 at 01:39:46:
Shakespeare's play Henry V (1599) - the character of Pistol
Ancient (Ensign) Pistol is Hostess Quickly's husband as well as a crony and fellow soldier to Bardolph and Nym, with whom he goes to the French wars. He is a swaggerer; a bully who swears and brags but who runs away at the first sign of danger. The boy acting as Pistol's servant calls him a coward with a killing tongue and a quiet sword' . Gower describes him as 'a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then goes to wars, to grace himself at his return into London under the form of a soldier'. Near the close of the play Pistol is beaten by Fluellen for his insolent attacks on the captain's Welsh heritage, and forced to eat a leek which is the symbol of Wales.
What would be the character style which could fit this dishonest, comical, hypocritical, cowardly Pistol?
From my experience these kinda fearful vipers-tongues/slanderers of this 'foolish' kind are borderline ('mercurial') personalities.
Comments anyone?
Jan