Shakespeare's Englishes

Fear and the Other in Sir Thomas More

“…Tudeau-Clayton notes that "represented in the opening scenes as predatory and profiteering abusers of privilege, they are represented by 'Hand D' rather as scapegoats and victims of exclusionary violence." 19 More's "verbal image of the 'wretched strangers,'" Sabine Schülting notes, is "diametrically opposed to their previous appearance on stage." 20 The first scene of the play, written by Munday, justifies the London mob's fear of strangers.…”

“…Nevertheless, the play's title character anticipates the description of the state of nature in The Leviathan, when he claims that "men, like ravenous fishes, / Would feed on one another" (6.97-98 Had been ta'en from you, and the bloody times Could not have brought you to the state of men. (6.71-77) 19 Despite anticipating the myth of the state of nature, More does not anticipate the theory of the social contract, for he does not found his argument on the Londoners' fear for themselves. They certainly express none in answer, continuing to protest that they wish to see "the removing of the strangers, which cannot choose but much advantage the poor handicrafts of the City" (6.80-82).…”