Setting the Shakespearean Stage

Act 1, Scene 1
Tranio, since for the great desire I had
To see fair Padua, nursery of arts,
I am arrived for fruitful Lombardy,
The pleasant garden of great Italy,
And by my father's love and leave am armed
With his goodwill and thy good company.
My trusty servant well approved in all,
Here let us breathe and haply institute
A course of learning and ingenious studies.
Pisa, renowned for grave citizens,
Gave me my being, and my father first,
A merchant of great traffic through the world,
(Vicentio,)come of the Bentivolii.
Vicentio's son, brought up in Florence,
It shall become to serve all hopes conceived
To deck his fortune with his virtuous deeds.
And therefore, Tranio, for the time I study
Virtue, and that part of philosophy
Will I apply that treats of happiness
By virtue specially to be achieved.
Tell me thy mind, for I have Pisa left
And am to Padua come, as he that leaves
A shall plash to plunge him in the deep
And with satiety seeks to quench his thirst.


I will discuss the language that is used to set the stage in Act - Scene 1, specifically; I will like to look very closely at Lucentio's speech. Lucentio's opening speech in Act 1-Scene 1 includes descriptive details for almost every city or person named. I believe that the use of interruptions is intended to add extra detail to the text. Since we are not able to "see" the scene being played by the actors, Shakespeare portrays this scene through the extensive use of details. For example, when Lucentio mentions the fair Padua, he continues to explain that the city of Padua is a nursery of arts. He also explains the fruitful Lombardy, which is a pleasant garden of great Italy. From the text and the use of adjectives we conclude that Lombardy is a garden that is very fruitful located in great Italy. Lucentio also adds details about the people. When he mentions his trusty servant, he adds that he is well approved in all. Descriptions of the city of Pisa are also included in the text. He states that it is renowned for grave citizens. Details about his father-who was a merchant of great traffic through the world-are also included in the text. The text states that Vicentio came from the Bentivolii and Vicentio's son was brought up in Florence. All this descriptions allow us to be aware of the setting and context of the play. Although we cannot see it with our own eyes, these details add an image that our imagination can create. The language that Lucentio uses helps us set the stage for what will happen next in the play and what is happening now and where the story is located.
Other examples that are not as clear and straightforward as the ones mentioned above, but that help us (the reader) understand what is happing in the play are when Lucentio says, "Tranio, at once/ Uncase tee. Take my colored hat and cloak,” it is clear that they exchanged clothes. When Hortensio says, "Rise, Grumio, rise," we can conclude that at some point Grumio has fallen.
Shakespeare's use of language is very different from our language today. He places the verb before the subject. For example in Act 1-Scene 1, Hortensio says, "Sorry am I that our goodwill effects/ Bianca's grief.” Also, he sometimes he places the object before the verb. In Act 1-Scene 1, Tranio says, "Music and poesy use to quicken you." Baptista also says, "Schoolmasters will I keep." Lucentio says, "Vincentio's son.../It shall become." Petruchio says, "Crowns in my purse I have." It is also not uncommon that Shakespeare inverts the sequence of the subject-verb-object. In Act 1-Scene 1, Baptista's says "For how I firmly am resolved you know." These inversions in the language are what I have found to make it more difficult to concentrate on the reading. This type of language does not really set the stage. Shakespeare has a mix of language the first example helped set the stage and these examples do not.