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Woman
The Countryfolk are a group of countrymen and countrywomen the Schoolmaster assembles to perform a traditional Morris dance for Theseus during the May Day festivities. After the Countryfolk perform their dance for Theseus and his hunting party, Theseus generously rewards the performers with money, demonstrating his commitment to chivalry. The Countryfolk plotline mainly exists for comic effect and as a strategic way to place Arcite near Emilia. After Theseus frees and exiles Arcite, Arcite remains in Athens, lies low, and tries to devise a plan to pursue his love. While Arcite is hiding in the woods, he encounters a group of Countrymen who tell him about their plans to perform for Theseus during the May Day festival, which features a series of athletic competitions. Arcite hatches his own plan to participate in the games, impress Theseus, and earn a position near Emilia.
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The Countryfolk Character Timeline in The Two Noble Kinsmen
The timeline below shows where the character The Countryfolk appears in The Two Noble Kinsmen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 2, Scene 3
Four Countrymen enter. One wears a garland. They happily discuss their plans to set aside the day’s...
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Just as the Four Countrymen are about to leave, Arcite emerges to ask them where they are going. The men...
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Act 3, Scene 5
In another part of the forest, the Schoolmaster berates six Countrymen for their inability to follow his directions. Yet again, he reviews the plan for their...
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...to arrive. The Taborer arrives, followed by five Wenches and the Bavian. One of the Countrymen tells the Schoolmaster that the rest of the musicians have scattered about the woods, per...
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...the Jailer’s Daughter appears, singing a nonsensical song about warships, fools, and an owlet. The Countrymen suspect that the Jailer’s Daughter is mad but decide they can probably use her as...
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The Schoolmaster signals for his players to begin, and the Countrymen, Countrywomen, and the Jailer’s Daughter emerge from the trees and perform a morris dance. Afterward,...
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