Tis Pity Shes A Whore: “Alas Poor Creature, He Meant No Man Harm. That I Am Sure Of!” Discuss Fords Use Of Bergetto In The Play, In The Light Of This Quotation.
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The character of Bergetto in John Fords “Tis Pity Shes a Whore” is a conflicting and complex one. The circumstances which surround Bergetto and to which he provides a catalyst for are at once tragic and greatly humorous and this blending of despair and hilarity appears to be the combination Ford was aiming for in writing his character. From first being introduced into the play in Act I scene ii Bergetto is seen as the “fool” of the play, a common device utilised by playwrights in fords time to lighten the mood and introduce humour (such as the porter in “Macbeth”). The audience is immediately alerted to this fact by Putanas description “O brave old ape in a silken coat”. Ford does this to establish Bergetto as a character with no chance in the plotline of gaining Annabellas hand in marriage, which leaves the audience wondering why such a character would be included in her list of suitors. Indeed his opening line “Didst thou think, Poggio, that I would spoil my new clothes, and leave my dinner to fight?” leaves the audience thinking that he values fine clothes and food above manly honour, a stark contrast to the previous scenes confrontation between Grimaldi and Soranzo, serving to set him apart from the first two suitors.
Fords use of language quickly establishes Bergetto as a figure of fun and someone not to be taken seriously, as melodramatic statements such as “O monstrous!” and the simple irony of him expressing his inner thoughts regarding Annabella when in her presence which is a gaffe that the audience would never expect off serious characters such as Soranzo or Giovanni. We are also given the impression of his simplicity from the views of other characters such as Annabella “This idiot haunts me too” and even his own servant Poggio “Sir, I have seen an ass and a mule trot to the Spanish pavan with a better grace,”. This lack of what would be deemed “common sense” in modern times gives Bergetto a sense of innocence which Ford uses to stir pity and endear him to the audience. His lack of social graces is made most apparent by his objectification of women and his constant referral to “Wench” in spite of who is present.
The interactions between Donado and Bergetto are also very important in establishing Bergettos character to the audience. Ford portrays Donado as the long suffering uncle of a dullard nephew trying to achieve whats best for him shown by his attempt to negotiate with Florio for Annabellas hand “Well heres hope yet if my nephew would have wit; but he is such a dunce I fear.” Which is a potent device utilized by Ford in making the audience empathize with his characters as people relate with the universal parental figure. Ford appears to use Act I scene iii to establish the relationship between Donado and Bergetto as that of one between adult and a younger child rather than between two adults, demonstrated by Bergettos juvenile excitement at the thought of making “a mill go without mortal help” and his need for encouragement from his servant “Ist not true, Poggio?”. Donados remonstrations “Wilt thou be a fool still?” are Fords way of establishing Bergetto as a lame or “harmless” character when compared to Soranzo or Grimaldi who would most likely have become violent at such an insult. Another device which makes Bergetto appear more childlike and innocent is his apparent sexual inexperience and gaffe prone speech around women. Ford creates humour with Poggios description of Bergettos attempted wooing “That he loved her almost as well as he loved parmesan” which is less than romantic and borders on insulting