Team+Philip+I

Sir Philip Sidney was born on November 30th, 1554 to parents Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley. His father is the son of prominent politician, Sir William Sidney, who served as a courtier for Henry VIII and Edward VI, who awarded William for his services with the navy with grants of land, including Penshurst where the family ended up living. Henry became the Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1565, and Philip wrote many different works defending his father’s policies and actions. Henry grew up around the influences of the royal family and became very active in politics, which he passed onto his son Philip. Sir Philip was brought up favoring the crown, especially Queen Elizabeth I.

1576-He was given the title and role of cupbearer to the crown, which he inherited from his father. This was an honor given to an officer of high ranks in the royal court, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table.

1575-He met Penelope Devereux, who he fell madly in love with. Her father actually wanted his daughter to marry Sir Philip but he died before the arrangements for the marriage were made. She married another man while Philip was in exile, allegedly against her will. Penelope inspired him to create the character of Stella, who is one of the main characters in Astrophel and Stella.

In 1579, he got into a fight with the Earl of Oxford, which was said to have something to do with the engagement of Queen Elizabeth I. The Earl was also an active Courtier, and close friend to the Queen. Philip did not support the idea of Elizabeth marrying to please Parliament, and he especially did not approve of her marrying this Frenchman. The Earl of Oxford, on the other hand, did approve and the two began fighting. Eventually Philip challenged this man to a duel, but as both men were prominent and key members of Court, Queen Elizabeth forbade this duel in fear that one might die. This inspired Philip to write his “Letter to Queen Elizabeth I” As far as I can tell, it is my understanding that the Queen did not appreciate this lengthy, detailed explanation of Philip’s reasons against her engagement and sent him into exile where he did most of his writing for many of his famous works that we see today.

“The Lady of May” The Lady of May is about Philip’s clear opposition to Queen Elizabeth’s marrying The Duke of Anjou and the Earl of Lancaster. He wrote it specifically for it to be performed for the Queen during her visit to Wanstead Manor where Philip was staying at the time.

“The Lad Philisides” Also about his opposition to Parliament’s pressure for the Queen to marry. He did not think she needed have a suitor or a man by her side to run the country successfully, and believed that it actually devalued her position as the sole monarch.

Sir Philip Sidney began writing the Arcadia 1577 but wrote most of it while he was in exile from Court, and living with his sister. He never finished the work before he died, and although he requested that everything be burned after his death, his sister took it upon herself to revise and finish his work. The Arcadia consists of five acts separated by four eclogues. Each of these four eclogues has a theme: the first represents the pangs of unrequited love, the second one between reason and passion, the third the ideals of married love, the fourth the sorrows of lovers and the sorrows of death. Through each eclogue the character of Sidney, Philisides, moves through them all.

Although this is a strongly political as well as emotional piece of work, it is different from his other works, particularly “The Lady of May” in that he did not write it with the intention of the Queen seeing it. It can be seen as a way for him to fight his inner demons and angst during his exile. The entirety of the Old Arcadia is a direct bridge into the mind of Sidney, his feelings, and the going-ons of court.

In that respect, the Arcadia is a very personal work, in which the protagonist’s pastoral exile is a direct parallel with his own exile. We also believe that he created many of the characters to be embodiments of himself. Each character goes through a similar trial that Sidney had to undertake in some way. They also experience similar feelings and reactions to events that Sidney created for them. The Arcadia can be assumed to be a venting piece for Sidney to pass judgment upon him and to bring tangibility to the inner battle he was having during his exile.

First Eclogue: Basilius, the Duke of Arcadia, has left court and moved his family to the country in hopes of avoiding an oracle he received at Delphi: that one daughter will be stolen “by princely mean” and that the other will embrace “an uncouth love,” that he will commit adultery with his wife, and that a foreign power will sit on his throne.

While traveling through Arcadia Pyrocles, son of the King of Macedon, and Musidorus, Duke of Thessaly, fall in love with the Duke’s daughters. Having left the court to protect his family, the Duke will not allow his daughters to be approached by noblemen which causes a problem for Pyrocles, since he has fallen in love with the image of Philoclea, disguises himself as an Amazon and takes the name of Cleophila.

After the princes arrive in Arcadia, the Duke falls in love with Cleophila. Musidorus falls in love with Pamela, and in order to get close to her, disguises himself as a shepherd, taking the name Dorus. When a lion and a bear attack the women, Cleophila and Dorus kill them. Gynecia figures out that Cleophila is really a man and falls in love with him. Pamela is impressed, but looks down on Dorus because of the difference in their social statuses. Second Eclogue: Gynecia figures out that Cleophila is in love with her daughter, and becomes jealous. She tells Cleophila her feelings, just as Basilius reappears singing love songs of Cleophila. As Dorus, Musidorus is separated from Pamela by social class; he begins to challenge such conventions, while he pretends to be in love with Dametas's daughter, Mopsa, and asks Pamela for advice. While asking for advice he hints to Pamela who he really is; Pamela catches on and falls for Dorus. Basilius and Gynecia, both aware of each other’s love for Cleophila, begin to hate each other. Having no chance to talk to Philoclea, until Basilius confesses his love for Cleophila while she is sleeping, Cleophila convinces Philoclea will be able to help, which allows them to meet. Cleophila tells Philoclea who he really is, and as they love each other a mob attacks. Cleophila is able to drive them away, and Basilius thinks the oracle is now fulfilled.

Third Eclogue: Dorus begins to put his plan into action. He sends everyone on meaningless chases to buy enough time for he and Pamela run away. They plan to marry, and Pamela insists that they remain celibate until then. Musidorus agrees, but while Pamela is sleeping he is tempted to break his promise; he is about to rape her when a mob of peasants arrives on the scene.

Back in the cave, Cleophila tries to manipulate Gynecia by pretending to be interested in her. Cleophila, against the will of Philoclea, announces that she will take up residence in the cave, and plans separate meetings with both Basilius and Gynecia, both to take place in the cave. To help Gynecia sneak out of the cottage, Pyrocles has her wear his Cleophila clothes. Gynecia brings with her what she believes to be an aphrodisiac drink. Gynecia arrives at the cave first and waits for Cleophila. When Basilius appears instead of Pyrocles, Gynecia doesn’t know whether she has been betrayed is Basilius is just trying to interfere so she keeps quiet. Basilius makes love to the silent Gynecia-who-he-thinks-is-Cleophila, thus fulfilling the part of the oracle about committing adultery with his wife.

Fourth Eclogue: Dametas returns from his wild goose chase to find Pamela gone. Once Miso returns, and Dametas calls Mopsa’s name three times, they figure out how they have been duped. Going to the other cottage to report the escape, Dametas enters through a door Pyrocles didn’t know about and so did not lock. He sees the now sleeping and undisguised Pyrocles in bed with Philoclea. Dametas slips away with Pyrocles’s sword, bars the door, and reports to his family and neighbors what he has discovered. They go to look for the Duke.

Basilius confesses to Gynecia how good in bed she is thinking she is Cleophila. Gynecia, taking advantage of his confusion, reveals herself and scolds him for his infidelity, as if she had been there to trap him all along. Basilius drinks the potion thinking it is wine. Gynecia doesn’t tell him what it really is because that would reveal that she too planned on cheating. Basilius drops dead. The searching crowd finds the body and Gynecia, who, guilt-ridden, confesses to killing him.

Philanax arrives and learns what has happened. After getting Gynecia’s story, he goes to get the trapped Pyrocles. Back in the cottage, Pyrocles wakes up and discovers that his sword is gone and they are locked in. When Philoclea wakes up, she tells him they are in bigger trouble than he knows, because Arcadian law provides for the death penalty for all premarital sex. They debate suicide but are taken prisoner by Philanax. Meanwhile, back in the woods, Musidorus and Pamela are captured by the mob of peasants, remnants of the earlier rebellion.

The Old Arcadia is a definite parallel to the life of Sidney. Through the different dialogues and sonnets Sidney is able to express his feelings, all of them. This story is full of confusion, guilt, hatred, melancholy, and hope. After being exiled Sydney became a dark, depressed man that only wanted to love and protect the queen. His intentions were to never let this book be published; it was done so against his will. If it had been published during his lifetime there would have been serious actions taken against him.