Humor. It differs from person to person in their ability to perceive it or react to it. This is either due to culture, religion, or other factors. In The Shoemaker’s Holiday the humor is very geographically and culturally based. Which makes sense since it is an Elizabethan play. But because of the way the humor is presented, it often causes confusion and bewilderment from readers that don’t come from London. This was the case when I was reading it. Half the time I couldn’t understand what they (the actors) were saying and the other half was spent in re-re-reading what I had just read because I couldn’t believe what I had just read.
That being said the play itself, once you get over the odd humor, is quite sexual. At every turn there seems to be some sexual joke or hint that seemingly comes out of nowhere each and every time. At the end of each one you would probably scratch your head in confusion and need to refer to the footnotes and definitions just to understand what the actors mean. Like in scene 7 where Firk, Hodge, and Eyre are mentioning the various ways they will “firk” or “take down” various women. Or how Firk mentions how he “For yerking and seaming let me alone, an I come to’t.” and that he will “deal with her.” At first glance their little conversation makes no sense but reading deeper into it you realize exactly what Firk wants to do with Sibyl.
The rest of the play goes along the same lines. There are references to sexual acts and actions that seem to mean one thing often turn into something more…carnal. The entire play seems to be one long sex comedy that’s been “hidden” by the citizen comedy it tries to portray itself as. Granted I’m not positive since the entire play still has me scratching my head!
