Tag Archives: queen elizabeth

Endymion: Devotion to Cynthia and Queen Elizabeth

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Sabrina Esclavon

In Endymion, John Lyly refreshingly transforms a play based on the classical myth, into a comedy.  In class, we spent a good portion of time discussing who Lyly was writing this for, and where it was performed.  The conclusion was that this play was performed before Queen Elizabeth, and the main role of Cynthia the Goddess of the Moon was used to represent her.  This brings into perspective why Lyly would choose to alter the original plot of Endymion.  In the original myth, the Moon Goddess is the one who fawns over and chases after Endymion.  In Lyly’s version, it is Endymion, a man, who devotes himself to the Moon Goddess Cynthia.  Act 1 opens with Endymion confessing his love of Cynthia to his best friend Eumenides.  There are many instances before Endymion’s notorious lengthy sleep in which he professes his love for Cynthia.

I believe this was an important and well thought out move on Lyly’s part when writing the play.  If Cynthia is meant to represent Queen Elizabeth, then the implication is that Endymion, who can be interchanged with Queen Elizabeth’s subjects, sincerely adores her.  I also think that it is worth pointing out that the relationship between Cynthia and Endymion is largely platonic (aside from the kiss that breaks him from his sleep).  Endymion shows no signs of lusting after Cynthia; he purely worships her.  This solidifies the symbolism of the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and her subjects.  The reason Lyly would write a play to this effect for Queen Elizabeth is because she was in her later years, and this play would serve as a playful and meaningful method of honoring the Queen.

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Dedication in Endymion

Posted on February 25, 2013 by wendy c

One particular aspect of Lyly’s Endymion that left an impression on me was this form of dedication present between characters. In the beginning of the play, we are informed of Endymion long dedication of love and infatuation with Cynthia, goddess of the moon. However, we are also introduced to Eumenides’ dedication to Endymion. Although, to some, it may not be as impressive as Endymion’s committed love for Cynthia, even after twenty years, Eumenides was committed to find the remedy that would allow Endymion to awake from his slumber.  Furthermore, Eumenides also voluntary sacrificed his love for Semele for Endymion as we saw in his struggle between friendship and love during his conversation with Geron at his fountain.  Without this sacrifice, Eumenides would not have been able to find the only remedy that would awake Endymion and convince Cynthia to kiss Endymion.

However, with the sacrifices affiliated with dedication, it also comes with its own respective rewards. With the awake of Endymion, Eumenides is rewarded by Cynthia, a budding relationship between himself and Semele. Although Endymion is ultimately unable to be in a relationship with Cynthia, Endymion was still awakened and saved by Cynthia herself. Lyly’s demonstration of dedication in Endymion is met with rewards. This could also represent an symbolic representation of Lyly’s dedication to Queen Elizabeth through the previous discussion of Cynthia being an allegorical representation of Queen Elizabeth.

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