Exeter the Dzur

[alexxkay]

Warning: This post may only make sense to the subset of people who are familar with the works of both Shakespeare and Steven Brust.

I'm currently in rehearsal for a local production of Henry V, playing (among others) the part of the Duke of Exeter, Henry's uncle. In Act II, scene 4, I get sent as ambassador to the French, to (in some readings of the play) make one final attempt at brokering a peace before open warfare breaks out.

But that's not how we're interpreting the scene, oh no. In our version, Exeter is doing his best to anger the French and get them to (continue to) think of Henry as an unruly child, as opposed to a valiant opponent. So Exeter insults the French court in every way possible, stopping *just* short of provoking them to kill him.

I've lately been re-reading Steven Brust's Khaavren Romances, and so while we were working on the scene, I felt myself channeling a Dzur hero. "Ha! There's barely 10-to-1 odds against me in this room; bring it ON!"

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

"I found your play verbose. When challenging the French, a simple scream of rage will suffice. You scream and you charge." -- Director-to-Animals

[metageek.livejournal.com]

But don't leap. Pikemen love it when you leap.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

I need to reread Dzur. I remember that there was a good exploration of what motivates a Dzur (and how a Dzur can actually be intelligent), but I can't remember any of it.

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

The climax of the book is sort of like the scene I'm discussing in the play. Outnumbered hero would like to avoid dying, but is utterly prepared to sell his life dear, if necessary.