..
.
Thou and Thee, You and Ye
A Primer on Shakespearean Pronouns
.
By Michael J. Cummings...© 2003

.......Modern English uses only four pronouns for addressing a person or persons: you, your, yourself, and yours. The English of Shakespeare’s time used ten pronouns: thou, thee, thy, thyself, thine, ye, you, your, yourself, and yours. The rules governing the use of these ten pronouns were both grammatical and cultural–that is, their application depended not only on syntax but also on the social status of the person or persons addressed. The following table shows at a glance second-person pronoun use under these rules, as well as Shakespeare's varying uses of you, your, yourself, and yours. In addition, the table includes an entry for ye as a definite article (or adjective) meaning the
 

Thou

Case: Nominative. Example: Thou art my friend.
When Used: To address a person of inferior status, such as a child or servant; to address a friend; to impart a poetic ring when expressing profound thoughts or reciting a prayer.
Verb Endings: -t, -st, -est. Examples: Thou art, thou hast, thou wast, thou hadst.

Thee

Case: Objective. Example: I love thee. I give thee all my love.
When Used: To address a person of inferior status, such as a child or servant; to address a friend; to impart a poetic ring when expressing profound thoughts or reciting a prayer.
Verb Endings: Not affected.

Thy

Case: Possessive. Example: Here is thy sword.
When Used: To address a person of inferior status, such as a child or servant; to address a friend; to impart a poetic ring when expressing profound thoughts or reciting a prayer. Thy is not used before words beginning with a vowel or before words beginning with a silent h followed by a vowel. Instead, thine is used.
Verb Endings: Not affected.

Thine

Case: Possessive. Examples: This sword is thine. Where is thine enemy?
When Used: To show possession without a following noun or with a following noun beginning with a vowel or a silent h followed by a vowel.
Verb Endings: Not Affected.

Thyself

Case: Reflexive or intensive. Examples: Wash thyself. Thou thyself art a fool.
When Used: To address a person of inferior status, such as a child or servant; to address a friend; to impart a poetic ring when expressing profound thoughts or reciting a prayer.
Verb Endings: -t, -st, -est. Examples: Thou thyself art, thou thyself hadst.

Ye (Early Use)

Case: Nominative. Example. Ye are mighty lords.
When Used: To address several persons of exalted social position(s).
Verb Endings: Not affected.

Ye (Later Use)

Case: Nominative or objective. Examples: Ye are a fool. Ye are all fools. I'll strike ye down.
When Used: To address one or several persons of any social  status.
Verb Endings: Not affected.

Ye as a Definite Article (Early Use)

Pronunciation: Same as the
Part of Speech: Definite article; adjective.
Examples: Ye olde tavern (pronounced as the old tavern); Ye gods (pronounced as the gods).
When Used: To modify a noun in the same way as the definite article the. Y was a printer's character representing th.
Shakespeare generally did not use "ye" in this sense.
Verb Endings: Not affected.

You, Your, Yourself, Yours (Early Use)

These words weree used in the same way that they are used today.
.
Plays on DVD (or VHS) 
..

PlayDirectorActors
Antony and Cleopatra (1974)Trevor Nunn, John SchoffieldRichard Johnson, Janet Suzman
Antony and CleopatraBBC Production Jane Lapotaire 
As You Like It (2010) Thea SharrockJack Laskey, Naomi Frederick
As You Like It (1937) Paul CzinnerHenry Ainley, Felix Aylmer
The Comedy of ErrorsBBC ProductionNot Listed
CoriolanusBBC Production Alan Howard, Irene Worth
CymbelineElijah MoshinskyClaire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Helen Mirren
Gift Box: The ComediesBBC ProductionVarious
Gift Box: The HistoriesBBC ProductionVarious
Gift Box: The TragediesBBC ProductionVarious
Hamlet (1948) Laurence OlivierLaurence Olivier, Jean Simmons
Hamlet (1990) Kevin KlineKevin Kline
Hamlet(1991) Franco ZeffirelliMel Gibson, Glenn Close
Hamlet (1996) Kenneth BranaghKenneth Branagh, 
Hamlet (2009)Gregory DoranDavid Tennant, Patrick Stewart, Penny Downie
Hamlet (1964) John Gielgud, Bill ColleranRichard Burton, Hume Cronyn
Hamlet (1964) Grigori KozintsevInnokenti Smoktunovsky
Hamlet (2000) Cambpell Scott, Eric SimonsonCampbell Scott, Blair Brown
Henry V (1989) Kenneth BranaghKenneth Branaugh, Derek Jacobi
Henry V( 1946) Laurence OlivierLeslie Banks, Felix Aylmer
Henry VI Part IBBC ProductionPeter Benson, Trevor Peacock
Henry VI Part IIBBC Production Not Listed
Henry VI Part IIIBBC Production Not Listed
Henry VIIIBBC ProductionJohn Stride, Claire Bloom, Julian Glover
Julius CaesarBBC Production Richard Pasco, Keith Michell
Julius Caesar (1950) David BradleyCharlton Heston
Julius Caesar (1953) Joseph L. MankiewiczMarlon Brando, James Mason
Julius Caesar (1970) Stuart BurgeCharlton Heston, Jason Robards
King JohnBBC Production Not Listed
King Lear (1970)Grigori KozintsevYuri Yarvet
King Lear (1971)Peter BrookCyril Cusack, Susan Engel
King Lear (1974) Edwin SherinJames Earl Jones
King Lear (1976) Tony DavenallPatrick Mower, Ann Lynn
King Lear (1984) Michael ElliottLaurence Olivier, Colin Blakely
King Lear (1997)Richard EyreIan Holm
Love's Labour's Lost (2000)Kenneth BranaghKenneth Branagh, Alicia Silverstone 
Love's Labour's Lost BBC Production)Not Listed
Macbeth (1978) Philip CassonIan McKellen, Judy Dench
MacbethBBC Production Not Listed
The Merchant of VeniceBBC ProductionWarren Mitchell, Gemma Jones
The Merchant of Venice (2001) Christ Hunt, Trevor NunnDavid Bamber, Peter De Jersey
The Merchant of Venice (1973)John SichelLaurence Olivier, Joan Plowright
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1970) Not ListedLeon Charles, Gloria Grahame
Midsummer Night's Dream (1996) Adrian NobleLindsay Duncan, Alex Jennings
A Midsummer Night's Dream  (1999)Michael HoffmanKevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Kenneth BranaughBranaugh, Emma Thompson
Much Ado About Nothing (1973) Nick Havinga Sam Waterston, F. Murray Abraham
Othello (2005) Janet SuzmanRichard Haines, John Kaki
Othello (1990) Trevor NunnIan McKellen, Michael Grandage
Othello (1965) Stuart BurgeLaurence Olivier, Frank Finlay
Othello (1955) Orson WellesOrson Welles
Othello (1983) Franklin MeltonPeter MacLean, Bob Hoskins, Jenny Agutter
Ran  (1985) Japanese Version of King Lear Akira KurosawaTatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao
Richard II (2001) John Farrell Matte Osian, Kadina de Elejalde
Richard III (1912) André Calmettes, James Keane Robert Gemp, Frederick Warde
Richard III - Criterion Collection (1956) Laurence OlivierLaurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson
Richard III (1995) Richard LoncraineIan McKellen, Annette Bening
Richard IIIBBC Production Ron Cook, Brian Protheroe, Michael Byrne
Romeo and Juliet (1968) Franco ZeffirelliLeonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey
Romeo and Juliet (1996) Baz LuhrmannLeonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes
Romeo and Juliet (1976) Joan Kemp-WelchChristopher Neame, Ann Hasson
Romeo and JulietBBC Production John Gielgud, Rebecca Saire, Patrick Ryecart
The Taming of the ShrewFranco ZeffirelliElizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton
The Taming of the ShrewKirk BrowningRaye Birk, Earl Boen, Ron Boussom
The Taming of The ShrewNot ListedFranklin Seales, Karen Austin, 
The TempestPaul MazurskyJohn Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands
The Tempest (1998)Jack BenderPeter Fonda, John Glover, Harold Perrineau,
Throne of Blood (1961) Macbeth in Japan Akira KurosawaToshirô Mifune, Isuzu Yamada
Twelfth Night (1996) Trevor NunnHelena Bonham Carter
Twelfth NightBBC Production Not Listed
The Two Gentlemen of VeronaBBC Production John Hudson, Joanne Pearce
The Winter's Tale  (2005) Greg DoranRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Winter's TaleBBC Production Not Listed


 
 
 

privacy policy

{ezoic-ad-1}

{ez_footer_ads}