The Shakespeare Stealer

Chapter 5 opens with Widge in Simon Bass’s study, getting acquainted with his new master. Widge learns the mysterious stranger’s name from Bass—Falconer—and discovers the reason for his hire. Bass describes Widge’s primary duty to him: attending a performance of William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and copying the script via Dr. Bright’s charactery. Bass presents Widge with a small tablebook that can be easily concealed on his person during the copying mission, and Widge presses his new master for details about the purpose of transcribing the play. Bass discloses to Widge that he has a company of players, or actors, who could stage Hamlet and “double their box,” or their earnings (32). This would, in turn, benefit Bass financially since he is the playing group’s investor.

Widge remains at the house for only two nights, setting out for London with Falconer the next morning. Widge is inwardly excited to be traveling to London for the first time: “Ever since I could remember, I had heard Dr. Bright and others speak of London in tones usually reserved for the Heavenly City” (34). On the way, however, a hare runs across the path of Widge and his mount, signifying, for him, a bad omen.

It takes Widge and Falconer a full two days to reach London. Widge is immediately overwhelmed by the city, and, stumbling on a cobblestone street, he falls into a ditch that functions as the city’s sewer. Finally, with Widge covered in waste, the two reach their lodgings, an inn called The George. Once there, Widge learns that he is to sleep in the stables, while Falconer sleeps in a room at the inn.

The two remain at the inn for three days, waiting for the next performance of Hamlet by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Widge amuses himself by continuing to take in the newness of London, though his excitement transforms into queasiness on the day he is supposed to copy the play. Falconer beckons Widge into a boat—the first boat that Widge has ever boarded—and the two set off across the river toward the theatre. The chapter closes with Widge, who does not know how to swim, falling overboard into the water.

Chapter 7 opens with Widge struggling in the water before Falconer pulls him back into the boat. When Widge thanks Falconer for saving his life, the older man remarks, “I saved your master’s investment, that’s all” (45). The two then disembark from the boat and walk toward the theatre while Widge is still dripping from his watery mishap.

When they arrive at the theatre, Widge discovers that Falconer will not attend the performance with him. Falconer pushes Widge forward into the crush of theatregoers, and Widge is soon seated among a noisy, jostling group of penny-ticket playgoers. The play begins without Widge realizing it, and he hurries to set up his tablebook and pen so that he can begin copying down the script in charactery. By the time Widge creates a system for assigning numbers to players to keep their lines organized on the page, a new problem presents itself: He begins to get caught up in the action of the play and forgets to copy portions of the speeches. According to Widge’s narration, “My petty mission no longer seemed to matter. All that mattered was whether or not Hamlet would take action to avenge his father” (50). As the play closes, Widge realizes his mistake and begins to dread facing Falconer. The chapter closes as Widge ponders what plausible lie he could deliver to Falconer in lieu of the completed script.