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Old Knowell
Stephen is a young “country gull,” the nephew of Old Knowell and the cousin of Edward Knowell. Stephen is foolish and obedient, desperate to fit in. His first appearance sees him asking Old Knowell for books on hawking and hunting—two activities fashionable at the time. This annoys his uncle, who considers him a “wasteful” character. Towards the middle of the play, Stephen is tricked by Brainworm (disguised as Fitzsword) into buying a cheap and inferior sword. Stephen gets himself into trouble when he picks up Downright’s cloak, discarded after the latter’s brawl with Bobadil. When Bobadil and Matthew try to have Downright arrested, Downright notices that Stephen has stolen his cloak and drags him to Justice Clement too.
Master Stephen Quotes in Every Man in His Humour
The Every Man in His Humour quotes below are all either spoken by Master Stephen or refer to Master Stephen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 3, Scene 1
Quotes
STEPHEN: Ay, truly, sir, I am mightily given to melancholy.
MATTHEW: Oh, it's your only fine humour, sir: your true melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit, sir. I am melancholy myself, divers times, sir, and then do I no more but take pen and paper presently, and overflow you half a score, or a dozen of sonnets at a sitting.
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Act 3, Scene 2
Quotes
EDWARD: Ay, by his leave, he is, and under favour: a pretty piece of civility! Sirrah, how dost thou like him?
WELLBRED: Oh, it's a most precious fool, make much on him: I can compare him to nothing more happily than a drum; for every one may play upon him.
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Master Stephen Quotes in Every Man in His Humour
The Every Man in His Humour quotes below are all either spoken by Master Stephen or refer to Master Stephen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 3, Scene 1
Quotes
STEPHEN: Ay, truly, sir, I am mightily given to melancholy.
MATTHEW: Oh, it's your only fine humour, sir: your true melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit, sir. I am melancholy myself, divers times, sir, and then do I no more but take pen and paper presently, and overflow you half a score, or a dozen of sonnets at a sitting.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 2
Quotes
EDWARD: Ay, by his leave, he is, and under favour: a pretty piece of civility! Sirrah, how dost thou like him?
WELLBRED: Oh, it's a most precious fool, make much on him: I can compare him to nothing more happily than a drum; for every one may play upon him.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
