Object

Devils' Pitchforks

Devil-costumed actors brandish pitchforks to jab and drag the padded, shrieking figure of Cardinal Wolsey through mock flames during a grotesque court play. The props deliver sharp prods that draw uproarious laughter from Anne Boleyn and uneasy glances from Henry VIII, amplifying the performance's cruel satire on Wolsey's downfall amid the Great Hall's evening revelry.

2 appearances

Purpose

Prop to mock-torture and symbolically torment the actor portraying Cardinal Wolsey in the satirical play.

Significance

Heightens the court's brutal celebration of Wolsey's fall, fueling the tense atmosphere backstage where Cromwell confronts Patch and unleashes his fury.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S1E2 · Wolf Hall Episode 2

The Fool’s Revenge: Cromwell’s Rage and the Court’s Cruelty

The devils’ pitchforks are used to jab and drag the padded ‘Wolsey’ through the flames, eliciting uproarious laughter from the audience, including Anne Boleyn. The pitchforks symbolize the court’s violent mockery of Wolsey, turning his downfall into a grotesque spectacle. Their use in the play reinforces the theme of cruelty as entertainment and the court’s complicity in Wolsey’s humiliation. Backstage, the pitchforks lie discarded, a silent testament to the performance’s brutality.

Before: Wielded by the devil actors during the play, used to jab and drag the ‘Wolsey’ figure through the flames.

After: Discarded backstage, their purpose fulfilled in the performance’s cruelty.

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S1E2 · Wolf Hall Episode 2

Cromwell’s Restraint Shatters: The Fool’s Provocation and the Unleashing of Fury

The devils’ pitchforks, used during the performance to jab and drag the ‘cardinal’ through the flames, are props that amplify the court’s schadenfreude and the brutal nature of Wolsey’s mockery. While the pitchforks are not directly involved in the backstage confrontation, their presence in the performance sets the tone for the event’s violence and cruelty. The props’ association with hell and torment mirrors the emotional and psychological torment Cromwell and Patch inflict on each other during their clash. Their symbolic weight lingers, reinforcing the court’s moral decay and the performative nature of its power dynamics.

Before: Used on stage to torment the ‘cardinal’ figure, lying discarded backstage after the performance.

After: Unmentioned but symbolically present, their association with the performance’s cruelty lingering in the confrontation’s atmosphere.

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