ABSTRACT
IN"ATheoryofPlayandFantasy"GregoryBatesondiscussesformsofcomplexplayinwhichagameisconstructed"notupon thepremise'thisisplay'butratheraroundthequestion'isthis
play?"'Toillustratesuchagame,hedescribesapeace-makingceremonyobservedintheAndamanIslands:"peaceisconcludedaftereach sidehasbeengivenceremonialfreedomtostriketheother.Thisexampleillustratesthelabilenatureoftheframe'thisisplay'...theritual blowsofpeace-makingarealwaysliabletobemistakenforthe'real' blowsofcombat.Inthisevent,thepeace-makingceremonybecomesa battle."lIproposetoanalyzeThomasNashe'sTheUnfortunateTraveller asagamewhichquestionsthedistinctionbetweenplayandearnest. Nashepresentstheartistasa"maker"whoplaysaninherentlydangerousgamewhenhecreatesfictionsor"counterfeits"thatsubvertestablishedformsofauthority.Moreover,byusinghisverbalskillstosatisfy whatNashecalls"desiresofrevengeandinnovation,"theartistcompetes,implicitlyorexplicitly,withthedivinemaker.2InTheUnfortunateTraveller,Nashecreatesaspaceofplayinwhichthehumanartist's powercanbeexercisedandanalyzedatonce.3
