For this assignment, I watched a particular soliloquy from Hamlet performed by five different actors.
Moods: -Disgust -Anger-Frustration-Heartbreak-Disappointment-Depression-Grief-Weariness-Resignation-Obsession-Sarcasm-Other moods that you see that I haven't thought of
The first was Kenneth Branagh. I'd describe his Hamlet's mood as disgusted, frustrated, angry. He also seems to have moments of utter despair.
The second was Kevin Kline (one of my favorite actors -- the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance!). Again, disgusted, anger, and he also seems to convey an amazement and almost disbelief at what his mother has done. He also goes into despair when he says "I must hold my tongue."
The third was Nicol Williamson as Hamlet. I see he is aghast at what he's just seen, and what he's experiencing. He seems just completely stunned by it, and disgusted. Sarcasm: "Frailty, thy name is woman." I see him quietly flailing in impotent rage at his mother, his uncle, and the situation. "I must hold my tongue."
Mel Gibson's version was fourth on the list, and my immediate reaction is utter and absolute despair. I do like this version -- it seems more realistic, and I also liked how it was costumed in the period of the original story.
The fifth version was interesting: It was in Japanese, a language that I don't understand at all. The scene is performed inside a chain-link fence, which is a curious choice for castle walls. The actor's performance seemed frantic, almost insane with his emotions. Frustration barely begins to describe it.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blog 4 (on Much Ado about Nothing)
4. page 162, a: Look back at what Claudio says and how he behaves during Act 5. Then write an entry where you argue that he is EITHER genuinely penitent OR that he is shallow and insincere. Give examples to prove your argument. Do you think he deserves a second chance with Hero?
I personally believe that Claudio is shallow and insecure. Even though he doesn't trust Don John, he believes him immediately when Don John says "the lady is disloyal." (Act 3, Scene 2, line 76.)
If Claudio truly had a deep love for Hero, he would have approached her, talked to her, gotten to the bottom of what he thought he saw. Instead he lept to conclusions and treated her terribly. Instead of cancelling the wedding because of what Don John said and showed him, he chose to shame her publicly by jilting her at the altar. The prince joins in, saying "as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee to disgrace her." (Line 93-94.) I think this not only shows disrespect for Hero, but for their host (and her father) Leonato.
Even when he believes that she is dead because of his treatment of her, he doesn't behave like a penitent man -- he mocks her father and uncle, who would defend Hero's honor even in death. He says of them to Benedick, "We had like to have had our two noses snapped offwith two old men without teeth." (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 112-113.) At this point, even his dear friend Benedick has had enough, and challenges him. I believe this challenge has dual meaning; Benedick makes the challenge both for his beloved Beatrice and because he honestly believes that Claudio's behavior is reprehensible and deserves to be called out. Still, Claudio thinks he's done nothing wrong, and mocks Benedick, believing that he's only challenged him because of love for Beatrice. It is not until word arrives from Dogberry that Don John has fled, and Borachio is captured and confessed his part in the deception that Claudio begins to feel any remorse for his behavior towards Hero. Suddenly, his "love" for her floods back: "Sweet Hero! now thy image doth appearIn the rare semblance that I loved it first." (Act 5, Scene 1, lines 220-221.)
I realize that my attitude about Claudio is colored by my modern point of view, but I don't agree with Hero marrying Claudio after all. He does not deserve her, and has proved that he'd believe the word of a knave over the word of his lady. I find it difficult to believe that Beatrice agrees that Hero should marry Claudio as well. The ending is just too contrived for my taste, even for a story of that period in history.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Blog 3: Much Ado about Nothing Acts 3-4
1. p. 99, # 3: Compare Claudio and Benedick. The two friends, Claudio and Benedick, are in love with the two main female characters. Write notes for Benedick's love story, then do the same for Claudio. Now write an entry that compares the stories and behavior of the two men. Which man feels love more deeply and sincerely? How do you know? Which one do you find the more attractive and likeable and why?
Benedick and Claudio are friends from the wars, fighting under Don Pedro, their prince. Benedick is a Lord of Padua; Claudio is a Count of Florence, and holds a higher social rank than Benedick. From the beginning, we see that Claudio's interest in Hero is not just for love; he inquires as to whether she is Leonato's heir, which basically asks whether or not she's rich. As a Count, Claudio is expected to marry one of his station in society, and it's clear that Hero is at least his equal, being the daughter of the Governor of Messina. Benedick, being of lower rank, is more likely to be free to go with his heart than to have to marry for position and power.
Claudio is far more concerned about how things appear, how they affect him socially than about how his love Hero thinks and feels. He allows Don Pedro to woo the girl on his behalf, but even when Pedro does this, Claudio falls for Don John's deception when John claims that Pedro woos for himself, not for Claudio. This happens during the masque in Act 2, Scene 1 -- all are masked, but John knows which man is Claudio. John pretends he thinks it's Benedick, and tells him "Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamoured on Hero;" and asks "Benedick" to dissuade the Prince from his intentions due to her lower station. Claudio eats it all up with a spoon, and behaves as if she's "sour grapes" (like in the Aesop Fable), as if he didn't want her anyway. Once again, this does not make me believe that he actually loves Hero.
Benedick, on the other hand, clearly loves Beatrice all throughout the play. While they trade jabs in the beginning of the play as if they despise each other, there is a very fine line between love and hate. It does not take much work on the part of the other players to convince Benedick that Beatrice never stopped loving him after whatever happened between them before the time of the play. Even when she continues to stick him with insults, once he's convinced she loves him, he brushes off all the barbs with one excuse or another, and works to win her love once and for all. He is not blind in this love, either -- when Beatrice first asks him to "Kill Claudio" he refuses. It takes a lot of information on her part to make him decide to become her champion in the cause of her cousin Hero's honor. This shows me that he doesn't walk around believing everything he's told, even though the initial impression that Beatrice loves him is fed to him. The only reason it's believable is it's not that far from the truth.
I find Benedick to be more interesting, attractive, and likeable than Claudio. Benedick does not throw everything away in the name of honor; while he is willing to fight for honor, he goes into battle with his eyes wide open with good information. Claudio is far more interested in his honor and appearance than his love for Hero, and that makes him too self-centered for me to find him either attractive or interesting.
Benedick and Claudio are friends from the wars, fighting under Don Pedro, their prince. Benedick is a Lord of Padua; Claudio is a Count of Florence, and holds a higher social rank than Benedick. From the beginning, we see that Claudio's interest in Hero is not just for love; he inquires as to whether she is Leonato's heir, which basically asks whether or not she's rich. As a Count, Claudio is expected to marry one of his station in society, and it's clear that Hero is at least his equal, being the daughter of the Governor of Messina. Benedick, being of lower rank, is more likely to be free to go with his heart than to have to marry for position and power.
Claudio is far more concerned about how things appear, how they affect him socially than about how his love Hero thinks and feels. He allows Don Pedro to woo the girl on his behalf, but even when Pedro does this, Claudio falls for Don John's deception when John claims that Pedro woos for himself, not for Claudio. This happens during the masque in Act 2, Scene 1 -- all are masked, but John knows which man is Claudio. John pretends he thinks it's Benedick, and tells him "Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamoured on Hero;" and asks "Benedick" to dissuade the Prince from his intentions due to her lower station. Claudio eats it all up with a spoon, and behaves as if she's "sour grapes" (like in the Aesop Fable), as if he didn't want her anyway. Once again, this does not make me believe that he actually loves Hero.
Benedick, on the other hand, clearly loves Beatrice all throughout the play. While they trade jabs in the beginning of the play as if they despise each other, there is a very fine line between love and hate. It does not take much work on the part of the other players to convince Benedick that Beatrice never stopped loving him after whatever happened between them before the time of the play. Even when she continues to stick him with insults, once he's convinced she loves him, he brushes off all the barbs with one excuse or another, and works to win her love once and for all. He is not blind in this love, either -- when Beatrice first asks him to "Kill Claudio" he refuses. It takes a lot of information on her part to make him decide to become her champion in the cause of her cousin Hero's honor. This shows me that he doesn't walk around believing everything he's told, even though the initial impression that Beatrice loves him is fed to him. The only reason it's believable is it's not that far from the truth.
I find Benedick to be more interesting, attractive, and likeable than Claudio. Benedick does not throw everything away in the name of honor; while he is willing to fight for honor, he goes into battle with his eyes wide open with good information. Claudio is far more interested in his honor and appearance than his love for Hero, and that makes him too self-centered for me to find him either attractive or interesting.
Technological frustrations
OK, Blogger ate my last post, saying there was a conflict between two windows. But there was no other Blogger post window open. ARGH. So I'll add that frustration to my irritation with the new version of Microsoft Office/Word. That's gotten so "easy" that I can't navigate it anymore! I just want to go back to my old menus and radio buttons so I can quickly zip through formatting my paper and hand it in on time. Is that so much to ask, Mr. Gates? IS IT???
Blog 2: Much Ado About Nothing Acts 1-2
Benedick the returning soldier is apparently carefree and immune to love. But is he? What does he really think of Beatrice and what are his thoughts after their latest "skirmish of wit"? Write two extracts from Benedick's diary: one written in the evening of Act 1 and one written earlier, before Benedick went away to war.
Before the war:
My prince, Pedro, has informed me that we are off to war, and I must make preparations as if I will not return. I do expect to die a bachelor, but my eye has been caught by a young woman. She is the governor's niece, a gentle lady named Beatrice. To my eye she is fair and lovely, with a wit and charm to match her looks. She seems to favor me as well, I do believe, as we've whiled away many an hour talking and walking in the garden. That time is precious to me, and turns my head towards home and hearth. Still, I may die in this war, and and it would not do to leave the lady mourning for me. Better to drive her off, to make her think I care not for her. Besides, even if I do survive, there are lovely ladies like as to the stars in the sky! Why would I wish myself tied to only one?
After the war:
Oh, that we were still at war. 'Tis as if we never left the battleground, for no sooner do I come back to Messina than I do encounter fair Beatrice, still bitter over our last time together. Perhaps my thought to distance myself from the lady was too hasty, and not thought out -- she does seem to hate me now. I'faith, if I'd known I would survive the war, I certainly would not have left her with such a bad taste for me! Now I have burned the ground between us, and it seems that nothing green can grow there evermore. Her first words to me were full of venom, and I had naught but to respond in kind. She did vex me; her tongue was never so sharp before! Perhaps 'tis true what they say: "Hell doth no fury like a woman scorned." Beatrice doth shown that hellish fury to me, for certain. Ah, well then -- there are many other stars in that sky -- time to seek one and wish upon it for myself.
Before the war:
My prince, Pedro, has informed me that we are off to war, and I must make preparations as if I will not return. I do expect to die a bachelor, but my eye has been caught by a young woman. She is the governor's niece, a gentle lady named Beatrice. To my eye she is fair and lovely, with a wit and charm to match her looks. She seems to favor me as well, I do believe, as we've whiled away many an hour talking and walking in the garden. That time is precious to me, and turns my head towards home and hearth. Still, I may die in this war, and and it would not do to leave the lady mourning for me. Better to drive her off, to make her think I care not for her. Besides, even if I do survive, there are lovely ladies like as to the stars in the sky! Why would I wish myself tied to only one?
After the war:
Oh, that we were still at war. 'Tis as if we never left the battleground, for no sooner do I come back to Messina than I do encounter fair Beatrice, still bitter over our last time together. Perhaps my thought to distance myself from the lady was too hasty, and not thought out -- she does seem to hate me now. I'faith, if I'd known I would survive the war, I certainly would not have left her with such a bad taste for me! Now I have burned the ground between us, and it seems that nothing green can grow there evermore. Her first words to me were full of venom, and I had naught but to respond in kind. She did vex me; her tongue was never so sharp before! Perhaps 'tis true what they say: "Hell doth no fury like a woman scorned." Beatrice doth shown that hellish fury to me, for certain. Ah, well then -- there are many other stars in that sky -- time to seek one and wish upon it for myself.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Blog 1: Shakespeare and His Times
Find three facts in "Shakespeare's World" that somehow stood out for you and explain why they attracted your attention. Were these facts funny, disgusting, weird, shocking, sad, or what? How do you think these facts would have affected Shakespeare's writing?
People led short, brutal lives: Average live expectancy of less than thirty years, where we can hope to live past seventy. Little defense against sickness; no antibiotics (which weren't discovered/invented until the 20th century) or real understanding of disease or treatments of same. Shakespeare didn't have our frame of reference; to him, such things were normal and part of daily life. Life was cheap, and it often became so in his plays.
People also tended to live fairly sheltered lives, never going far from where they were born. They didn't experience a whole lot other than their own area. Gentry and noble folk might travel to the nearest city to conduct business, or even to the capital if it were really necessary; merchants had ships that went far places to trade for wares they couldn't get at home. But your average Joe, as it were, would rarely get to travel further than his own town.
The average Jane got to travel even less, since women were considered little more than chattel and meant "to nourish their family and children, and not to meddle with matters abroad." That quote was from Sir Thomas Smith, cited in the article. Being so sheltered, people were hungry for something new, something exotic. Shakespeare knew this, too, and brought the outlandish and alien to the masses. Tales of witches and fairies, of magicians, of people of far countries, history, and of average people in extraordinary circumstances: That's how Shakespeare gained the imagination and love of his groundlings and those seated above as well. They loved to see something mysterious and bizarre.
People led short, brutal lives: Average live expectancy of less than thirty years, where we can hope to live past seventy. Little defense against sickness; no antibiotics (which weren't discovered/invented until the 20th century) or real understanding of disease or treatments of same. Shakespeare didn't have our frame of reference; to him, such things were normal and part of daily life. Life was cheap, and it often became so in his plays.
People also tended to live fairly sheltered lives, never going far from where they were born. They didn't experience a whole lot other than their own area. Gentry and noble folk might travel to the nearest city to conduct business, or even to the capital if it were really necessary; merchants had ships that went far places to trade for wares they couldn't get at home. But your average Joe, as it were, would rarely get to travel further than his own town.
The average Jane got to travel even less, since women were considered little more than chattel and meant "to nourish their family and children, and not to meddle with matters abroad." That quote was from Sir Thomas Smith, cited in the article. Being so sheltered, people were hungry for something new, something exotic. Shakespeare knew this, too, and brought the outlandish and alien to the masses. Tales of witches and fairies, of magicians, of people of far countries, history, and of average people in extraordinary circumstances: That's how Shakespeare gained the imagination and love of his groundlings and those seated above as well. They loved to see something mysterious and bizarre.
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