What is a man? Many people have different answers to this question. Some believe you become a man when you reach a certain age or when you move out of your parent's house. Some believe a man is defined by the amount of money he makes, or females he "associates" with.
For me, to be considered a man, you must be: responsible, courageous, honest, proud, confident, loyal, adventurous, a provider for your family, and mentally and physically tough. A real man looks to better himself and and invests in his success. He learns how to lead rather than follow. Males are born but men are made.
The exterior of Macbeth shows several "manly" qualities. Early in the play, He is praised by King Duncan for his bravery and loyalty for his role as general of the Scottish army. Macbeth possesses many titles in the play. He is a general, Thane of Cawdor, a husband, and eventually King of Scotland. However, his journey to the throne is not very admirable. In fact, it is Lady Macbeth who convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan. (Act 1, Scene 5; Lady Macbeth says;"I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round.") She feels that Macbeth is not ambitious and must find a way to convince him to kill Duncan in order for her to gain power through her husband. Macbeth is easily convinced by his wife to carry out this deed, proving that she wears the pants in the relationship.
After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth becomes very paranoid, hearing voices (Act 2 Scene2; "Sleep no more, Macbeth does murder sleep") and hallucinating. After believing in the predictions by the witches and the diabolical plan of his wife, the once strong, confident Macbeth proves that he is weak. He is not a true leader and not worthy of being called a man.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Blog #9 "So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz Go To It"
I am not surprised, nor am I angry with Hamlet's decision to have his "friends" , Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed without remorse due to their alliance with Claudius. At a time when Hamlet was most confused, angry, and in need of companionship, to discover that his friends were informants for Claudius must have really pushed him over the edge in what was already a mad state of mind.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are by no means innocent victims here. Their purpose was to subconsciously help Claudius kill Hamlet. Also, Rosencrantz ans Guildenstern should have denied Claudius and Gertrudes request to spy on Hamlet in the first place. If they were loyal friends to Hamlet, they would have made him aware of what they were really doing... spying!
Hamlet's real motive for the demise of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, however, was mainly to spite Claudius. Throughout the play, Hamlet develops a disgust for not only Claudius, but everything associated with him. Hamlets decision to send R and G to their deaths shows me that he will stop at no cost to achieve vengeance on behalf of the ghost.
Hamlet finally comes to terms with the belief that destiny controlls everyones life. After returning from exile in act five, he overcomes his anxiety and becomes calm, rational, and less afraid of death. In act 5, scene 2, Hamlet says to Horatio, "Sir, in my heart their was a kind of fighting that would not let me sleep" and "Our indescretion sometimes serves us well when our deep plots do pall, and that should learn us there's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will". This new "enlightened" Hamlet suggests to me that Rosencrantz and Guildensterns' fate have already been decided by God and that Hamlet must carry out his plans for Claudius and let no one stand in his way.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are by no means innocent victims here. Their purpose was to subconsciously help Claudius kill Hamlet. Also, Rosencrantz ans Guildenstern should have denied Claudius and Gertrudes request to spy on Hamlet in the first place. If they were loyal friends to Hamlet, they would have made him aware of what they were really doing... spying!
Hamlet's real motive for the demise of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, however, was mainly to spite Claudius. Throughout the play, Hamlet develops a disgust for not only Claudius, but everything associated with him. Hamlets decision to send R and G to their deaths shows me that he will stop at no cost to achieve vengeance on behalf of the ghost.
Hamlet finally comes to terms with the belief that destiny controlls everyones life. After returning from exile in act five, he overcomes his anxiety and becomes calm, rational, and less afraid of death. In act 5, scene 2, Hamlet says to Horatio, "Sir, in my heart their was a kind of fighting that would not let me sleep" and "Our indescretion sometimes serves us well when our deep plots do pall, and that should learn us there's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will". This new "enlightened" Hamlet suggests to me that Rosencrantz and Guildensterns' fate have already been decided by God and that Hamlet must carry out his plans for Claudius and let no one stand in his way.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Blog # 8: Justice?
Hamlet's way of taking justice into his own hands bares many similarities to Othello, as well as many differences.
The first similarity is that the violent nature of Othello and Hamlet is persuaded and controlled by others. it is the ghost's guidance of Hamlet and Iago's manipulation of Othello that lead these characters to commit theses savage acts.
Another similarity between the two is that both Othello and Hamlet feel they are doing a great justice in murdering their victims. According to Othello, he does a great service for all mankind in killing Desdemona. If she's dead, she can't cheat.(Act 5, Scene 2: Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.)
Hamlet's angle is that he is avenging the death of his father. Clearly, Hamlet and the ghost believe in an eye for an eye justice system. If that were the case back in the day, Othello would seem ten times as harsh as he already does.
Finally, the largest difference that I saw between Hamlet and Othello is their views toward the souls of their prey. Othello was thoughtful in making sure that Desdemona made her peace with god before he smothered her. What a good guy. Hamlet, however, delays in killing Claudius because he is praying at the time of Hamlet's attempt to kill him. Hamlet wants to send him straight to hell. This leads me to believe that the ghost is acting through Hamlet, a servant of heaven sending a sinner (Claudius) to hell.
I wonder where Othello and Hamlet went when they died. If I were the judge, I would send Othello to hell. Desdemona was innocent and the symbol of all that is good and pure. Killing her is like flipping god the bird. Hamlet, however, would go to heaven. He saw the evil in Claudius and believed that incest is wrong when others did not. Justice was served more in Hamlet and not so much in Othello.
The first similarity is that the violent nature of Othello and Hamlet is persuaded and controlled by others. it is the ghost's guidance of Hamlet and Iago's manipulation of Othello that lead these characters to commit theses savage acts.
Another similarity between the two is that both Othello and Hamlet feel they are doing a great justice in murdering their victims. According to Othello, he does a great service for all mankind in killing Desdemona. If she's dead, she can't cheat.(Act 5, Scene 2: Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.)
Hamlet's angle is that he is avenging the death of his father. Clearly, Hamlet and the ghost believe in an eye for an eye justice system. If that were the case back in the day, Othello would seem ten times as harsh as he already does.
Finally, the largest difference that I saw between Hamlet and Othello is their views toward the souls of their prey. Othello was thoughtful in making sure that Desdemona made her peace with god before he smothered her. What a good guy. Hamlet, however, delays in killing Claudius because he is praying at the time of Hamlet's attempt to kill him. Hamlet wants to send him straight to hell. This leads me to believe that the ghost is acting through Hamlet, a servant of heaven sending a sinner (Claudius) to hell.
I wonder where Othello and Hamlet went when they died. If I were the judge, I would send Othello to hell. Desdemona was innocent and the symbol of all that is good and pure. Killing her is like flipping god the bird. Hamlet, however, would go to heaven. He saw the evil in Claudius and believed that incest is wrong when others did not. Justice was served more in Hamlet and not so much in Othello.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Blog #7 Hamlet's soliloquy
1) Kenneth Branagh: I enjoyed Branagh's performance. Early in the soliloquy he shows frustration when hinting at the idea of suicide and the torture of living a life with no redeemable qualities. He becomes most enraged when touching on the issue of his mother's marital habits. Depression, frustration, and confusion best describe Branagh's performance.
2) Kevin Kline: Like Branagh, Kline seemed angered most at his mother's marriage to his uncle and her ability to quickly put aside her feelings for Hamlet's father. Kline, for the most part, kept a level tone throughout the soliloquy. Falling to his knees added some drama but the zooming camera angles and background music gave his performance a corny soap opera feel.
3) Tony Richardson: In this adaptation, Nicol Williamson seems to be the most stable Hamlet of all the Hamlet portrayals. He is annoyed but does not show much emotion. The mood that I got from him was that everyone else in the play is crazy for not seeing the bizarreness that is incest in regards to gertrude and Claudius.
4) Mel Gibson: Mel Gibson's portrayal of Hamlet was weak! I expected to see a fiery "William Wallace/ Braveheart" like performance but he left me depressed and let down, much like his depiction of Hamlet.
When reading the soliloquy and Hamlet's thoughts about suicide, his fathers death, and his mother's incest, it is understandable that countless emotions would run through his head. That is why I feel Branagh's performance best illustrated Hamlet. He ranged from frustration to anger to disgust ( basically every adjective listed on blackboard), which is how I view Hamlet- confused and unstable, but sure of why he is angry.
2) Kevin Kline: Like Branagh, Kline seemed angered most at his mother's marriage to his uncle and her ability to quickly put aside her feelings for Hamlet's father. Kline, for the most part, kept a level tone throughout the soliloquy. Falling to his knees added some drama but the zooming camera angles and background music gave his performance a corny soap opera feel.
3) Tony Richardson: In this adaptation, Nicol Williamson seems to be the most stable Hamlet of all the Hamlet portrayals. He is annoyed but does not show much emotion. The mood that I got from him was that everyone else in the play is crazy for not seeing the bizarreness that is incest in regards to gertrude and Claudius.
4) Mel Gibson: Mel Gibson's portrayal of Hamlet was weak! I expected to see a fiery "William Wallace/ Braveheart" like performance but he left me depressed and let down, much like his depiction of Hamlet.
When reading the soliloquy and Hamlet's thoughts about suicide, his fathers death, and his mother's incest, it is understandable that countless emotions would run through his head. That is why I feel Branagh's performance best illustrated Hamlet. He ranged from frustration to anger to disgust ( basically every adjective listed on blackboard), which is how I view Hamlet- confused and unstable, but sure of why he is angry.
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