Friday, November 4, 2011

literature group work

Delia Evans
Zachary Phillip

How does jealousy function as a motivation for the various characters? Support your answer using specific examples from the play.


Jealousy is a secondary emotion, and typically refers to negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values particularly in reference to a human connection. The first three acts of the winter’s tale are the study of jealousy and its destructive effects. In the play leonetes sudden and unfounded fear that his pregnant wife is sleeping with his best friend eats away at him like disease. This aspect of jealousy forms the climax and also the main plot in the novel.

Jealousy is a major issue in this play. The very core of the book has a plot solely driven by jealousy. Leonetes starts the play conversing with a dear friend Polixenes, a friend staying within his palace at leonetes’ will. This king of Bohemia, Polixenes has stayed nine months in the kingdom of Sicilia, all at the king,(king leonetes) whim. However, when Polixenes desires to leave, leonetes can no longer get him to stay and thus ask his wife to do it. His wife succeeds and leonetes immediately jumps to the worse possible reason that they must be having an affair “for to mingle friendship far is mingling bloods”. Leones’s’ jealousy is soon hear in act 1 scene2 and only grows stronger. Due to his green furry he plots to kill his dear friend Polixenes in act1 scwene2. His envy does not end there he further calls his wife an adulteress and sends her to jail. The jealousy cuts so deep that it drives him to try and kill his new born daughter because he believes “ it is the issue of Polixenes”, furthermore leonetes envy behavior blinds him from words of wisdom from others such as Paulina or the oracle. This pure blinding jealousy results in not only his son’s death but his wife’s deaths too, at the end of act3 scene2.

Jealousy causes leonetes to question if Mammillius is in fact his son, despite the fact that Mammillius looks like a copy of his dad. For instance when Leonetes quotes “Mammillius, art thou my boy?” we know the leonetes is questioning whether or not he is the biological father of Mammillius or his unborn child. Evidently leonetes puns on the word “neat” which means clean. He told Mammilius they need to be tidy, “you must be neat, not neat, but cleanly…” and also “cattle with horn’s”. He even calla Mammllius a calf, “art thou my calf?” (act1 scene2). This is all tinged with sexual meaning. Horns as we know are associated with cuckholds, which is exactly what leonetes thinks he is. Moreover leonetes also uses Mammillius as a tool to get at his wife Hermoine by taking away Mammillius her son. This affects both Hermoine and Mammillius. In fact imprisonment of his mother made him sick and as a result of that he ending up dying by the anxiety of his mother faith. On the other hand his mother Hermoine fainted and was later pronounced as dead from the tragic message of her sons death.

However, powerful jealousy is in this one characters life and the struggles of the truth regarding to jealousy does not affect all the characters. No other major character of the play is jealousy. In the Autolycus he is seen as more greedy rather than envious. The only other instances of “jealousy driven acts” arguably are the retaliations to the king’s behaviors for jealousy drives the king and the king causes retaliation therefore jealousy maybe seen as the motivation of actions. For example in act 2 scene 3 where Paulina brings Hermoines baby daughter to the king and proceeds to argue with him to set her mind at free, the motivation of Paulina’s actions is compassion in response to the kings outrageous jealousy. As is the case where ion act 1 scene3 camillo warns Polixenes of king leonetes plans to commit murder. Camillo is motivated by compassion which is in response to the kings jealousy.

In conclusion, throughout the play Shakespeare portrays leonetes jealousy as an infection “disease” in order to highlight the destructive nature of jealousy. Although jealousy is the main driving force for leonetes the stars action, the other characters of the play are not affected by this emotion but rather show compassion to the victims or scorn the king because of his jealousy. Thus is jealousy a main force for all characters?         

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Assignment #2



  • ·       Yes, I have been betrayed.  An example of when I was betrayed is, it was afternoon after school, and I went down by my friend to chill because I was alone home. While I was down by my friend, I got a phone call from my big sister asking me where I was, I told her that I was by my friend chilling. She ask me if my little sister got home yet, I told her no, she will be home at 3 o’clock so she said ok she will pick her up and  go by our house and stay with her. A while after I got a phone call from my mother, I answered with such a sweet tone, all I heard was this, “U gyal how u go lef home u likkle sissa alone, u crazy?” I was so surprised; I didn’t say anything just allowed her to argue. When she was finished, I told her that Sharica, which is my big sister, said that she will stay with DD my little sister. Surprisingly, all that time I was talking to my mother, my big sister was there. She told my mom that she was passing by and she saw DD alone home and she call me and told me and I didn’t come. Being so upset I went home, I reached my house in a minute and it was a five minutes’ walk. When I reach home, the first person to run off their mouth was the witch which is my big sister  that’s what I thought of her after she betrayed me. She started cursing and of course I answered. It got so intense that my sister and I started to fight and this fighting was drastic, because mommy started to curse. The funny thing is my grandmother came over and she didn’t know what happen, but she started to blame me, saying “ a Delia nuh, she muss know she a da likkle one, a fu she fault.” All that time the fighting was taking place. My mother got so upset and drag us apart, she literally lift me up  and dropped me in the chair. I started to cry because I was upset and I couldn’t get to do what I wanted. My sister started to cry also when my mom was cursing us out. Afterwards, my sister started back on me and we started to curse again. All of a sudden, we heard a police siren. When I looked outside my house, there is my mom with the police. She called  my sister and I and told the police to walk with us to teach us a lesson. I started one piece of bawling cause guess what, it was a Friday and I won’t be release till Monday. All the sympathy I showed, in the end  my sister and I found out that the police is my mommy’s friend, she called him to scare us, that was a relief. This is story of how I was betrayed.
  • ·         As you read in the story I felt real bad because my sister lied on me and as mentioned above, I cried and fought during the process of being betrayed.
  • ·         Yes I have felt that I was betrayed and at the end the situation was misunderstood. For example, I had a friend an apparently she did something wrong, and a group of people who we hang out with found out and they were talking about it but someone told the friend that I spread the story with her name. So my friend got upset with and started to speak behind my back. Then I started to curse and I said a lot of stuff (J), but in the end I found out that somebody gave her wrong information that’s why she was upset and we apologize and became friends again.
  • ·         Yes the Shakespeare plays that I have studied most of the characters always resort to violence, trickery or evilness. For example in the play, “Much Ado About Nothing”  Don John who was known as the antagonists of the play, played a trick to set up two lovers Claudio and Hero, so they won’t get married.

·         The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabeled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W. Lawrence, consider it to be one of Shakespeare's "problem plays", because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comedic and supply a happy ending.
 Nevertheless, the play has been intermittently popular, revived in productions in various forms and adaptations by some of the leading theatre practitioners in Shakespearean performance history, beginning after a long interval with David Garrick in his adaptation called Florizel and Perdita (first performed in 1754 and published in 1756. The Winter's Tale was revived again in the 19th century, when the third "pastoral" act was widely popular). In the second half of the 20th century The Winter's Tale in its entirety, and drawn largely from the First Folio text, was often performed.
The play's first known performance occurred at the Globe Theatre on May 15, 1611. Scholars have made speculative attempts at a more accurate dating of the play's composition, but such theories have not gained widespread acceptance. What most critics do agree upon is that the style and themes of The Winter's Tale clearly link the play to Shakespeare's other late romances. They conclude that The Winter's Tale is therefore a product of Shakespeare's final period of play writing and that the play was most likely composed after Cymbeline, which is believed to have been written in 1609-10. The primary source for The Winter's Tale is a novel by Robert Green entitled Pandosto; or, The Triumph of Time, which was first published in 1588. The novel was reprinted a number of times after 1607 as Dorastus and Fawnia.
·         Elizabethan era was a time associated with Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603) and is often considered to be the golden age in English history. It was the height of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of English poetry, music and literature. This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre flourished, and William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England's past style of plays and theatre. It was an age of exploration and expansion abroad, while back at home, the Protestant Reformation became more acceptable to the people, most certainly after the Spanish Armada was repulsed. It was also the end of the period when England was a separate realm before its royal union with Scotland.
 The theatre most often associated with William Shakespeare is the The Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599 in Southwark, London. It was the first theatre built by actors, and was roughly circular in shape with an open roof, which led to it's nickname "The Wooden O." 
The original Globe burned down in 1613, following an accident with on-stage pyrotechnics, and was rebuilt in 1614. It was finally closed down in 1642, and demolished in 1644 to make way for housing.


 THE GLOBE THEATRE
Outside


 Inside
·         
Th Theatre of the Absurd is a theatrical style originating in France in the late 1940's. It relies heavily on existential philosophy, and is a category for plays of absurdist fiction, written by a number of playwrights from the late 1940s to the 1960s, as well as the theatre which has evolved from their work. It expresses the belief that, in a godless universe, human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down. Logical construction and argument give way to irrational and illogical speech and as its ultimate conclusion, silence.

 





  William Shakespeare was baptized on the 26th April,1564 and died on the 26 the April, 1616. His actual birth date remains unknown, but is traditionally observed on 23 April, St George's Day. He was the son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden; he was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. He was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".
              Although no attendance records for the period survive, most biographers agree that Shakespeare probably was educated at the King's VI New School in Stratford from the age of seven (7) in 1571, about a quarter-mile from his home and he left school at the age of fourteen (14) in 1578.  Grammar schools varied in quality during the Elizabethan era, but the curriculum was dictated by law throughout England, and the school would have provided an intensive education in Latin grammar and the classics.
      His surviving works, including some collaboration, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright artist. Shakespeare was raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613.
         In addition, Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the 16th century. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. Shakespeare also wrote some plays which includes the Merchant of Venice, The Count of Monte Cristo and the Six Tales of Shakespeare etc. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.
        According to Answers.com William Shakespeare is known as the best because of his works, especially his plays and sonnets. He is also known for his technique. One cool thing that he did was write in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter basically means that each line has 10 syllables. These ten syllables would go in a pattern of stressed, unstressed, stressed, unstressed, and so forth.
        Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime.
Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the 19th century. The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's genius. In the 20th century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular today and are constantly studied, performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Essay Question

1. Many different characters in this play are persuaded to do things they would not do of their own accord. What are some of these instances, and how does persuasion affect the course of the plot?
         
     Persuasion is referred to as  prevailing on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging. In the play much ado about nothing were several aspects or examples thats were shown that characters were persuaded to do things that were not wanted to be done or, to partake in activities that weren't chosen to be apart of. I will be showing logical reasons and examples in the paragraphs below.
     For instance, Beatrice and Benedick were persuaded into loving each other because after overhearing what the other characters which include Leanato, Claudio, Don Pedro,Hero and Ursla were saying about the love both Beatrice and Benedick had for each other, changed the feelings they had before for one another. In the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick were always arguing, and in fact, they said that they would never love each other. As a result of that, the other characters ignore the true feelings of both the characters and persuaded them by using trick words, that would influence both Beatrice and Benedick that they really were in love with each other. Which in turn allow them both to become in love with one another.
     In addition, another example of persuasion would be when Don John persuaded Claudio to believe that Don Pedro was trying to woo Hero for himself instead of him at the mask party. As a result of this persuasion, Claudio became very upset with Don Pedro and believed that he was a disloyal friend but luckily, Don Pedro saved the friendship by explaining exactly what he did, wooed Hero for Claudio.
     Moreover, Don John also persuaded Claudio into believing that hero was cheating on him which was a plan Don John was portraying. this persuasion allowed Claudio to embarrass hero on her wedding day and cause chaos. one can also say that this persuasion also created the climax of the play because a number of themes and conflicts came out of this persuasion.
     Another example of persuasion in the play, is when don john persuaded Barachio into joining in the plan by paying him. Barachio being apart of this plan made him paid for the consequences when he was arrested and questioned about the plan and how hero was wrongly accused.
     In conclusion,  persuasion made a lot of aspects arise in the play like Beatrice and Benedick falling in love and Claudio embarrassing Hero at the wedding but it also made revenge occur in the play. For instance, when Don John plan played back on him and the play ended off with every one being happy.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Betrayal in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

      Betrayal is a theme introduce at the beginning of the novel. Betrayal is known to others as deceiving or being dishonest about a situation or a person. This particular theme caused chaos and conflict in certain aspects of the play. Besides, this one theme brought out different situations and caused a number of other theme to arise. In addition, the aspect of betrayal played out for the wrong reasons and as a result of that it got back its revenge and also played a part in creating the climax in the novel.
      Moreover, betrayal began when Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro, a prince of Arragon, deceived his own brother by telling Claudio the young lord of Florrence, that Don Pedro is trying to woo hero's, daughter of Leanato, the prince of Messina, heart while they were at the mask party, instead of wooing her heart for him (Claudio). This aspect of betrayal cause a number of other betrayals to follow. Also, after hearing the conniving news from Benedick, a young lord of Padua, Don Pedro was able to overcome Claudio's mind and clear the situation before any conflict arose.
     Don John didn't stop betrayal there, after he received the news from Barachio one of his followers, the news he overheard Don Pedro,Claudio and Leanato planning the wedding,Don Pedro then set a plan to deceive Hero and draw an impression to Claudio that Hero is cheating on him. Additionally, he ask Barachio if he was wIlling to take part and he would pay him 1,000 ducats and eventually Barachio agreed. After setting the plan, the main plot arose where Claudio saw Margaret a gentle woman attending on Hero, thinking it was Hero at the window with another man causing him to become upset and therefore embarrass Hero at the wedding. However, Leanoto and others at the wedding found it hard to believe but Claudio and Don Pedro were able to defend their thesis about the scene in which they saw, leaving the others in misery.
    As a result of the betrayal, characters were affected and the characters that were mostly affected in my opinion are Barachio and Claudio because, Barachio was the one, along with Conrade that was arrested but Barachio played a part in the plan causing him to suffer and left feeling miserable inside. He was the only one that got punished for taking part in the play because nothing was done too Don John in the novel. I also say that Claudio was mostly affected by this because, after confidently embarrassing Hero at the wedding and after finding out that she was innocent, bite his heart out, and made him feel as if someone has stab him in the heart. This made it hard for him to talk to Leanato which he did, to ask him for a second chance. He also felt bad because it was set to believe that Hero was dead and Claudio took responsibilty of her death after hearing she was pure.
    Betrayal was not only done by Don John, other characters in the novel played a part of betrayal. For instance, when Claudio, Don Pedro and Leanato tried to set up Benedick to make him believe that Beatrice, niece to Leanato said she was deeply in love with him which was in truth not true, this cause Benedick to believe and then he started to think about Beatrice in another way. However, Hero and Ursula, a gentlewoman attending on Hero deceived Beatrice by talking about Benedick being in love with her although they knew she was listening they even arranged a meeting for both Benedick and Beatrice at the dinner without the two knowing, this is also another sign of betrayal.
   In closing, I must say that aspects of betrayal came out in majority of the novel and it causes the book to become interesting, it even build up the thesis to every aspect of betrayal and cause the different situations to create the main plot and betrayal even cause some sub plots to come out bringing out different themes in the novel done by William Shakespeare.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Essay: Humor in Much Ado About Nothing

    In much  Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, the author relates different situation to bring out several themes in the book. One of the themes that was brought out in the book is humor which in turn enhanced the book and made it more intersting and captivating to the readers. This bringS me to the point of strongly agreeing that Dogberry and his constables part in the play was vital. I will be showing  logical reasons in the paragraphs below.

     In the book, the presence of dogberry and his constables made the book in whole humourous. For instance, before the part of Dogberry and his constables the play was getting rather boring but the jokes and the behaviour of the character of Dogberry along with his constables,  the audience in turn laugh and became more interested in the play. I would say, by the humourous behaviour  the audience would understand the part even better and be able to relate on it using their personal veiws. Individuals usually remeber things that were intersting from a movie or a book, so by introducing those characters the purpose of their part would most likely be remembered by the audience just by their hunorous behaviour.

    Furthermore, by Dogberry and his constables visting the watchmen to investigate and find out the plan that was taken place by Don John, also show why their part in the play was vital. In fact, if Dogberry and his constables did not go to the watchmen, Don John's plan would have been executed perfectly and Hero would have been accuse for the wrong things. Also, by getting information from the watchmen Dogberry and his constables brought across some jokes. In addition, they were able to find out that Barachio and Conrade were apart of the plan and locked them up to gain more information. Moreover, Dogberry and his constables received valid information from the wachmen and used it against Barachio and Conrade. In the book, by doing this their behaviour were hilarious ,some funny questions was asked by Dogberry and his constables and in turn they got ridiculus answers, especially when Conrade called Dogberry an ass.

    Thirdly, Dogberry and his constables showed why their part in the play was vital when they brought Conrade and Barachio to see Don Pedro and Claudio and told them to tell the guys what they have done. This aspect of their part helped several situations in the play. For instance, Claudio found out that Hero was innocent, which in turn broke his heart. Leanato and his brother Antonio were able to find out the truth and Leanato decided to forgive Claudio. Hero was set free and the others found out that it was Don John's plan. In addition, the play ended off well by the vital part of Dogberry and his constables because Hero and Claudio got married and Beatrice and Benedick finally admitted that they loved each other and also everyone knew that Don John was the accuser along with his helps.

    In conclusion, I end off this essay by saying that shakespeare executed the parts of Dogberry and his constables very successfully beccause in turn they enhanced the play and played as very important characters in the play.