Much Ado About Nothing - A Heated Exchange Between Beatrice and Benedick

Yes, I know Much Ado About Nothing is long and gone from our session. But since my blog is themed of that play and that I have not posted anything related to it for a while, I decided to give out one of my favorite parts where Benedick and Beatrice fling bad words at each other.

I was also looking for an excuse to put up a good quote from the play. I have been exploring characters and themes from the plays we have read as well as aspects of Shakespeare's life for the most part. I thought the blog deserved a bit of the language. This takes place in Act I, Scene I, lines 107-139:

Benedick: If Signor Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.

Beatrice: I wonder that you will be still talking, Signor Benedick. Nobody marks you.

Benedick: What my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?

Beatrice: Is it possible disdain should die while he hath such meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence.

Benedick: Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted, and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none.

Beatrice: A dear happiness to women! They should else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.

Benedick: God keep your ladyship still in that mind! So some gentlemen or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face.

Beatrice: Scratching could not make it worse an 'twere such a face as yours were.

Benedick: Well, you are a rare parrot teacher.

Beatrice: A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

Benedick: I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, a God's name! I have done.

Beatrice: You always end with a jade's trick. I know you of old.

It takes the interference of Pedro to end Beatrice and Benedick's bickering. It also takes Beatrice to skew away at Benedick's pride. Alas, poor Benedick...

- Kristopher

Caliban - Oppressed Creature or Menacing Monster?

When one thinks of Caliban, the thought of a reeking, hairy, filthy but tragic and wily creature comes to mind. He is under the service of Prospero, the sorcerer on the island where The Tempest takes place. Both Ariel, a spirit, and Caliban can be considered "colonized subjects," meaning they are natives under a nonnative master.

Caliban is a bitter creature, expressing this in many ways. He is honest from the very beginning:

"You taught me the language, and my profit on't

Is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you

For learning me your language!"

Can we say that it is the equivalent of biting the hand that feeds? Prospero and Miranda in return simply say "Oh shut up!"

Being an antagonist of The Tempest, Caliban later attempts to rape Miranda. He is also infamous for plotting with shipwrecked visitors of how to get rid Prospero and his powers on the island, so he can act as supreme ruler.

The native harbors bitter feelings and thoughts for revenge as he is the deformed son of the witch Sycorax. Sycorax was responsible for imprisoning Ariel within a tree until Prospero came along and rescued him/her (the gender depends on the performance and the interpretation). Upon Sycorax's demise, Caliban came under Prospero's control. The creature is angry because he believes he is the rightful owner of the island, attempting to regain control through troublesome means.

Caliban like other Shakespearean characters and stories has made impact on modern culture. There are characters borrowing his name, such as Caliban from the Marvel Comics universe. There is also a German metal group known as Caliban who borrows the name from the savage.

So Caliban with his newly found cohorts Stephano and Trinculo were driven out by Prospero's sorcery but his presence can never be driven out of Shakespeare's world and the English language. Like it or not, Caliban's menacing (and sometimes comical) presence remains and does not look like it will be leaving anytime soon.

- Kristopher