Much Ado About Nothing and Everything Else Shakespearean

The Official End?

2009-06-23T10:37:00.002-05:00

My reading of Shakespeare won't end, but this blog will probably end for a while. I just graduated from college, I've undertaken a job and I've been busy getting written works published, so there's a chance I probably won't be working on this blog for quite a while. I did leave an "end post" at the end of the 2008 Shakespeare class, but I will give this blog the "official ending."

I thank Linda for her help on the blog and to Dr. Clemente who showed me the ropes to making effective blog posts. I know I won't stop blogging in the future, but for now, I will need to concentrate on new interests and tasks.

Till then, goodbye for now...

- Kristopher

"Othello's" Star Schemer is...

2008-07-24T21:52:00.019-05:00

So...can anyone list off one of Shakespeare's most insidious (and complex) villains to grace the stage? Don John the Bastard? Right, right, the "sinister" level based on his namesake is laughable. Puck? He's as antagonistic as a housefly harassing a trash can. The Three Weird Sisters? Fairly insidious but too ominous to really cause damage. Lady Macbeth? Pretty close but the wife of the troubled title protagonist is still beaten at the "Star Schemer" spot. Caliban? Oh sure, he's a vicious character who does bad things but he ends up being pitied more than despised.

No, ladies and gentlemen. I believe one of Shakespeare's greatest villains is also a character who followed through the course of creation in the same area as Sir John Falstaff of King Henry IV Part I and Shylock of The Merchant of Venice. He's a character who gained a life of his own that he stole the pen away from the Bard himself!

That villain, on the subject of Othello, would be none other than the infamous Iago. I believe no other villain in Shakespeare's writings would have single handedly manipulate the protagonist towards tragedy. Iago is a racist and a sexist whose sinister nature allows him to use his cunning to the fullest. He has more lines than the other characters in Othello and rival's the title character's presence.

But what would motivate Iago to move as the antagonist? At first when I read the play, Iago appears to feel he was denied promotion from his general, Othello. Other people who studied Iago have come up with their own reasons why he enjoys trickery and emotional destruction (homosexual love for Othello, sadistic tendencies, high intelligence, etc.) but Shakespeare I believe wrote Iago initially to play the role of the hand that manipulates the scenes. If Iago were observed on a level outside his character and persona, he would symbolically resemble Fate's cruel hand moving events towards the worse for Othello and company.

Iago is highly successful in his mission to ruin lives and possibly has more reasons for revenge other than his role and and bigoted, jealous personality. We can see how Othello might have been viewed as an outsider for his time based on Moorish roots and why Iago, ironically his trusted ensign, could be racist due to his superior receiving more respect and acclaim. Yet could Iago had more reasons for possessing so much hatred and destroying the lives of everyone around him? The reader is free to interpret and decide.

Many actors have portrayed the vile Iago. Andy Serkis, best known for portraying Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, gave his take and interpretation on the villain:

"There are a million theories to Iago's motivations, but I believed that Iago was once a good soldier, a great man's man to have around, a bit of a laugh, who feels betrayed, gets jealous of his friend, wants to mess it up for him, enjoys causing him pain, makes a choice to channel all his creative energy into the destruction of this human being, and becomes completely addicted to the power he wields over him. I didn't want to play him as initially malevolent. He's not the devil. He's you or me feeling jealous and not being able to control our feelings."

Iago in a way is tormented by his desire for power and revenge:

"It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be producted-as, if I stay, I shall-

Against the Moor. For I do know the state,

However this may gall him with some check,

Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embarked

With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,

Which even now stands in act, that for their souls

Another of his fathom they have none

To lead their business; in which regard

Though I do hate him as I do hell pains,

Yet, for necessity of present life,

I must show out a flag and sign of love,

Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him..."

Iago gives out several monologues expressing his intentions, but he also subtlely conceals them through speech:

"And what's he then that says I play the Villain?" Apparently, Iago enjoys his vengeance a little too much!

So Iago plans his revenge against Othello which succeeds in many ways:

- Iago plans for Othello to demote Michael Cassio who earned the higher promotion instead. He manipulates Cassio into a drunken fight securing his demotion. He also plots another fight for Cassio to "lose," only this time it is against Rodrigo. Rodrigo ends up dying by Cassio's hand while Cassio suffers an injury.

- Iago's greatest offense comes from convincing Othello that his beloved wife Desdemona had been having an affair with Cassio behind the general's back. Iago has his wife Emilia steal Desdemona's handkerchief away. Iago misinforms Othello that Desdemona's handkerchief was given to Cassio, instigating an idea of the false affair. Othello ends up accusing Desdemona of sleeping around behind his back and smothers his wife with a pillow. Desdemona's death and uncovering her innocence drives Othello to despair and suicide, allowing Iago's revenge to conclude in a full bitter circle.

The reason why Iago is a great villain in Othello (and the greatest villain in Shakespeare's rogue's gallery) is because Iago possesses the capability of existing with us right now in this crazy twenty-first century. There will be a great figure utilizing great power with another figure below to plot the power house's demise. There will just be that person who will always hatch a plan when no one expect it to happen, who will escape suspicion while causing significant physical and emotional damage in the long run. Iago will remain fresh in people's minds as he is a villain who may endure for years to come.

P.S.: I have also decided to show a video to further illustrate Iago's villainy. This guy in the video recites Iago's dialogue from Act I Scene II in Othello. All I have to say is that the fedora and the cigarette make nice touches to this interpretation of Iago's malice.

- Kristopher

Othello - A Tragedy Currently in Reading

2008-07-17T20:29:00.007-05:00

I've covered most of William Shakespeare's well known plays but I have only begun to uncover Othello. Othello tells a story of the main protagonist under siege from racial discrimination, personal insecurity and betrayal. The tragedy is based on a short story by Italian novelist and poet Giovanni Battista Giraldi, also known as Cinthio.

Othello is a Christian Moor who is highly renowned as a general fighting against the Turks for the Venetian military. He is secretly married to the beautiful Desdemona, the daughter of Senator Brabantio. The antagonist is Othello's advisor Iago, whose mix of jealousy, bigotry and sinister cunning help drive Othello's life into the dust.

For now, Othello, its characters and themes will be under study in "Much Ado About Nothing and Everything Else Shakespearean." I shall end this note with a quote from the infamous Iago:

"The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,
And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now I do love her too;
Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin,
But partly led to diet my revenge,
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leaped into my seat, the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
And nothing can or shall content my soul
Till I am evened with him, wife for wife;
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in rank garb
(For I fear Cassio with my nightcap too),
Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me
For making him egregiously an ass
And practicing upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:
Knavery's plain face is never seen till used."

Ah, this quote alone appears to set the dark tone of the play. So I shall venture in and see what tragedy unfolds!

- Kristopher

Titania and the Foolhardiness in her Wake

2008-06-25T12:18:00.008-05:00

Well, it has been quite a while since I have posted anything on this blog! There is a lot more to Shakespeare than what we explored in the class and the blog can serve a continuing interest.
One character from A Midsummer Night's Dream that I thought of covering is Titania. The queen of the fairies, Titania is regal in her manners and appearance. She goes against Oberon, the King of the Fairies, to secure an Indian boy in her care. For a while Titania has the edge over Oberon...or does she?

Oberon's edge is Puck, whose mischievous nature manipulate's a donkeyfied Nick Bottom to fall for Titania. So why would the Queen of the Fairies ball for a buffoon now officially an ass? Because Puck inserted magical juice from a flower into her eyelids.

Titania's "romantic" relationship with Bottom appears to parody both the rich and poor. The extreme stereotypes of the self-righteous rich and the self-righteous poor are brought together, much to he humor of the audience!

As far as Shakespeare's female characters go, I would consider Titania is among the least developed. She does not appear to have any strong woes or complications save for safeguarding the Indian boy away from the fairy king. That does not mean she is a "useless" character. The relationship between Bottom and Titania can mirror the comedies involving the average looking dude and the beautiful woman. There's Something About Mary, A Fish Called Wanda and any Woody Allen comedy featuring the bumbling guy trying to get the vixen with success.

In Bottom's case however, his fun with Titania is assumed as a dream.

Titania, like other Shakespearian characters, has touched onto popular culture. The largest moon orbiting the planet Uranus is named after the Queen of the Fairies. The animated TV show Gargoyles also features Titania as a character.

- Kristopher

The Globe Theatre - Shakespeare's Grand Audience Chamber

2008-05-11T10:41:00.007-05:00

Shakespeare would have had his large uniplex back in the day with the Globe Theatre. It is an iconic building where Shakespeare's plays were performed to thousands of people. The theatre was not just a theatre in itself, but it was also supposed to be a brothel and gambling house. Like any good movie theatre, merchandise and refreshments were offered.

Before the Globe Theatre, there was simply The Theater constructed in Shoreditch, London in 1576. The owner of the theater was James Burbage who had to deal with an expired twenty-one year old lease. The grounds landlord, Giles Allen, had no taste for theater whatsoever. This prompted the landlord to close it down and capitalize on the building materials. But Burbage spotted a clause that stated he could dismantle the theater on his own. So Burbage and the acting troupe moved the materials over to Bankside in Southwark. The troupe itself was responsible to carrying the wood across the River Thames!

In 1597-1598, the Globe Theatre as we know it was constructed by carpenter Peter Smith and his company. Other theaters sprouted before the Globe, such as Hope Theatre and Rose Theatre. The Globe became the most famous. The Globe's fame was attributed back in its heyday where plays were in constant demand and money was to be made from them. Thousands flocked to the theatre, for attending the latest play would have been a colorful event indeed! The flags on the top of the Globe were a form of advertising, the color of the flag indicating what sort of play would be performed. A black flag would be a tragedy, a white flag would be a comedy and the red flag indicated a history play (To me, this method appears similiar to how pirates signaled their malice by placing either white or black flag on their ships!). Commoners in the audience would sit on the floor while the rich sat in chairs.

On June 29th, 1613 a fire broke out in the Globe. The culprit was the cannon used for special effects, which the gunpowder set flame on the thatch roof. The Globe was rebuilt a year later, referred to as "Globe 2." In 1644, the Globe was demolished again by the Puritans. The Puritans with their religious beliefs believed theatre to be a sinful form of entertainment. After the Globe's second destruction, it was never rebuilt again. The old Globe site was found in the 20th century and rebuilt on the same spot.

For more of an overview of the Globe, click here.

- Kristopher

Thanks, for the memories!

2008-04-29T17:43:00.005-05:00

My little additions to our GREAT Blog in Shakespeare hardly seems worthy of any praise compared to the unrelenting and marvelous work that my partner, Kristopher Miller( remember that name, Fame!), did on this project. I am nothing without him! I must give credit where credit is due. (I wonder if that was one of Shakespeare's great lines?!) This was so much fun! I loved reading all of the other blogs from fellow classmates and must say that they were all wonderful.

Dr. Clemente's Shakespeare class was the best, and was the highlight of this semester for me. My other five classes didn't "hold a candle" (Shakespeare's phrase?) to my Shakespeare class. Not only did I read great Shakespearean plays I had never had the opportunity to enjoy before, but the rewards from the readings are enormous ones for me, too many to speak of now.

I will be graduating in the fall of 2008 and probably will not have any more classes on the main campus at Peru after this week, so, farewell to all of the wonderful people I have met there along the way, as well as those of you who have shared with me the enjoyment of Dr. Clemente's Shakespeare class.

"Fair thee well," Kris, Dr. Clemente, and friends. "When shall we meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurley- burley's done (Macbeth)."
.........Linda

OOOOH! Witchcraft!

2008-04-29T16:51:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't love a scary story from time to time? Shakespeare has a way of incorporating scary characters in most of his plays, comedies and tragedies, keeping his readers entertained as well as on the edge of their seats. There are ghosts appearing in both Hamlet and Macbeth, dark fairies and a crazy, scary little guy named Puck in A Mid Summer's Night's Dream, and Caliban, the deformed slave, along with many, many spirits are found in the Tempest. How much fun is that!

But, for me, the Weird Sisters in Macbeth are my favorite scary and chilling characters of all the Shakespearean plays. How many times did I repeat "Double, Double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble," as a child when playing witches or on Halloween fifty some years ago saying over and over, "Something wicked this way comes," having absolutely no idea where those phrases came from or when I first heard them said?

Shakespeare had not only added brightly colored phrases from his ingenious plays to the English Language, but caused a small child to embrace and add vivid imagery to her simple speech! Thank you, Shakespeare, where ever you are, for that. .........Linda

Mr. and Mrs. Macbeth: Evil is as Evil Does

2008-04-29T16:10:00.003-05:00

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the Evilest one of all? Macbeth or his wife? The answer lies with whether one is talking about the beginning or the ending of Shakespeare's tragic play, "Macbeth."

Of course, love is rather blinding to the weaker in a relationship and it sets the stage for all kinds of manipulation by the stronger personality. In this case, the stronger of the two being Lady Macbeth, who also is the Evilest of the two in the beginning of the play. Lady Macbeth taunts Macbeth about doing deeds that will truly make him a man, convincing him to kill Duncan.

Her lust for power is more than ambitious, it is EVIL! Poor Macbeth had misguided ambition from that point on, getting a taste for power more and more after each killing. In the end, he became the greatest villian. I find it hard to believe that in one of the greatest Shakespeare tragedies ever written, one so evil as Lady Macbeth could so quickly get a conscience and go so 'mad' and die so abruptly. Justice? On the other hand, poor misguided Macbeth continued his quest for kingship though murder after murder, with madness on top of madness, until the mirror broke from his reflection. .......Linda

'Tis Been Fun...

2008-04-27T20:35:00.002-05:00

I have enjoyed Shakespeare class for it gave me a whole new perpsective on Shakespeare and how he worked on his plays and sonnets. The class also exposed me to plays that I have never read before (Much Ado About Nothing was a surprise hit with me), or what I have always been wanting to take a glimpse at (King Lear, The Tempest).

The class in Shakespeare had another shining highlight to it: an opportunity to learn how to work with a blog. I have not used a blog before Shakespeare class and it gave me a new perspective on blogs as a whole. I know that blogs can be used for more than just personal purposes. If there is a subject that interests me and if I want to comment on it, I can make a blog exploring the subject. It is fun to use a blog overall; the ability to apply hyperlinks, photos, graphics, videos and other stuff onto posts makes for an engaging experience. It is satisfying when people look at your blog and are impressed by the work you have put together.

Creating a blog for Shakespeare made me realize how many websites there are on Shakespeare and his works. There are literally hundreds of, if not thousands or more, sites devoted to critical analyses on the plays, their characters and what influenced Shakespeare to write the way he did. Looking over famous quotes that have been used in other media, such as movies, comics, etc., has made me realize on how much of a cultural impact Shakespeare made into the English language and global culture as a whole.

Countries which do not have English as an initial language such as Japan and Russia have made their own versions of Shakespeare's plays. Russia has its King Lear. Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa filmed Throne of Blood and Ran, both adaptations of Macbeth and King Lear respectively. It is amazing how one culture who speaks one language influences another that speaks an entirely different language, as Shakespeare's stories have elements that everyone can relate to.

Making the Shakespeare blog has given me a new appreciation for Shakespeare. I hope to keep "Much Ado About Nothing and Everything Else Shakespearean" running with sonnets and plays not explored in the class.

I would like to thank my partner, Linda, for helping me out with the blog and the video performance. I know she has not been able to make as many posts as I had, but her commentary on different plays were welcome.

'Tis been fun!

- Kristopher

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

2008-04-21T15:47:00.002-05:00

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?

2008-04-21T09:25:00.011-05:00

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

Lady Macbeth and her scheming persona

2008-04-14T13:18:00.009-05:00

Lady Macbeth is one of the most well known Shakespearian villains alongside Iago from Othello. So what does make her a devious character?

For one thing, she puts her husband, Macbeth, to murder the king in order for him to take the throne. Macbeth by nature is not a cruel person by heart but he does not possess the power, ego and wickedness that Lady Macbeth possesses. Add to the act that they are in love with each other and you can see how Lady Macbeth can see anyone as a potential tool, even her own husband.

She makes her intentions clear from the beginning:

"...Come you spirits,

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood;

Stop up th' access and passage to remorse,

That no compunctious visitings of nature

Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between

Th' effect and it. Come to my woman's breasts

And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers

Whereever in your sightless substances

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark

To cry 'Hold, hold.'"

Part of her speech reflects that Lady Macbeth is fully aware of a woman admists a patriarchial warrior society. Part of the reason she does not seek to kill Duncan herself is society's fault, for Lady Macbeth was simply not trained to effectively kill another person. She uses her sharp wit and potential of love to goad Macbeth to committing the deed that would doom him to the end of the play. Lady Macbeth also uses the blood stained daggers that were in Macbeth's possession to frame the guards responsible for protecting King Duncan's life.

Does that mean she is a one-dimensional monster? Lady Macbeth gives off a very good appearance of being a cold, calculating creature with her ability to use a power to goad others into what she desires. She craves power far more than what Macbeth originally wanted and she infects hm with that hunger to rule and to kill without opposition. But like her husband Macbeth, she possesses a mortal conscience. With the deaths mounting, the new "Queen" of Scotland goes mad:

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One-two - why then 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

It can be assumed that Lady Macbeth's madness is attributed to guilt, that she helped the deaths of important people within the play. Macbeth was a reluctant murderer but Lady Macbeth thought that she was a born murderess but was proven gravely mistaken. If we are to see her cries as guilt, we can see that Lady Macbeth is a potential murderer but not a sociopath.

Lady Macbeth like other Shakespeare's characters have made their mark on popular culture. The recent addition of her liking is the historical novel Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King. It is a new take on the classic villainess set in the role as the protagonist.

Yes, Lady Macbeth is someone you would not want to confront at a conference table but she turned out to be one of my favorite characters in Shakespeare's world. Why she is a favorite is possibly for the wrong reasons. She is powerful, able to seduce at a subtle level and is memorable. There are many people in real life, male and female, who have a mixture of power, seduction and vicious wit. Those all make a dangerous combination.

- Kristopher

Linda and Kris Read from Much Ado about Nothing

2008-04-11T09:50:00.003-05:00

After quite some time, our video has made a premiere on "Much Ado About Nothing and Everything Else Shakespearean!" Linda and I have been working with the reading for quite some time but the actual "acting" came in a few days before this video was shot.

The scene that we are going over in the video from Much Ado About Nothing takes place at the end of Act 4, Scene 1. I know I'll be going over that part in the video so I won't repeat too much with the introduction of the video itself.

I would really like to compliment Linda for her part in the video, delivering the lines with genuine authenticity as Beatrice would react to Benedick's truth of loving her.

As for me, I felt I was pretty much a "nerdy" Benedick. But then again, Benedick had never encountered a strong willed and sharp tongued lady like Beatrice so reluctance on my part in saying some lines hopefully had some punch for the humor's sake. Even when things were doom ridden towards the end of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare appeared to keep the tone light. But the tone wholly depends on how the director and actors manage it.

In the end, I am proud to have this video presented on the blog. Can't wait to see what other people were scheming with their performances!

- Kristopher

Ah, betrayal...

2008-04-08T08:21:00.005-05:00

King Lear is about backstabbing and placing the wrong trust into the wrong people. Two characters are guilty of this among others, for they are the fathers of the "villains" in the play.

To start, Lear himself asks his love from his two eldest daughters, Gonoreil and Regan. Both are equally vicious and conniving, equally vying for the attention of the Earl of Gloucester's son, Edmund. Lear's downfall is that he is used to so much power, that he would demand the same great amount of respect.

Gloucester suffers more of less of the same fate than the ill-fated title character. Rather than placing his love into his legitimate son, Edgar, he gives it to his iligitimate son Edmund who offers him no love in return. So how is Gloucester awarded for his affections? He has his eyes gouged out, blinded literally as Lear is blinded metaphorically on how his daughters are nothing but two-faced wolves in sheep's clothing.

It is a sad fact that Lear and Gloucester are representatives of parents who place their faith on the "wrong" children, the children with the potential of betraying them. You have Cordelia, who is the one who truly loves her father but he keeps pushing her away. Gloucester is not appreciative of his son Edgar, who shows more valor than what Edmund was ever capable of. It is no wonder that both fathers are kicked out of their own establishment.

- Kristopher

More Shakespearean Comics

2008-04-04T11:56:00.008-05:00

Shakespeare will never escape from other media such as films, so it makes sense he will not escape the Western comic book world too. Classical Comics offers Shakespeare's works such as Macbeth and King Henry V in graphic novel form. Just click on the hyperlinked text in this post and see!

- Kristopher

Manga Shakespeare

2008-04-02T19:29:00.013-05:00

First off, I am a huge fan of the Japanese manga, or "comic," medium. There are numerous series that I am fond of, most of which do not directly reference Shakespeare. So that is a different subject entirely!

Manga Shakespeare is a line of comics from artists in the United Kingdom. Titles such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet have been adapted into the manga medium. Of course, they are not direct adaptations, as the artists take liberty to setting the familiar storylines in modern-and futuristic-situations where the original dialogue is still present.

For example, Manga Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes in the Shibuya District in Tokyo, focusing on two rival Yakuza families. Romeo is a rock star and still of the Montague clan, while Juliet remains a Capulet. The mangatized Hamlet takes place in the year 2017, where global warming has thrown the world into chaos but the story taken from the Shakespeare classic remains the same.

The "Manga Shakespeare" series is done by different artists but the written material is undeniably Shakespeare. Personally, I think this was a daring new approach to look into the world of Shakespeare. The art work for the comics themselves is not shabby either!

Below is a sample image, so click for a closer view:

- Kristopher

Themes of Witchcraft and Mythology in Shakespeare

2008-03-31T10:18:00.004-05:00

In Shakespeare class, Dr. Clemente pointed out comparisons between the play we are currently reading in class, King Lear, and the Three Weird Sisters from Macbeth. The reason this was brought up was the mentioning of Hecate, who in Greek mythology was the patron of witchcraft. King Lear takes place before Christianity touched England so her inclusion would not be out of place.

Lear himself mentions her:

"Well, let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower,
For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs,
From whome we do exist and cease to be,
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Prpinquity, and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation
Messes to gorge his appetite, shall be
As well neighbored, pitied, and relieved
As thou my sometime daughter."

This also illustrates Lear's optimism and idealistic nature, which will most likely be his downfall concerning the management of his three daughters Cordelia, Goneril and Regan. He is a man who wants good things to happen but fails to see the darkness envelop around him.

Part of the reason of why I am growing to like Shakespeare more than I used to is his use of references and themes from mythology and legend. King Lear itself is an old folktale derived from ancient times. A Midsummer Night's Dream makes liberal use of Greek mythology, and other plays make good use of key figures in mythology to make important points in their dialogue.

The amazing thing about Shakespeare's works is that the author unwittingly created his own mythology, his legend, that allowed characters from different plays to leap into films and other mediums that are not directly associated with Shakespeare. Puck for instance is a regular recurring character in the classic cartoon Gargoyles and other characters like Titania make their appearance in the show. Other writers' characters have been "borrowed" for storylines and Shakespeare is no exception.

- Kristopher

Shakespeare Parodies Part 3

2008-03-25T13:34:00.006-05:00

Hamlet (and yes, I have stressed this before) is the most oft-parodied play that I have found among others on television, movies, comics, etc. Here is more Hamlet hilarity with these videos.

This video, "Hamlet: Prince of YouTube," features a guy using the "To be or not to be" speech as a base to make fun of the woes of YouTube.

This video below is taken from the animated series Animaniacs. This cartoon parodies the scene where the skull of Yorick is dug up, with Dot translating what is being said into sarcastic, modern English.

- Kristopher

Hamlet - An Intriguing and Troubled Protagonist

2008-03-19T15:52:00.013-05:00

Hamlet is considered to be one of Shakespeare's most memorable and iconic plays. It is also the play that the title character is as strong as the story itself, for the audience watches his many layers displayed when he puts on his "madness" front and the tortured soul when everyone's attention is not focused on him.

Hamlet's appeal over the centuries is clear. We can all relate to Hamlet in his angst and unaccepting nature that his mother had been married to his uncle in such a short time. His thirst for vengeance throughout the play is also intriguing, in both character analysis and the story itself. Hamlet serves as a tragic example of how a young and brilliant man can destroy himself in the quest for revenge, as he pulls down many people along the way.

The most notable individual is Ophelia, who loved Hamlet from the very start. But Polonius and Laertes opposed this kind of relationship, which serves to drive Ophelia over the edge. Hamlet denies his love for her, driving Ophelia closer to the brink, especially how she should "be sent to a nunnery." It is the death of Polonius by Hamlet's hand that does her in. She drowns herself in a brook, a testament to how high the cost of revenge is.

Even to those who do not know Shakespeare, the image of Hamlet holding up a human skull is a popular image with the Bard. The skull that Hamlet holds belonged to Yorick, a jester from Hamlet's childhood. Some people think Shakespeare wanted Elizabethan audiences to connect Yorick with Richard Tarlton, who was famous prior to Shakespeare and was dead by the time Yorick was mentioned.

The Prince of Denmark has been portrayed by many people. Laurence Olivier is one famous example in the British 1948 production of Hamlet. In most recent years, Mel Gibson and Kenneth Branagh have also played their hand as the title character.

Franco Zefirelli's 1990 Hamlet with Gibson is pretty much an action flick with most of the dialogue left out. I saw this version quite a while ago with "Lethal Hamlet" intense and brawny. Branagh's 1996 version, which I have not seen, is four hours long with all dialogue included. A 2000 version featuring Ethan Hawke as the brooding Hamlet was released in the style of Romeo + Juliet, in that it takes place in a modern setting.

Also famous is Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" speech. Those who have read into the play understand it is the Prince of Denmark's contemplation of suicide. This speech has been used many times and it also has been spoofed several times.

This video below comes from 1996's Hamlet, with Branagh as Hamlet uttering the famous soliloquy.

- Kristopher

Shakespeare - A Hidden Catholic?

2008-03-18T08:23:00.003-05:00

During the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholics were not given an easy rest. During the Elizabethan period, it was easy to be prosecuted for the religion being practiced other than the main Protestant faith that Elizabeth decreed.

So how can we tell if Shakespeare was a Catholic or not? The play Hamlet depicts the slain king suffering in purgatory, who tells Hamlet to avenge his death. Purgatory was a Catholic concept, with a soul being trapped in the region between heaven and hell, unable to go to heaven especially for "venial faults." Another example would be in Richard II, where on the stage the king confesses to use prayer with beads, another form of worship that met with hostility in England. Both forms of evidence were the basis of a retired Lawrence high school teacher turned KU graduate who looked into Shakespeare's faith.

Although there is a great possibility and speculation that Shakespeare was Catholic, the idea is not concrete. Not much is known about his life, for few records exist that depict how he lived. Shakespeare regardless wrote plays that are quite ambigous in nature so it would not have mattered to a Protestant, Catholic or a person of any other faith if they enjoyed the play. Shakespeare has not preached strong values in his time, he was only interested in creating entertaining dramas which persist to this day.

- Kristopher

Trickery, Again!

2008-03-15T10:21:00.003-05:00

After reading the beginning few pages of King Henry the Fourth, Part 1 several times to get a good idea of who was who, I was happy to find in the following pages of the play a little humor. I have to admit, this Shakespeare play frightened me a little. I was expecting complete boredom, as I read it, and I had a hard time understanding who all of the characters were, at first. As I read on, King Henry's son, Harry, proved to be my link to "appreciation."

Although Falstaff seemed to me to be a cumbersome clown at times, it was Harry who instigated and carried out numerous tricks on the poor fellow, which I enjoyed, immensely. Harry's and his sidekicks' stealing money from Falstaff as Falstaff himself had just stolen it was fun reading. My first impression of Harry was a little "off" as well, thinking him somewhat a cruel young man, but realizing later he was a kid at heart and had quite a fondness, in fact, for Falstaff.

And, Shakespeare tricked me on this one, which was perhaps his intention for all of his readers. His combination of many human elements-love, hate, betrayal, trickery, and especially humor-in most of his plays make his genius exude and his humanity evident. .....Linda

Shakespeare Fan Fiction

2008-03-11T09:21:00.004-05:00

William Shakespeare is not even safe from the fan fiction craze. I'm guilty of having written this type of fiction a long time ago as a teenager, scribing mostly parodies of existing series of various media.

I cannot say fanfiction should be abhored, but sometimes it can get horrid to the point that it makes for a good laugh.

This site includes a large list Shakespeare fan fiction.

- Kristopher

Much Ado about Nothing - Kristopher's Reaction

2008-03-09T18:55:00.010-05:00

In all honesty, I did not suspect that Much Ado About Nothing would become one of my favorite Shakespearian plays. I'd like to thank my partner Linda who did a small analysis of some of the play's themes earlier, in the post "Nothing Like a Friend..."

I have been meaning to post my feelings about the play itself, with all the character explanations I have been throwing onto the blog. At first, I was cynical about enjoying the play. I have read Shakespeare's tragedies Macbeth and Hamlet, which gave me the impression that a comedy about two pairs of lovers dealing with court issues would seem meager in comparison to Macbeth's pressure into power and Hamlet's struggle with revenge. Between a serious piece and a funny one, I would usually opt for the more serious piece with death, despair and an ending where love does not conquer all.

In the area of real life romance, I could not stand a chance. The big question was of how I was going to relate to a bunch of people in court struggling with their feelings without the fantasy setting of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

But with Much Ado About Nothing, that cynicism melted away. There is very funny wordplay involved, and I know I offered a few snippets of dialogue throughout the blog. From Benedick and Beatrice's fencing with words to Dogberry's malapropisms, Much Ado About Nothing hardly gets dull. Even for other people who have had little or no experience with relationships will still enjoy this Shakespearian classic.

I got into the tepid arguements between Benedick and Beatrice. Those two were made for one another in that they can lash out with whatever sharp comments they can come up with and rebound. All right, so Beatrice usually wins the fights but the point is, the romantic tension between ladies' man Benedick and witty, strong willed Beatrice was captivating and kept the play moving forward.

I imagine all guys would want to be Benedick; confident, swaggering and able to duel with words. This does not make Claudio and Hero shadows of Benedick and Beatrice. They are the couple who are not gifted with any "special" abilities to set things straight. They are the couple we can relate to in that there are people and things that control them. The overall point is that we can all relate to and pity Claudio and Hero in one way or another.

Claudio is the very opposite of Benedick, for he is no Casanova. He is a fairly gullible character, being fooled by Don John's "claim" that Hero was permiscous. Combined with his insecurities, the forces of love's difficulty make Claudio frustrated, assuming that Hero is unchaste. Hero herself matches well with Claudio because there are strong forces of love outside of her hands as well. She is forced to stay strong, not usually boisterous as Beatrice, and is "resurrected" as a stronger person after Don John and company get their vicious due.

Still, between the "Favorite Couples" area, Benedick and Beatrice still win for me for the sake of their entertainment value. Okay, so they can be a fun couple to watch, but I imagine both of them in real life would be a bother to deal with. There are many real life equivalents of Benedick who are obnoxious. Obnoxiousness is funny in the play but would be a chore in real life to deal with. And I really like Beatrice but she would be a difficult person for me to get to know in real life, even on a friendly basis. She aims her vicious words at almost everybody involved.

The sad thing about Much Ado About Nothing is that it is possibly underrated. I can find plenty of critical essays and articles, but many people do not go out of their way to express their love for the play. I have looked all around to find only a few good parody clips, some footage from the film adaptation and stage performance footage.

So maybe I am exaggerating, as there are some solid clips, just not enough good "tributes." Plays like Hamlet get their justice with Star Wars themed spoofs, and even King Lear was parodied using themes from The Office. But Much Ado About Nothing almost gets zilched.

Overall, this is a play to enjoy its characters struggling with romance, as all of us can relate to folks who just cannot grasp love so easily.

- Kristopher

Shakespeare Parodies Part 2

2008-03-03T15:13:00.008-06:00

Last time I made this type of post, most of the parodies involved the play Hamlet. This will probably prove true to this post, since Hamlet is highly spoofed.

I have said before that looking for decent parodies of Much Ado About Nothing was as hard as finding a contact lense in an ocean. Click this link to not only find an example of "bad" Shakespeare, but an example of "minimalist" Shakespeare.

A more promising spoof took place alongside the Star Wars universe. Will Shakespeare with lightsabers get boring? Probably not. Are they usually funny together? Most likely. Below is a cartoon made by 11th grade English students. The lack of animation makes this cleverly written video funnier.

The other video belows is an example of "convoluted" Shakespeare. You have the plot and dialogue of Much Ado About Nothing coupled with Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I have looked at the results for "Favorite Shakespearian Character Part 2." I'm quite disappointed to see the lack of results. To confess, I was the one who put a vote in for Hamlet.

With the new poll however, it appears that Beatrice is in the lead! I am guilty as charged in the fact that I help her rise in the poll. However, I noticed a surge of blog activity so the pace should go up fairly soon.

- Kristopher

Much Ado About Falstaff

2008-03-03T13:47:00.017-06:00

Sir John Falstaff is everyone's favorite slacker, glutton, sleaze, big mouth, pervert, do-nothing, idiot, coward and Shakespearian character. He would be the equivalent of the "dumb best buddy," the bloke convincing you to do just about anything stupid such as flinging toilet paper on the neighbor's house.

Despite being a knight, Falstaff displays the chivalry of a drunken tavern patron. Rather than indulging in good deeds, the fat knight "lives" to his fullest. He drinks, he lechers, he overeats and manipulates Hal into performing asinine activities. Falstaff appears to bring out Hal's worse side, the childish side that King Henry IV despises. This could be Shakespeare's way of showing Hal's irresponsible, reluctant side through Falstaff himself.

Hotspur, Hal's polar opposite, would be raging with a blade about Falstaff's statement of honor. According to Falstaff, honor is valuable as plain dirt:

“Can honour set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. . . . What is honour?”

If Falstaff is such a loser, why does he endure throughout the years as one of the most memorable Shakespeare characters of all time?

Sure, being with the obese knight may not be fun. But watching Falstaff hearing his outrageous speeches is a treat to behold. Like Shylock, Falstaff escape's Shakespeare's pen, almost taking reign of King Henry IV and the attention of the struggling protagonist, Prince Hal.

Interestingly enough, Falstaff was inspired by an English soldier named John Fastolf, who is described of bragging and being a coward. It was enough to inspire Falstaff as a rotund loudmouth.

If Falstaff had a large appetite of being on stage, he would practically be a large bowling ball with the attention fed to him. Several actors have claimed to have fun portraying the fat knight.

One prime example would be Orson Welles, whose immortality was acquired through the classic movie Citizen Kane. Welles has worked with Shakespeare's other plays such as Macbeth and Twelth Night.

Falstaff is memorable in that his type of persona would exist today. He would represent all the vices we all get into. In a way, as we laugh at Falstaff, we laugh at ourselves.

- Kristopher

Much Ado About...Ghetto?

2008-02-24T11:27:00.005-06:00

Once again, Shakespeare is a fun source for parody. Looking for a spoof of Much Ado About Nothing was difficult, especially for one to do justice poking fun at the play.

This was filmed by a group of students who decided to set it in "da hood." It's zanier than it sounds!

I like the beginning where the host, "Dr. Robert Sweeney," is pouring himself some vintage Diet Coke.

- Kristopher

Much Ado About Nothing (1993) - A Film Review

2008-02-17T18:26:00.012-06:00

Shakespeare and Hollywood have had a strange career together. Usually when Tinseltown puts a spin on the Bard's works, the results are mixed. You would have shoddy interpretations that are overblown and overdone with historial props, leaving little to the original dialogue and let alone the story.

On the other hand, there have been decent Shakespeare pickings. You would have 1968's Romeo and Juliet (and even 1996's Romeo + Juliet is good in my opinion, though some cry afoul of it) among other films that are faithful and at the same time decent cinema.

Kenneth Branagh's 1993 adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing fits the bill of the "A+ Shakespeare List" despite its few quibbles.

The movie opens up with the ladies hanging around the Italian countryside. Beatrice catches sight of the seven male characters of the play on horseback. Michael Flachman of Shakespeare: From Page to Stage commented that this scene was too similiar to a cinematic reference of The Magnificent Seven. I would have to agree, but then again, even Shakespeare has to play by some rules in celluoid. This is Branagh's big reminder of that.

Thankfully we have some faithful dialogue coupled with excellent acting to complement the tale of love and romantic tomfoolery. Branagh is charming and hilarious as the overconfident Benedick, with the garden scene of "romantic revelation" being one of his high points. Emma Thompson plays a ferocious Beatrice that would be close to how Shakespeare's Beatrice would be portrayed. Like Branagh, not one moment is dull with her as she has her funny moments with vicious wordplay and cinematic believability.

Robert Sean Leonard and a pre-Underworld Kate Beckinsale do their roles well as the lovers Claudio and Hero. Like the play, they are the "low key" characters who do not have Benedick's or Beatrice's confidence, often letting outside forces (and other characters) run their lives. Leonard and Beckensdale are an attractive pair together, fitting into the story and the cast.
Michael Keaton as Dogberry can either grow on you or just repel. To me, he was hilarious using his Beatlejuice shtick to portray the bumbling watchman, even borrowing from Monty Python for his slick "steed!" Compared to Dogberry in the play, Keaton's interpretation was comically sadistic and over the top. He abuses his fellow watchmen with glee, providing great comic relief for the film.

Denzel Washington as Don Pedro is faithful to the Shakespearian character. Pedro has always been an "observer," and Washington does well in the role to that respect. The delivery of his lines were impressive and we seem to be watching with him on the events happening within the movie.

The only character who might have needed to be torn from the ink parchment would be Keanu Reeves as the villainous Don John. In earlier posts, Linda and I have "dogberried" him for being "platidudinous." He always keeps the same grim, evil face throughout his entire performance. Did Reeves expect to travel through a phone booth? Or ride a high speeding bus? How about investigating bank robbers who are also surfers? Reeves is more suited to these roles than a bitter "bastard" of a character. Even when not speaking, he is unintentionally hilarious of both the preconceptions of his performances and his handling of Don John. Flachman can complain all he wants about Keaton's performance, but Reeves really dropped the Shakespearian ball.

Branagh's direction goes well exploring the characters and being faithful to Shakespeare's original work, so not a dull moment is to be seen in his version. He nailed the effects and visuals that cannot be matched with a stage play. On the other hand, Shakespeare fans will notice a loss of "juice" in certain scenes, for everything could not be translated smoothly. Stage-to-movie issues exist but Branagh has done the job in not trying too hard to make a faithful adaptation.

Overall, Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing earns an eight out of ten for a jolly good effort. If you are one of the purists who hate Leonardo diCaprio and Claire Danes in a "modern" adapation of Romeo + Juliet or simply cannot stand Mel Gibson playing as the skull holding Hamlet, there will be little disappointment provided with this offering from Hollywood.

Extra Note: For the poll, it appears that opinions were mixed on Mr. Reeves' performance in Shakespeare. There was a vote concerning he was better off "following the white rabbit," while the other ponders the question: "Why is he famous overall?" Thanks for participating!

- Kristopher

The Tool that Shakespeare Used

2008-02-13T16:00:00.009-06:00

With all of Shakespeare's plays that have created a legacy in English and in popular culture as a whole, it is easy to overlook the tool used to write the plays. This small post is dedicated to the quill pen! I was showing Linda how to insert images on a post and the idea of this instrument came to mind.

In the Renaissance era, it would be impossible that to get anything written, without the aid of ink and this type of pen to get any progress made. From about 600 to 1800, this pen derived from bird feathers saw heavy use.

Nowadays, this tool is still used but usually for creative purposes in the field of calligraphy. A few Shakespeare images feature the bard himself holding a pen, a literary knight holding up his ink drenched sword.

This image and pen came from Conway Stewart, in which the site also has a healthy chunk of information about Shakespeare.

- Kristopher

Theatre Footage of "Much Ado About Nothing"

2008-02-13T15:46:00.008-06:00

I've been looking for an excuse to announce the poll results for "Favorite Couple." For the last one, I decided to play with the Weird Sisters. Now I have found an opportunity to post up a video on how Benedick is in love with Beatrice. Poor Benedick...

Both these clips are from the Warren Wilson Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing, in Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. Linda and I were looking for pictures and videos, as I was showing her how to post up videos and images on the blog.

- Kristopher

Don John - "A playing, dealing villain" indeed

2008-02-12T08:10:00.005-06:00

Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro, is the antagonist of Much Ado About Nothing. You can easily tell this for the fact this man is one of "few words." And of course, his title of "Bastard" does more than state that he is an illigitimate son.

John is very aware of his villanous state, and is extremely unapologetic about it. He talks to Conrad about his status in Act I, Scene 3, that he rather be a "...canker in a hedge than a rose..." and that there is nothing to alter him into a model citizen.

It sounds like he is a miserable, with a love to throw other people's lives into chaos. Mainly, he frames Hero for being unchaste and convinces the gullible Claudio of this. He even manages to fool everyone else of Hero's supposed promiscuity, causing great despair to Hero herself. But why does John do this? Is it simply because he is the "bastard" in the play? Shakespeare, the clever wordsmith, seems to imply his title alone motivates John to be nothing but a vicious, deceitful bad guy.

Or maybe John is just a lonely, vicious deceitful bad guy. How would one feel to have some drunk fellow named "Barrachio" as a minion, with a sniveling conspirator named "Conrad?" John despises his brother for the attention he gets as well as being good friends with likeable Benedick and Claudio. Does John spend any quality time with the boys in a meaningful way? Not really on any level. And that would lead him to spoil everyone's fun time.

On a historical level, being a "bastard" was not a completely bad thing, as even bastard children were usually accepted into the family. Back in the middle ages, William the Conqueror was a well known bastard. That did not stop him from storming England despite crude remarks that he smelled of the tannery, for his mother was a tanner's daughter.

Back to Much Ado About Nothing, John gets his due by having his minions, Conrad and Baracchio, apprehended by Dogberry and company. John gets apprehended at the very end of the play, with Benedick planning to punish him somehow. However, his capture is only mentioned and we are not rewarded with John ranting and raving of his plan being foiled. Guess he still gets the last laugh!

John is played by Keanu Reeves in Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing, and I have to agree with Linda that his performance was simply a "stone faced" one. From the moment I saw him on the screen, I had to conceal a chuckle. Can you imagine John saying "Whoa, I shall go on an excellent adventure to create a horrid point break in romance just because I'm the one with the title of 'bastard?'" Reeves looked bored out of his mind and even hearing him uttering the "I am a man of few words" line was almost an unintentionally comic moment in the adaptation. Throughout the movie, Reeves acted like some angry, manipulative teenager as opposed to a sinister wedding crasher.

This is not to say that Reeves is a terrible actor, as he had appeared in a production of Hamlet in Winnipeg as the lead role, garnering positive criticism. Perhaps Reeves was simply miscast, as he had better roles in The Matrix movies, The Devil's Advocate and Point Break.

Below is a music video homage to Reeves' interpretation of Don John from 1993's Much Ado About Nothing. The video still does not help Reeves' "villanous Don John image," but particular fans will still get a kick out of it. - Kristopher

Keanu Reeves is a Platypus?

2008-02-07T10:25:00.000-06:00

The version of Shakespeare's play we are watching in Dr. Clemente's class, Much Ado About Nothing, is realistic and has believable character portrayals by nearly all of its actors. But I said, "nearly all."

Emma Thompson's reenactment of Leonato's boisterous niece is excellent. Denzel Washington does a tremendous job portraying his character, Don Perdo, Prince of Aragon.

Keanu Reeves plays Don John, the cold and calculating bastard brother of Don Pedro. Reeves presents his character in a manner that, to me, is too much ado! A word that came into my vocabulary recently, platitudinous, an adjective meaning flat, describes Reeves' performance in this movie. Reeves is "stone faced" and overplays his anger. In my opinion, Reeves picked the wrong part to play.

The director of this movie did a great job directing the other characters, but must have turned a blind eye and deaf ear to Reeves. He is considered to be a movie star of The Matrix, I know, but he missed his mark in Much Ado About Nothing ....Linda

Dogberry and his Malapropisms

2008-02-05T08:16:00.000-06:00

Usually in a Shakespeare comedy, you would have a cast of characters who may not be comedic by nature but are usually thrust in comedic situations. You have Benedick and Beatrice, who constantly bicker at each other with creative use of language. You have Claudio and Hero, whose relationship is troubled by the manipulations of Don John and his cohorts. All the characters are people whom you could relate to in real life who have situations thrust at them.

Of course, Shakespeare has characters highly comedic by nature. Dogberry, a watchman in Much Ado About Nothing, is comical relief for the comedy itself. He is memorable in that he constantly uses malapropisms, or incorrect uses of words, in his dialogue.

Dogberry has a few examples up his unknowing sleeve, with the incorrect words italicized and the correct words in parenthesis:

"We will spare for no wit, I warrant you. Here's that shall drive some of them to a nonecome. Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the jail. (Examination)

"Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter-an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt." (Sharp)

"One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship." (Apprehended and suspicious)

"Is our whole dissembly appeared?" (Assembly)

"O villain! Thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this." (Damnation)

Where did the malapropism come from? It is derived from the character Mrs. Malaprop, coming from the 1775 comedy The Rivals written by Richard Sheridan. Malaprop itself is derived from mal a propos, meaning "inappropriate" in French. Mrs. Malaprop, like Dogberry, was a character who always used words in the most "inappropriate" manner imaginable!

Here are a few examples, with incorrect words italicized and the correct words in parenthesis:

"Oh, he will dissolve my mystery!" (Resolve)

"Oh! It gives me such hydrostatics to such a degree!" (Hysterics)

"...she might reprehend the true meaning of what she is saying." (Comprehend)

As you can see, the misuse of words will lead to confusion and importantly, humor!

Even though Dogberry's incorrect use of certain words might seem to backfire on him, they actually do the opposite. It helps Dogberry and his men help foil Don John's nefarious plot as well as to capture two of his minions!

Has Dogberry made any further contributions other than accidently "outsmarting" Don John and his malicious company? In a way, for referring to a "dogberry" would be referring to an inept or a really dumb official. He is not to be confused with the dogberry fruit which grows on certain plants, particuarily the European dogwood. We can assume Shakespeare dubbed Dogberry as a fruit, or a truly inept Renaissance version of a "fruitcake!"

For more Dogberry escapades, here is a scene from the Hinds Community College Raymond Campus production of Much Ado About Nothing, with Dogberry and company "respecting," or suspecting, the culprits!

- Kristopher

Nothing Like a Friend...

2008-01-31T22:10:00.000-06:00

A common theme in Shakespeare's comedies is "Friendship." Whether it be the characters in A Midsummer's Night's Dream, with Lysander and Demetreus and Hermia and Helena, or Claudio and Don Pedro, with cousins Beatrice and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, it seems that "friendship" gets amusingly side-tracked in the scheme of things.

I especially enjoyed the true to life situations in Much Ado About Nothing leading to Beatrice's and Benedick's union, where their dear friends stepped in to make them realize their love for each other. Without the help of their fellow schemers, excuse me, friends, love would have been lost for 'Bea' and 'Ben.'

Which brings me to another thought. I like how Shakespeare uses simple ideas for the action, for his characters, that have been present in people throughout history. Childish play and ridiculous skirmishes between friends have been happening, forever. To see these characteristics in the adults in many of Shakespeare's comedies brings truth, as well as enjoyment, to the reading of his plays. Beatrice's and Benedick's name calling and exagerated hate for each other reminded me of two school kids fighting. I recognized the "lingo" and knew right away that they were in love! ...Linda

Poll Results - Weird Sister Folklore

2008-01-30T18:08:00.000-06:00

Well, it seemed that most of you picked the three Weird Sisters as your favorite set of characters among other iconic Shakesperian creations. Even Puck with his trickery, Caliban with his feral nature and Shylock with his miserly stature could not stand up to the power of the three. I know I could have added more characters to the poll, with several other memorable Shakespeare personas, but I was merely testing the feature itself.

The witches are probably the most memorable icons in Shakespeare lore, with "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!" popping in most people's minds.

The word "weird" was derived from "wyrd," which meant "fate" or "future." "Weird" has been commonly used ever since the performance of Macbeth to describe something out of place or simply uncanny. The presence of the Weird Sisters was not a new concept during Shakespeare's time, as they have thrived through the world of Old Norse mythology.

These three sisters have left their mark (and magic) on popular culture. There is a folk group known as Three Weird Sisters. They work in the filk genre, which deals primarily with themes of science fiction and fantasy. In the novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, there is an all male rock group known as the "Weird Sisters" who perform during the Yule Ball.

It seems that the witches will not stop casting their spells to facinate fans of Shakespeare and folklore for quite some time. Till then, I posted a new poll of which couple is the best in Much Ado About Nothing. Who will prevail? Is it Benedick and Beatrice, with their vicious quips to one another? Or is it Claudio and Hero, in which the tragedy and comedy of the play alter their character development?

- Kristopher

Shylock and Anti-semitism

2008-01-28T14:50:00.000-06:00

Shylock was initially written in as a stereotypical character, close to a state of villainy. But as the play progresses, he becomes more of a tragic figure, being cornered like an animal. Shylock is simply dubbed "the Jew," especially by everyone's favorite extrovert, Gratiano. Jessica runs off with her Christian lover, Lorenzo, deepening his wounds further.

This can attribute to the harsh treatment the Jews received during the Renaissance. At the time, lending money was the only career that Jews could attain. From the dominant Christian standpoint, money lending was considered a "sin," and this lowered the status of Jewish people even further. Even though anti-semitism has decreased in Europe, it still runs rampant and elsewhere in the world.

The influence of Shylock and Shakespearian themes have introduced the new term known as "shylocking." To label someone as a "shylock" is to call him or her a "loan shark." A "shylock", simply put, is a person who lends money at a rate that would make the patron throw the hat down and yell a series of curse words. "Shylock" has popped up in the movie Get Shorty and even "a pound of flesh" has shown up on tongues as a way of getting revenge.

In irony, though Shylock has been portrayed as the stereotype on how people viewed Jews in the day, he is a character that for a while controlled Shakespeare's pen. Whether Shakespeare was or was not anti-semitic, he could not directly portray actual injustice done on Jews because of the intense hatred that flooded through his period, save for Shylock's speech about prejudice aimed at him.

Below is a scene from a clip of 2004's The Merchant of Venice, with Al Pacino presenting Shylock's most famous speech, and possibly the most famous speech from Shakespeare's writings. Bringing the video onto this post was not as difficult as I made it out to be, as I just went to "Edit Html" which allowed the video to be set.

- Kristopher

"Puck"-Sinister or Silly?

2008-01-25T16:03:00.000-06:00

Shakespeare's 'Puck' in "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" is certainly a character I misunderstood when I read the story. I envisioned 'Puck' to be a really sinister character, plotting with Oberon more than once, causing havoc for the story's characters. I should have taken the hints the story offered me, such as the descriptive word "Sprite" and Puck's other name, "Robin Goodfellow." "Sprite" suggests a quick and bubbly temperament. A robin is a small little bird, liked by all. What else but goodness should I think Goodfellow to mean.

However, not until I viewed the early movie version of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" in Dr. Clemente's Shakespeare class did I get a true appreciation for the character, "Puck." Now, I confess that Puck is my favorite character in the play. I realize that watching Mickey Rooney perform Puck's character helped me change my view of the character as a whole. The movie version of the play added the 'sound' to Puck's voice that I did not hear when I read the play. His screeches were wonderfully done. And in true character of a little "sprite." I found Puck's laughter to be exciting and silly (in a funny way), and absolutely memorable.

Mickey Rooney deserved an Oscar for his role in this adaption of the play. ...Linda

Four Scenarios in "A Midsummer's Night Dream"

2008-01-25T14:06:00.000-06:00

"A Midsummer's Night Dream" has four different character situations that make this Shakespearean play greatly funny and enjoyable.

First, there are the lovers, Lysander, Demetrius, Hermia, and Helena, who go against parental authority (Thesues, Hippolyta, and Egues) and are involved in 'trickery,' trying to connect to their perfect mate, giving us one scenario.

Second, Peter Quince, Nick Bottom, Francis Flute, Tom Snout, Snug, and Robin Starveling ( I call them the Court Jesters) keep the laughs coming in their situation.

I divide the Third and Forth scenarios between Oberon, King of the (Dark) Fairies and Titania, Queen of the (Bright and Light) Fairies who both want possession of the beautiful young boy, causing Oberon to go to 'devilish' means to capture him.

In my opinion, each scenario could stand on its own to create a story, or play. By twisting, turning, and intertwining the excitement of each situation with the other, Shakespeare shows his genius once again to captivate and control our extreme emotions (Love, Hate, Surprise, Excitement, Wonder, etc.).

...Linda

Claudio and Hero

2008-01-23T07:42:00.000-06:00

Apart from Benedick and Beatrice, Claudio and Hero are the second set of lovers in Much Ado About Nothing. The trouble that comes up with both of them is that Don John, the villain of the play, poses that Hero is "unchaste." This dissuades Claudio's interest in her. Hero is pronounced "dead" in that fashion, with everyone casting an accusing eye on her.

The sources of names for Claudio and Hero are worth looking at, aside from their names in the play rhyming with one another! For "Claudio," the name is derived from "Claudius," which means "weak." Could Shakespeare have chosen this name intentionally? Claudio does not seem to be on par with the ladies as Benedick seems to be, so that might be the case. On the other hand, this would suggest gullibility as he was fooled by Don John's deception that Hero was no longer a virgin.

There is also more than one Claudio, as there are a few of many:

Claudio Sanchez - lead singer for progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria.

Christian Claudio - a former member of the tae kwon do Puerto Rican olympic national team, now a writer, professional speaker, as well as a mortgage banker.

Claudio Catagnoli - A Swiss professional wrestler.

Claudio Magris - an Italian writer.

For "Hero," the source of the name is very familiar with how we all know the word "hero" today.
"Hero" of course means "super-human champion." Once again, did Shakespeare have any knowledge of the meaning? Could Hero possibly do something that would be beyond any human ability to reach?

In the earlier case for Benedick and Beatrice, there are also interesting backgrounds on their names. "Benedick" is Latin for "blessed," while "Beatrice" is Latin for "voyager," derived from "Viatrix."

For the story of Much Ado About Nothing, this comedy follows a similiar pattern of "paired lovers" that Shakespeare is fond of using, akin to A Midnight Summer's Dream with Lysander and Hermia and Demetrius and Helena clawing at each other. In this case, we all seem to know by their names, such as how they sound and rhyme, that they will be together as they were meant to be by word choice.

- Kristopher

Christopher Marlowe

2008-01-22T08:45:00.000-06:00

Though this is a blog about Shakespeare, there is a lot of comparison between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Marlowe is known as "the father of English tragedy." He has penned Dido, Queen of Carthage, The Jew of Malta and other works. Marlowe is also noted for using blank verse, a poetic aspect that Shakespeare also employs in his plays. Shakespeare is said to have written The Taming of the Shrew with the influence of Marlowe's style.

There is an long conspiracy that Marlowe was actually responsible for writing Shakespeare's plays, that he faked his own death and kept on writing. This has fueled a huge debate whether the plays were written by Shakespeare at all, with both sides firing evidence and theories at one another. The naysayers of Shakespeare, known as "Antistratfordians," believe Shakespeare did not pen his works at all. You can find more about this conspiracy here.

There are several sites devoted to passing the conspiracy as a complete goose chase, such as this one. Aside from writing, Marlowe was also a spy for the English government, as well as being labeled a heretic. More information can read from this link.

Further information on Marlowe can be found on this site. And of course, Wikipedia has a thorough analysis over Marlowe here.

- Kristopher

Videos on BBC's "Much Ado About Nothing," featuring Benedick and Beatrice

2008-01-16T15:16:00.000-06:00

On this post are three scenes from the BBC premiere of Much Ado About Nothing, where the classic play is adapted into a British broadcasting station situation. These scenes depict the tensions between Benedick and Beatrice. In the play they throw painful words at one another. It is a chemistry that can be considered acidic but the two elements work very well together.

In the classic play, Benedick and Beatrice always fight with each other, with Beatrice usually coming up with more sharper lines just to make Benedick the soldier look bad. She descibes him as "no less than a stuffed man; but for the stuffing - well, we are all mortal." Beatrice dubs him as "Signor Montano," meaning an upward thrust in fencing. But what Beatrice is really implying is that Benedick climbs the social ladder through means of "mounting."

Benedick, a reluctant suitor towards Beatrice, claims that he will never wed, to say "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is (for the which I may go the finer), I will live a bachelor."

With the 2005 BBC version, these scenes show that little has changed despite modern times taking over.

This scene in depicts the "masquerade" scene where Sarah Parish's Beatrice thought she was speaking to Claudio but instead talks to good old Benedick in a helmet.

And this scene is even funnier yet, with Damian Lewis playing an effective, lovesick Benedick who realizes his affections for Beatrice while playing with a round object.

This scene taking place on a beach depicts the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice at its hottest, as them bickering with each other is one of Much Ado About Nothing's high points in the classic story.

All I have to say is that I wish I could see the full length version of this adaptation!

- Kristopher

Shakespeare's Phrases

2008-01-14T16:15:00.000-06:00

Shakespeare created hundreds of phrases used in the English language today that were first written into his plays. Some examples include "Woe is me," "A plague on both your houses," "All that glitters is not gold" and "We have seen better days."

For Much Ado About Nothing, phrases like "As merry as the day is long" and "Lie low." Shakespeare was also fond of inventing new words, as from Much Ado comes "employer" and "mortifying." More words and phrases with their respective plays can be found here.

Even more phrases can be found here.

- Linda

- Further additions by Kristopher

Much Ado About Nothing - A Beginning Summary

2008-01-13T20:01:00.000-06:00

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy with a constant play on words and words being used as weapons of rhetoric against hapless characters on many levels. Even the title is played with, as "Nothing" is pronounced "noting" in the style of Elizabethan speech. Various puns on different subject matter of the play take part in the script. Much Ado About Nothing also uses the "love geography" mechanic of different characters falling for one another.

There are two central pairs of lovers: Benedick and Beatrice, with Claudio and Hero. Both Benedick and Claudio are not what you call true "gentlemen" in a sense, for even though they vie for their loves, their affections always go all over the place!

So will the lovers unite? Will there be a happy ending? For more on plot analysis, click here.

Much Ado About Nothing is a play following a tradition of adaptations taking place in modern times. BBC broadcasted a TV drama of the play taking place in a broadcast television news station setting. You can view more information here.

- Kristopher

Tangled in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

2008-01-09T19:45:00.001-06:00

This play not only has a love triangle, it expands its geography to almost every character in the story.

Hermia is desired by Demetrius, who we can all identify as the arrogant bloke who is also having intimate times with Helena, who in turn is in love with Demetrius. Who Hermia truly desires is Lysander, not in approval her father Egeus. Theseus is brought in to point out that if Hermia does not give into Demetrius, she could either die or live the rest of her existence worshipping Diana, with chastity intact.

In Shakespeare's society, the father was the sole decider and deviating from the decision was thought to lead in disaster. Women were thought to make any real progress in society if they married, set by masculine standards. Eegeus' righteousness causes Hermia and Lysander decide to rebel anyway, wandering into the woods.

This form of Theseus is familiar for those who have read Geoffery Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale." He was a man of strong arm, strong will and utmost authority who tried to use it on everyone in his eyesight, including two lovestruck Theban knights Arcite and Palamoun. Here, Theseus is not in control of the situations in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" serving as the adult figure who cannot take reigns on youth itself.

So who decides the madness running amuck in this comedy? Meet Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is set to create chaos with orders given by Oberon, King of the Fairies. He is known throughout folklore as a trickster, sometimes as a devil. More information on Puck can be found here.

In the course of events, Puck accidently sets Lysander's affections towards Helena, hurting Hermia's mood tremendously. Of course, Demetrius, who was never loving in mind with Helena to begin with, starts to rival with Lysander thanks to Puck's magic.

The love, or at least the confusion of love, does not stop there. Nick Bottom, a weaver among the "rude mechanicals" who are trying to orchestrate a play about Pyramus and Thisby, gets stuck with the head of an ass, even though he declared never to be made an ass himself! It is quite funny how Shakespeare plays with expressions, with Bottom being an example of how an expression can take a life of its own.

Titania, thanks to Puck's substance, falls for the ass-headed Bottom. Poor Bottom only becomes a tool for Titania to give up an Indian boy to Oberon. Once Puck lifts the spell, Bottom's fun comes to an end. Titania survives the encounter with absolute disgust. Sometimes love doesn't go in so well.

- Kristopher

Sonnet 15

2008-01-09T19:27:00.000-06:00

"Sonnet 15" continues the theme of the life cycle from vibrant youth to harrowing old age, the joys of reproduction and the happiness as well as the sadness of passing on seeds to a new generation.

The line "Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;/" appears to represent fate watching over the "men as plants increase, cheered and checked even by the selfsame sky." The new breed of flora, the "men" or people as a whole, can be encouraged, cheered on because they are the new generation to carry out new deeds, new operations, new identities to carry out civilization's whims and wills. It can be said that this new breed could be "checked," held back by shortcomings of what the previous generation suffered, that the new generation would have to carry the sins of the mothers and the fathers on their backs.

The theme of the aging process also shows up in "Sonnet 15." "Where wasteful Time debateth with Decay," could mean that both these factors fight against the new generation, and possibly the poet. Time makes us all age, and we all must face decay not just in the aging process but with whatever misfortunes life throws on the road. The next set of lines offer comfort in the struggle: "And, all in war with Time for love of you,/As he takes from you, I engraft you new." Time may be raging against the flesh and the mind, but there is hopes for further reproduction, for a new generation to pop up, to carry on the usual deeds and possibly do better things than the previous generation did with some "engrafting," new life surging into the veins of people.

- Kristopher

Sonnet 2

2008-01-09T19:16:00.000-06:00

"Sonnet 2" appears to depict the aging process, that a man would be akin to the landscape, with his flora being ravaged by winter. "When forty winters shall besiege my brow" tells of "deep trenches" in this "landscape" that is the man describing his aging state, how wrinkles develop on the surface of the skin, how the joints aren't just a fluid as they used to be. But heavy details focus on the narrator's genitelia, described as "The youth's proud livery, so gazed on now/Will be a tattered weed of small worth held:" Everyone can feel worthless when Time makes the flesh coarse, the mind blind to its senses and other "old" details, but this narrator would especially feel useless if he were no longer the proper lover he used to be.

Like the first sonnet, "Sonnet 2" celebrates the passing on of generations. This narrator is thankful that he is able to pass his genes onto another person, hence achieving some level of immortality. The previous sonnet started as optimistic of the offspring growing up, but pessimistic on the level that he or she may be responsible for a famine of society as well as a famine of not passing the blood on to another. This sonnet offers a glimmer of hope, with "This were to be new made when thou art old/And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold." The narrator could be even be laying on his deathbed and comment on this, knowing his body will be spent, his mind weary, but that his code has been passed on to someone else.

"Sonnet 2" is one of the first set of sonnets that depict "procreation," in the organic, human sense and in the Shakespeare's sense that the fun with sonnets was just beginning.

- Kristopher

Shakespeare Parodies

2008-01-08T09:27:00.004-06:00

Shakespeare's works can never escape the the realm of art of parody.

Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's best known plays, has been made into several videos. This is true when it is mingled with "Star Wars," ironically borrowing Shakesperian elements.
This live action video is the corny parody of the ending of Hamlet.

This site depicts "Star Wars" action figures into "online comic" scenarios with Shakespeare involved. The action figures feature the dialogue and situations depicted in Shakespearian works.

Below is a sample scene, with Luke Skywalker, the ghost and the dialogue that came beneath it:

Ghost: I am thy father's spirit, Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away.

Outside of Star Wars, even creators of Halo machinima have decided to take lines of Shakespeare's Hamlet and alter the lines to reflect the haphazards and joys of the game.

- Kristopher

Sonnet 1

2008-01-07T14:33:00.000-06:00

The sonnet appears to tell about the life and death cycle of people, with the element of materialism involved.

The sonnet describes people who desire to reproduce with "we desire increase/," to pass on culture and customs "as the riper should by time decrease,/" There is an understanding that the younger generation learns from the older generation, or at least that is an assumed ideal that older people would hold. What the sonnet suggests that the new generation is disillusioned of the "old ways," that they find their way to the top, often at other people's expense. This can hold true of today's society, where good will is sometimes eclipsed by hopes for success.

In the middle of the sonnet, the tone grows darker to tell of this hunger for "more" of everything in sight. The sonnet tells of famines created "where abundance lies" as the individual moves to hoard it all. The younger generation seems to be described as selfish, only caring about itself and its own glory above other things and people. The sonnet could be describing of someone's humble orgins, that this individual could be dissatisfied with the humble life he or she was brought up in and has ambitions for greener pastures. These ambitions only serve to decrease the value of other people and things.

More accurately, since this was written in Shakespeare's time, this would apply mostly to the rich classes. This younger generation would have been brought up in a prosperous life, and have no regard to what could have been otherwise. So they would eat drink and be jolly without any limits set whatsoever. This can also apply to the lower classes with its woes, the quest for abundance being impossible to a level that it is destructive. This sonnet can relate to our times, as our society can be extremely materialistic where the belief is that one with the most toys, wins. What that part of society tells us is that this belief hardly guarantees happiness.

- Kristopher