Shakespearean Histories

Part A

Passage/Language Comparison Analysis

One of the major aspects of a Shakespearean History is the use of a soliloquy or an aside to allow the main character to profess his or her true emotions to the audience. In both "Richard III" and "Henry V", Shakespeare utilizes a soliloquy or brilliant speech to show the main characters' true colors. It is interesting to examine the contrasting speeches and to determine how Shakespeare uses language to potray Richard and Henry in different ways via the use of the same device.

Henry V

"We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us;
His present and your pains we thank you for:
When we have march'd our rackets to these balls,
We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set
Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler
That all the courts of France will be disturb'd
With chaces. And we understand him well,
How he comes o'er us with our wilder days,
Not measuring what use we made of them.
We never valued this poor seat of England;
And therefore, living hence, did give ourself
To barbarous licence; as 'tis ever common
That men are merriest when they are from home.
But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state,
Be like a king and show my sail of greatness
When I do rouse me in my throne of France:
For that I have laid by my majesty
And plodded like a man for working-days,
But I will rise there with so full a glory
That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his
Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones; and his soul
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows
Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands;
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down;
And some are yet ungotten and unborn
That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of God,
To whom I do appeal; and in whose name
Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on,
To venge me as I may and to put forth
My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause.
So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin
His jest will savour but of shallow wit,
When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.
Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well" (1.1)

Richard III

"He cannot live, I hope; and must not die
Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven.
I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments;
And, if I fall not in my deep intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live:
Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy,
And leave the world for me to bustle in!
For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter.
What though I kill'd her husband and her father?
The readiest way to make the wench amends
Is to become her husband and her father:
The which will I; not all so much for love
As for another secret close intent,
By marrying her which I must reach unto.
But yet I run before my horse to market:
Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives and reigns:
When they are gone, then must I count my gains" (1.1)

In the two speeches above, Shakespeare utilizes the soliloquy to show the evil inside of Richard versus the courage and resolve of Henry. In Richard's quote, he frequently refers to death. He is planning to kill off his brother Clarence, and he wants to profess it to someone. By speaking to the audience, Richard can reveal all his secrets and let the audience in on what is in store for the rest of the play. Richard's speech paints a dark picture for those listening, and it is interesting to see what Richard is willing to do behind other people's backs to get ahead. Henry, conversely, is willing to do what it takes to conquer and ascend the throne in France, but he is portrayed as a character who will do it the "just" way. Several times in his motivational speech the word pleasant is invoked; the diction in Henry's speeches is more positive than in Richard's. As Henry talks, he openly warns France to watch out for him; unlike Richard, Henry is shown as brave enough to announce his plan to the world. It is interesting to compare the two previous speeches and to note their similar purposes while recognizing the differences between the two English rulers.

Part B

Commentary on the Genre

Shakespeare's histories are interesting in that they are based on real people and real events in history. One aspect of his histories is the ongoing "War of the Roses" between the houses of Lancaster and York. The conflict between the two houses is an interesting study, and it must have had an effect on Shakespeare's writings. Histories also seem to be more flexible than comedies. Comedies have a set formula that works well for them whereas histories seem to vary. For example, in "Richard III" Richard is potrayed as an evil monster who will stop at nothing to get the crown. The whole tone of the play is dark and full of despair. In "Henry V", however, Henry is shown as a great man who, despite his assault on France, has behaved in ways that a king should. He gives motivational speeches and rallies his men behind him in ways that Richard cannot dream of. The fact that both these plays are considered histories while being written with such different intentions shows the versatility of the genre.

Part C

Personal Reflection

I personally enjoyed reading the histories "Richard III" and "Henry V". I found the contrast in characters fascinating. It was interesting to transition from the evil Richard to a considerably more gentle Henry. Most will not admit it, but it is enjoyable to read about others doing evil things that we would never imagine doing. When Richard decides to murder his brother, it is shocking and difficult to understand. The challenge Shakespeare presents the reader is getting inside the characters' heads. I found it particularly challenging to relate to Richard at all, which is why I found it most intriguing. In "Henry V", I found a big change in tone. Henry speaks in a style unlike Richard. Anything Richard would say has beeen completely switched around. The comparison between the two Englishmen made my experience more enjoyable and meaningful. Having read them together I found a greater understanding of the genre and its purpose.

Shakespearean Comedy

Part A

Passage/Language Comparison Analysis

The following passage from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare contains language that has been manipulated to mean two different things; one meaning is literal, while the other meaning is a pun intended to make the individual appear dim-witted. Puns and verbal irony are characteristic of Shakespearean comedies.

"Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery Cobweb
to scratch. I must to the barber's, monsieur; for
methinks I am marvellous hairy about the face; and I
am such a tender ass, if my hair do but tickle me,
I must scratch" (4.1)

This quote is spoken by Bottom in Act 4 Scene 1 of the play, and it is used for comedic effect. Bottom and his fellow "actors" are planning a show in which Bottom has declared he will play every part simultaneously. Following many missteps and incorrect word choice, Bottom has elevated himself to superstar status, forcing those around him to do his bidding. At this point in the play, Bottom is wearing a donkey mask of sorts, signifying how much of an "ass" he is both literally and figuratively. Bottom believes he has become the character, as he does not realize that the reason he is "hairy about the face" is due to his absurd costume. He also declares he is a "tender ass", clearly a pun aimed at Bottom to exploit his self-centered tendencies.

Part B

Commentary on the Genre

"A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Taming of the Shrew", and "The Tempest" are several of Shakespeare's comedies. The comedy genre is based on several ideas. Often love is the central idea and the problem. Lovers in Shakespearean comedies are often forced apart due to circumstances they cannot control, sometimes at the hands of family members, creating tension that needs to be overcome. One example of this idea is in "The Taming of the Shrew". Baptista Minola, father of Katherine and Bianca, controls their love lives by proclaiming that Bianca may not date until Katherine is ready to do the same. By interfering with their lives and keeping them from seeing men, Baptista is exerting control over their destinies, characteristic of a comedy. Another element of the comedy is the shortening of distance between characters; in "The Tempest", the main characters, Prospero and Gonzalo, for example, are far from one another for so long, but are reunited on an island following a horrible storm. Their separation turns to reuniting, another characteristic of the comedy. A third characteric of Shakespearean comedy is a multitude of plots that act separately but are not exclusive. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream", their are three plots: the plot in the fairy world with Oberon and Titania, the plot in the "real" world involving Demetrius, Lysander, and Hermia, and the plot involving Bottom and his absurd play. By taking varying plots and connecting them together, Shakespeare creates drama and comedy in three different ways and closes the play with a happy ending as comedies do.

Part C

Personal Reflection

As compared to the Histories, I had some trouble reading Shakespeare's comedies. I personally prefer stories that have some basis in fact like Shakespeare's accounts of the rulers of England in "Richard III" and "Henry V". Plays that invoke the use of fairies and magic do not register with me as other plays may. I will say, however, that some aspects of the plays intrigued me. In "A Midsummer Night's Dream", I enjoyed the frequent insulting of Bottom. The only thing funnier than a fool is a fool who has no idea he is being made fun of, and Bottom truly exemplifies that. In "The Tempest" I found the enslavement of Caliban by Prospero very interesting. Slavery, as we all know, came to a head centuries after Shakespeare, and it is interesting that slavery is being considered in literature years before its day of reckoning. Shakespeare seems to have been ahead of his time in that regard. One aspect of Shakeapearean comedy I enjoyed was the identity switching in "The Taming of the Shrew". The humor created when individuals switch identities to fool others and the challenge in remembering who is who within the play was a nice change. Overall, I found the happy endings in these plays to be a bit much for my taste, but, as with anything, there were parts I enjoyed and would read again.

A Tale of Two Cities

Part A/B

One of the major themes in A Tale of Two Cities is rebirth/resurrection. This theme runs through the society during revolutionary France (1787) and also through individuals. On a societal level, resurrection occurs as The French Revolution ends and Paris rises once again, more beautiful than ever and belonging to the people not the aristocracy. One example of this resurrection comes from one of my favorite lines in the novel. (Carton and his thoughts just before his execution). "I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising form this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out" (Dickens 292). Carton is directly referencing the death of the old French government and the resurrection of a country as a result of sacrifice. On a more personal level, resurrection runs through Carton. In order to save Darnay from "La Guillotine", Carton switches places with Darnay in order to save him. Carton's act of selflessness so that others may live on is a direct allusion to Jesus and the Bible. "Must I die so others shall live". By sacrificing himself, he puts himself on high moral ground and provides the possibility for resurrection as Jesus is said to have attained. Darnay may live on as a result of Carton's sacrifice.

Part C

By far the most frustrating book I've read this year, A Tale of Two Cities was a thick read. I did not care for Dickens's style of writing. Sentences seemed to continue with no end in sight, and it was often difficult to understand exactly what was happening in the scene. This fact made it very difficult to get through the novel. There were upsides, however. The plot was very intersting; the use of varying locations and espionage was intriguing. Another aspect that I liked was character development. While some criticize Dickens's characters as too static, I found that to be strangely appealing. Madame DeFarge, for example, remained the same woman until her death yet she was never the less an interesting character. The message that the novel sends may sometimes be difficult to understand but the work one puts into understanding the story pays off at the end.

Anthem

Part A

One of the most important symbols in Anthem by Ayn Rand is light. Often, light represents purity and truth. When in the forest, the main characters find a house that has windows to allow light in. The light, in that instance, represents a bit of freedom. The light they see has given them freedom in the woods from their normal lives. Light is also used to contrast the forest and the city. The forest is reliant on light while the city relies on candles. Light is not present in the dark, sickly feeling city. The light the characters experience has a negative; while it exposes the good things in life it also sheds light onto the bad. This, however, only detracts minimally from the happiness they feel when they are able to be alone in the forest. Their flaws do not outweigh the good they see.

Part B

"I am. I think. I will." (Chapter XI, page 94).

After realizing the impact of the word "I", Equality 7-2521 starts off Chapter XI a new man. I like this quote because it is simple. Too often we are caught up in intense, profound language with color and texture when we should be looking at the simple things in life, as they are often the most beautiful. This quote kicks off the main character's new thought process. Now that he can think for himself, he begins to now plan his new life with "The Golden One". This is an important quote because it is the start of a new life for him; he realizes now what it means to say "I".

Part C

Despite the relatively short length of the novel, I still found Anthem to be a rather slow read. To me, it seemed as though the book was moving in half time. All the events seemed to move at half speed and their communication in the beginning was limited. For a while I was confused as to the use of "we". The characters would always refer to "we" and it was sometimes difficult to grasp what they meant without rereading a paragraph several times. I did not like the depiction of "The Golden One" either. She seemed to just be a woman there only for her man. He controlled her to an extent and it was not appealing to read about.

Cat's Cradle

Part A

One argument that Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut brings up deals with the roles of religion and science in society. More specifically, can a society based completely on one extreme (religion) survive without its counter (science), and vice versa. In the novel, John, the narrator, is trying to detail the events that occurred in the life of Felix Hoenikker (one of the creators of the atomic bomb) on the day that the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Through a series of events, he learns of a religion known as Bokononism in a place called San Lorenzo. The novel answers the question of science vs. religion via the use of examples of both extremes. To demonstrate that a society cannot function with religion as the only factor, the reader learns of Bokonon and his religion appropriately named Bokononism. The reader comes to realize that this religion is based on lies; the basis for religion is uncertainty. The problem with a society only concerned with religion is an absence of drive to change. If we leave our fate to chance and place everything in the hands of good faith, what will we accomplish?

A society based solely on science cannot function as well. Felix Hoenikker, the creator of the atomic bomb, is the perfect example of a genius with no moral compass. On the day that the bomb was dropped he was simply relaxing, idly playing with a piece of string. He felt no remorse for the lives lost via his creation. In a society consumed by science and truth, morals would dissapear. Science physically can help people, but the help it can provide some can ultimately destroy others. Science and truth is worthless without a force to control it.

Both extremes are shown in negative lights in Cat's Cradle in order to warn the reader of the dangers of an unbalanced society. It is imporantat to have a balance of both. Science (exemplified by Hoenikker's mind and his creations like ice-nine) is powerful and it makes change happen while religion (Bokononism) provides an opposing force to control change. A society of one extreme cannot exist without the other, as proven by this novel.

Part B

"Dr. Hoenikker...had baked his last batch of brownies. He had made a chip of ice-nine. It was blue-white. It had a melting point of one-hundred-fourteen-point-four degrees Fahrenheit. (He) had put the chip in a little bottle...The old man died on Christmas Eve...His children had divided the ice-nine among themselves" (Vonnegut 42).

Ice-nine is a substance that turns liquid to solid, water to ice. While its purpose is not to end the world, that is exactly what it will do if it is released into a body of water. The ice-nine's effects would begin to reach all moisture on earth via adhesion of water particles, and the end of the worldwould be inevitable. Considering this fact, it is an incredible use of understatement on the part of Vonnegut to compare ice-nine to a batch of brownies. I like this quote because it shows the lack of awareness Hoenikker had. To nonchalantly compare a substance that could end the world to an innocent substance like brownies is humourous in a slightly distrurbing and unsettling way.

Part C

On the whole, I did not enjoy Cat's Cradle. I felt that Vonnegut's stlye was distracting to read. Chapters switched very rapidly and it was occasionally difficult to keep track of names at the beginning of the novel. While the novel was not entirely pleasing to me, I did find the core question of science vs. religion rather fascinating. Vonnegut's use of ice-nine versus Bokononism to expound upon that question was cleverly employed and it cannot be ignored despite some other displeasing factors that contributed to the reading experience.

The Importance of Being Earnest

Part A

One symbol in The Importance of Being Earnest is food. Specifically, food becomes the source of conflict in the play a number of times. Repetition of certain foods like cucumber sandwiches, sugar, tea, cake, and muffins serve to underline the lack of substance in the characters' lives. In a society in which being imporant and proper is of utmost importance, arguing is frowned upon. Rather than arguing about important subjects, these important subjects take the shape of innocent items like food. While the characters are arguing repeatedly about food, they really are trying to find a source for their desires that they cannot seem to attain in their stuck-up society due to precedents that pertain to proper etiquette.



Part B

Lady Bracknell: "To speak frankly, I am not in favour of long engagements. They give people the opportunity of finding out each other's character before marriage, which I think is never advisable" (Wilde 48).

This quote by Lady Bracknell shows the upper class's attitudes toward marriage. Marriage is incredibly important in their society, so much so that it has become thoughtless. It is not fashionable to consider the consequences of one's actions. As long as someone is married, they let the details of their marriage come out after the wedding. Learning the characteristics of one's mate is surely unwise, according to them, and this quote clearly defines the stance the upper class has taken on what many would consider to be incredibly important, life-changing issues.

Part C

I very much enjoyed reading this play. Part of its appeal was its length; I felt that it had just enough meat to it to convey Wilde's main ideas. The fact we were able to read and discuss the entire play in class was also a plus. It was easier to understand exactly what the play was talking about when we broke it down and were able to talk candidly about what was going on. Some of the exchanges between characters were very funny due to the fact that their superficial discussion seemed to have no meaning or importance. Another reason I enjoyed the play was the fact we got to act it out! Strangely, when I read things out loud or get into character I am much more capable of retaining information and understanding complex ideas. The satirizing of upper class snobs was enjoyable to read and I hope to read more plays like this in class at some point.

The Handmaid's Tale

Part A

One symbol of interest in The Handmaid's Tale is the garb which the handmaids are all forced to wear. More specifically, it is the color of the "dress" that is imporant in the novel. In Gilead, the society Margaret Atwood has created, women have become political instruments and subsequently oppressed. They are separated into groups known as the Marthas, Handmaids, Econowives, etc. Each group has a distinctive style and color of dress. The Handmaids, like the protagonist Offred, are forced to wear a red , full body dress in addition to a headpiece that has flaps covering the space which their peripheral vision would normally capture. In Gilead, women are vauled only for their fertility. There is a premium placed on reproduction, and the handmaids become the focus of this idea. It is no surprise to realize the significance of their dress color when this is taken into account. The color red symbolizes fertility and it connects directly to the handmaids as their only role in society is to be fertile. Red also relates to blood and its role in childbirth. Interestingly, Gilead is based on "faith", yet the handmaids essentially commit adulterly by having sex with their Commander. The color red, therefore, must also symbolize some form of sin. If one equates the ideas of sin and fertility, it is easy to see why the handmaids are often caught between a rock and a hard place in Gilead. On one hand they are giving the gift of life, but on the other hand they appear to be sinning.

Part B

"He looks at me, and sees me looking...He begins to whistle. Then he winks. I drop my head and turn so that the white wings hide my face...He's just taken a risk, but for what?...Perhaps he was merely being friendly...Perhaps it was a test...Perhaps he is an Eye" (Atwood 18).

At this point, very near the opening of the novel, it becomes clear to the reader that the handmaids are to have no contact with males at all with the exception of the scheduled sessions with the Commander. In this passage, Offred shares a moment with Nick, one of the men who works for the Commander. This is an imporant point in the book to analyze because it provides insight into the mindset of the women in Gilead. The government has so completely taken control of their lives to the point that any relationships with other individuals must always be questioned. Nick's advances, not disturbing under normal circumstances, are immediately blown into a full scale problem in Offred's head. The fact that her reaction is to turn her head in virtual shame demonstrates the guilt that many women in Gilead feel, regardless of the fact that their oppression has resulted at no fault of their own.

Part C

There are not many books that I have read that reach to the extremes that The Handmaid's Tale dares to touch upon. It is for this reason that I found the novel interesting to read. The relatively far-fetched situations that Atwood creates in the novel are well written. I enjoyed her style of writing as it seemed that she always had a good point to make or something profound or impacting to say at the end of nearly every paragraph. To me, it felt that the characters were not real. This, however is a good thing. Her style created characters that seemed to be pawns controlled in a game or puppets controlled by a puppeteer. Every move Offred makes is maniuplated in some way by the Commander. By portraying the characters in this way it enhances the feeling of helplessness the reader senses when he or she reads the novel. Unique in many ways, this novel is a rather exciting read relative to the boring lives of the characters portrayed therein.