The sheriff, attorney, Hale and the women are at Mrs. Wright's house. Hale tells the story of how he discovered Mrs. Wright sitting in her kitchen and her husband dead upstairs. The men go upstairs and check the house for evidence. The men criticize Mrs. Wrights housekeeping and Mrs. Hale feels offended and tidies up a bit. Mrs. Peters gathers up some things to take to the jail for Mrs. Wright. The women are disturbed by the untidiness of the house and the fact that some of the bread isn't done and the towels are dirty. The notice that the stitches on her quilt are crooked, and Mrs. Hale fixes them. The women then find the bird cage and talk about how Mrs. Wright used to sing but now she doesn't since she's been married. Mrs. Peters starts to relate more to Mrs. Wright. She decides to take her her sewing and her preserves so that she thinks they all survived. The women also hide the dead bird, because they don't want to bring suspicion onto Mrs. Wright.
This story portrays the feminist criticism really well. The women notice the untidy house and realize that something is wrong. Women take pride in their housework and would not let it get sloppy. The women are discussing small hints that me men just make snide comments about. The men see small disruptions in every day life as unworthy of notice. The women notice the untidy sewing and the men only ask if Mrs. Wright was planning on quilting it or knotting it, instead of what evidence it may provide. When the men see the birdcage the decide that a cat got it and look not closer into the situation. The women know the truth, but also feel for Mrs. Wright. The women show their power by suppressing evidence from the men. In the end the women know the whole truth and the reason why Mrs. Wright killed her husband, because they looked at every small detail. The men missed out, because they are biased against women and thought they could do a better job there self.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Hamlet - Act 5
Scene 1: The gravedigger and another man discuss whether or not Ophelia should be given a Christian funeral since she killed herself. One thinks she shouldn't and the other thinks she should. Hamlet comes upon the scene and sees the gravedigger digging up a skull and tossing it behind him. Hamlet is offended by this because it belonged to someone. He finds out that one belonged to the Jester that he used to know and is saddened. Ophelia's funeral procession enters and she is put into the ground. Laertes wants more prayers said, but they can't because she died under suspicious circumstances. Laertes jumps into the grave, and Hamlet comes out of hiding and jumps in after him. Hamlet says that he would do things that Laertes never would for Ophelia. The king proclaims that Hamlet is mad and Hamlet stalks off. The king then tell Laertes to be patient, because he will soon have a chance for revenge.
Scene 2: Hamlet tells Horatio about how he got his friends killed in England. A courtier named Osric enters and tells Hamlet that the king has bet that Hamlet can beat Laertes in a duel. The king wants to know if he will accept that offer. Hamlet accepts and fights Laertes that same day. The king says he will drop a pear into the wine after Hamlets first hit and give to Hamlet. Hamlet declines the drink and keeps playing. His mother drinks in his honor and is poisoned. The two boys then get into a fight and Hamlet is cut, they end up switching swords and Laertes gets cut with his own sword. Hamlet then stabs Claudius and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Hamlet orders Horatio to stay alive and to inform Fortinbra, who has just arrived, about what has happened. He wants the true story to get out. When Fortinbra arrives Horatio orders him to be carried away like a solider.
The last act is the marxist perspective and psychological. It's Marxist during the sword fight. The men are fighting over who should be in power and who's the better man. They are both set out to kill or injure the other. The king is showing his power by having control over the poison. He shows his power by putting the poison pellet into Hamlet's drink. This makes him feel like that master of death. When Hamlet realizes that he is dying he feels at a loss of power. He knows that he has no power left, so he passes his power onto Horatio. This is psychological because Hamlet needs to feel like a man and beat out Laertes. When the queen is dying Claudius feels no remorse. This shows how crazy he has come over needing to kill Hamlet. He doesn't even show emotion when his wife dies. Hamlet and Horatio both get cut with the sword and this brings them together for a common cause. They realize that the king is the one at fault here. They unite and pray before they die, which brings them to peace. In Hamlets last moments you see that he is not crazy. He has sense enough to put is trust into Horatio who is calm. Horatio is a loyal servant. He knows that he will get into power so he stays alive. He also needs to get the truth out and clear Hamlet's name.
Scene 2: Hamlet tells Horatio about how he got his friends killed in England. A courtier named Osric enters and tells Hamlet that the king has bet that Hamlet can beat Laertes in a duel. The king wants to know if he will accept that offer. Hamlet accepts and fights Laertes that same day. The king says he will drop a pear into the wine after Hamlets first hit and give to Hamlet. Hamlet declines the drink and keeps playing. His mother drinks in his honor and is poisoned. The two boys then get into a fight and Hamlet is cut, they end up switching swords and Laertes gets cut with his own sword. Hamlet then stabs Claudius and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Hamlet orders Horatio to stay alive and to inform Fortinbra, who has just arrived, about what has happened. He wants the true story to get out. When Fortinbra arrives Horatio orders him to be carried away like a solider.
The last act is the marxist perspective and psychological. It's Marxist during the sword fight. The men are fighting over who should be in power and who's the better man. They are both set out to kill or injure the other. The king is showing his power by having control over the poison. He shows his power by putting the poison pellet into Hamlet's drink. This makes him feel like that master of death. When Hamlet realizes that he is dying he feels at a loss of power. He knows that he has no power left, so he passes his power onto Horatio. This is psychological because Hamlet needs to feel like a man and beat out Laertes. When the queen is dying Claudius feels no remorse. This shows how crazy he has come over needing to kill Hamlet. He doesn't even show emotion when his wife dies. Hamlet and Horatio both get cut with the sword and this brings them together for a common cause. They realize that the king is the one at fault here. They unite and pray before they die, which brings them to peace. In Hamlets last moments you see that he is not crazy. He has sense enough to put is trust into Horatio who is calm. Horatio is a loyal servant. He knows that he will get into power so he stays alive. He also needs to get the truth out and clear Hamlet's name.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Hamlet - Act 4
Scene 1: Gertrude tells Claudius than Hamlet stabbed Polonius in a rage. Claudius says that Hamlet is a threat to everyone and must be removed. Claudius decides to ship Hamlet of to England quickly. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go recover Polonius' body and bring it to the chapel.
Scene 2: Hamlet refuses to tell the guys where the body is hidden. He calls them yes men, because they yearn for the kings praise and affection.
Scene 3: Claudius tell Hamlet that he is going to be sent to England and tries to get him on the ship as quickly as possible. Hamlet calls Claudius his mother, because if they married they are of one flesh. You find out that Claudius has written to the King of England instructing him to kill Hamlet right away.
Scene 4: Fortinbra's troops enter Denmark and ask for permission to cross. Hamlet asks about what is going on and is told. He decides that people have too much power for their own good. Hamlet then talks himself into needing to commit his act of revenge soon.
Scene 5: Ophelia has become crazy after her father's death and is brought in to talk to Gerturde. Ophelia sings about death and it frightens those around her. Claudius feels bad for Ophelia, but is more worried about her brother Laertes. He has returned early from France and is threatening to overthrow the king. Laerte then crashes through the door with a crowd and demands to speak to the king. Laertes is thrown into rage when his sister wanders back in obviously insane. He wants revenge right away, but Claudius convinces him to hear his side of the story first.
Scene 6: Hamlet sends Horatio a letter. Hamlet's letter instructs Horatio to show the sailors the king, and then go with the sailors to where Hamlet is.
Scene 7: Claudius receives the letters from Hamlet and reads them aloud. Hamlet is supposedly back in Denmark. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet killed his father and Laertes wants his revenge when Hamlet comes back. The boys plan to kill him in a way where it looks like no one will be to blame. They try to think of the best way to kill him. During planning Gertrude comes bearing news that Ophelia has drown while trying to hang flowers.
Act 4 consists of a big power struggle between everyone. Hamlet shows power over Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when he refuses to tell them where the body is. Fortinbra's troops and Norway's leader show power by wielding troops for an extremely small piece of land. Claudius believes that he has power over Hamlet by shipping him out. Hamlet still hasn't gotten his revenge, but believes he has power, because he knows that his uncle is up to. Laertes comes into the town to take power. He comes in with a power struggle with Claudius, but that changes when he finds out that Hamlet killed his father. He then sides with Claudius and the form a super power against Hamlet.
This Act also shows the psychological theory. Ophelia has gone completely mad, because of her father's death. She sings songs that relates to death, and her babble means just as much as words would, because they convey her emotion. At one point she conveys her thoughts of others through flowers and their meaning. Although she can't express her thoughts in the normal way, she does a good job of showing her feelings in her own way.
Scene 2: Hamlet refuses to tell the guys where the body is hidden. He calls them yes men, because they yearn for the kings praise and affection.
Scene 3: Claudius tell Hamlet that he is going to be sent to England and tries to get him on the ship as quickly as possible. Hamlet calls Claudius his mother, because if they married they are of one flesh. You find out that Claudius has written to the King of England instructing him to kill Hamlet right away.
Scene 4: Fortinbra's troops enter Denmark and ask for permission to cross. Hamlet asks about what is going on and is told. He decides that people have too much power for their own good. Hamlet then talks himself into needing to commit his act of revenge soon.
Scene 5: Ophelia has become crazy after her father's death and is brought in to talk to Gerturde. Ophelia sings about death and it frightens those around her. Claudius feels bad for Ophelia, but is more worried about her brother Laertes. He has returned early from France and is threatening to overthrow the king. Laerte then crashes through the door with a crowd and demands to speak to the king. Laertes is thrown into rage when his sister wanders back in obviously insane. He wants revenge right away, but Claudius convinces him to hear his side of the story first.
Scene 6: Hamlet sends Horatio a letter. Hamlet's letter instructs Horatio to show the sailors the king, and then go with the sailors to where Hamlet is.
Scene 7: Claudius receives the letters from Hamlet and reads them aloud. Hamlet is supposedly back in Denmark. Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet killed his father and Laertes wants his revenge when Hamlet comes back. The boys plan to kill him in a way where it looks like no one will be to blame. They try to think of the best way to kill him. During planning Gertrude comes bearing news that Ophelia has drown while trying to hang flowers.
Act 4 consists of a big power struggle between everyone. Hamlet shows power over Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when he refuses to tell them where the body is. Fortinbra's troops and Norway's leader show power by wielding troops for an extremely small piece of land. Claudius believes that he has power over Hamlet by shipping him out. Hamlet still hasn't gotten his revenge, but believes he has power, because he knows that his uncle is up to. Laertes comes into the town to take power. He comes in with a power struggle with Claudius, but that changes when he finds out that Hamlet killed his father. He then sides with Claudius and the form a super power against Hamlet.
This Act also shows the psychological theory. Ophelia has gone completely mad, because of her father's death. She sings songs that relates to death, and her babble means just as much as words would, because they convey her emotion. At one point she conveys her thoughts of others through flowers and their meaning. Although she can't express her thoughts in the normal way, she does a good job of showing her feelings in her own way.
Hamlet - Act 3
Scene 1: Rosencraft and Guildenstern report to the king about what they found out about Hamlet. They then convince the king and queen to attend the play that night. Everyone then leaves to that Polonius and Claudius can spy on Ophelia and Hamlet as they interact in the hallway. Hamlet enters the hallway contemplating suicide. He is debating whether it's nobler to endure life till the end or to end it early. He compares death to sleep, but you don't know what dreams will accompany death. We only live to the end, because we are scared to face what death will bring us. Hamlet runs into Ophelia and says that he no longer loves her. He says that everyone is a sinner and tells her not to give birth to more sinners. He tells her to quickly get to a Nunnery. After this Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England to get him some fresh air. They decide to do this only if his mother can't get his feelings from him.
Scene 2: Hamlet tells the actors to act their parts well, but not to over do it. He sends Rosencraft and Guildenstern to go make the actors get ready faster. Horatio appears and Hamlet tells him to watch the king carefully to see his reaction to the play. Hamlet starts to act weird and starts telling Ophelia erotic jokes and giving strange answers to questions. A preview of the play starts where the king is poisoned by another man. After that the actual play starts. Hamlet narrates the whole play, and we find out that the murderer is the king is his nephew. When the play gets too much, Claudius calls out for light and leaves the room thoroughly shaken. Hamlets mother then wishes to speak to him, but he says that he will go soon. He also says that he will "speak daggers but use none."
Scene 3: Claudius decides to send Rosencraft and Guildenstern to England with Hamlet to get him out of the kingdom. Polonius goes to listen in on Hamlet and his mother as they talk. Claudius then thinks about the murder. He thinks that he should be forgiven since he prays. He asks for help, because he can not seem to break away from his sin. Hamlet thinks about taking the king during prayer, but since his sins are forgiven he would go to heaven. Hamlet decides to wait until after the king has been drunk or committed some other sin to kill him.
Scene 4: Hamlet goes to talk to Gertrude. He accuses her of questioning him with bad intentions. She takes it as a threat and cries for help. Polonius picks up the cry and Hamlet stabs through the tapestry and kills him for being a rat. Hamlet accuses his mother of knowing about his father's murder, but she shows no knowledge. Hamlet keeps going and she breaks. He is relentless and brings up her sleeping with the murderer. The ghost appears and tells him to lay off of his mom. Gertrude asks who he is speaking to, because she can not see the ghost. He describes the ghost to her but she believes him mad. He then tries to convince her that he was faking madness all along. He asks his mother not to bed with Claudius tonight to regain some of her virtues. Hamlet also asks her not to tell anyone that he's faking madness. He also tells her that he will have to go to England with his untrustworthy friends.
Hamlet spends his whole life playing mind games, which would be the psychological conflict theory. Hamlet is depressed and is contemplating suicide. He has very deep thoughts about whether we only live because we are scared of what come after death. His mind is racing because of the thought of getting revenge. He plays mind games with Ophelia by telling her that he never loved her, even though he sent her those letters. Hamlet acts crazy throughout the whole play-withing-the-play to throw people off. He cracks through his Uncle's facade with the reenactment of the murder. He causes his Uncle to suffer a mental breakdown and makes him question his virtues and his general worth. He then relentlessly questions his mother until she cracks. Hamlet has a need for power, which is the Marxist prospective, and shows that when he dominates over others. Hamlet shows complete domination over other's emotions by manipulating their feelings and getting them to show certain emotions when needed.
Scene 2: Hamlet tells the actors to act their parts well, but not to over do it. He sends Rosencraft and Guildenstern to go make the actors get ready faster. Horatio appears and Hamlet tells him to watch the king carefully to see his reaction to the play. Hamlet starts to act weird and starts telling Ophelia erotic jokes and giving strange answers to questions. A preview of the play starts where the king is poisoned by another man. After that the actual play starts. Hamlet narrates the whole play, and we find out that the murderer is the king is his nephew. When the play gets too much, Claudius calls out for light and leaves the room thoroughly shaken. Hamlets mother then wishes to speak to him, but he says that he will go soon. He also says that he will "speak daggers but use none."
Scene 3: Claudius decides to send Rosencraft and Guildenstern to England with Hamlet to get him out of the kingdom. Polonius goes to listen in on Hamlet and his mother as they talk. Claudius then thinks about the murder. He thinks that he should be forgiven since he prays. He asks for help, because he can not seem to break away from his sin. Hamlet thinks about taking the king during prayer, but since his sins are forgiven he would go to heaven. Hamlet decides to wait until after the king has been drunk or committed some other sin to kill him.
Scene 4: Hamlet goes to talk to Gertrude. He accuses her of questioning him with bad intentions. She takes it as a threat and cries for help. Polonius picks up the cry and Hamlet stabs through the tapestry and kills him for being a rat. Hamlet accuses his mother of knowing about his father's murder, but she shows no knowledge. Hamlet keeps going and she breaks. He is relentless and brings up her sleeping with the murderer. The ghost appears and tells him to lay off of his mom. Gertrude asks who he is speaking to, because she can not see the ghost. He describes the ghost to her but she believes him mad. He then tries to convince her that he was faking madness all along. He asks his mother not to bed with Claudius tonight to regain some of her virtues. Hamlet also asks her not to tell anyone that he's faking madness. He also tells her that he will have to go to England with his untrustworthy friends.
Hamlet spends his whole life playing mind games, which would be the psychological conflict theory. Hamlet is depressed and is contemplating suicide. He has very deep thoughts about whether we only live because we are scared of what come after death. His mind is racing because of the thought of getting revenge. He plays mind games with Ophelia by telling her that he never loved her, even though he sent her those letters. Hamlet acts crazy throughout the whole play-withing-the-play to throw people off. He cracks through his Uncle's facade with the reenactment of the murder. He causes his Uncle to suffer a mental breakdown and makes him question his virtues and his general worth. He then relentlessly questions his mother until she cracks. Hamlet has a need for power, which is the Marxist prospective, and shows that when he dominates over others. Hamlet shows complete domination over other's emotions by manipulating their feelings and getting them to show certain emotions when needed.
Hamlet - Act 2
Scene 1: Polonius is is getting ready to send Reynaldo so go check on his son, Laertes. Polonius tells Reynaldo to question people of the town about his son's behavior. He tells him to do it in a round about way and to pretend that he doesn't really know Hamlet. They discuss their tactics more and then Reynaldo leaves. Ophelia then comes in crying. Hamlet had just been in her room and he looked a mess. He held her, stared at her, and then left while still looking at her. Polonius decides that Hamlet has been driven mad by the fact that Ophelia has cut off communication with him. He decides that the king needs to be informed.
Scene 2: The king invites two of Hamlets close friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to stay at the castle. He hopes to use them to cheer Hamlet up. The Ambassador that the king sent to Norway returns. Voltimand says that Fortinbra's uncle stopped the build up of troops and had Fortinbra vow to use those troops against Poland instead of Denmark. Polonius then informs the King and Queen Oephelia has cut off all connection with Hamlet and he thinks this is what has driven him mad. He even reads a letter that Hamlet sent Ophelias to prove his point. After this, Polonius speaks with Hamlet to try and figure out what is wrong with him, but to no avail. As Polonius leaves Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to speak with Hamlet. Hamlet asks if they were sent for and they admit that they were. Hamlet then tells them why he thinks they were sent. The group then discusses the acting group which is on its way.Hamlet finds out that child actors are starting to take over in the city. Polonius comes to inform Hamlet that the acting group has arrived and Hamlet is rude and mocks him. Hamlet starts a speech about Hecuba and makes the actor say the rest of it. He is amazed that the actor can put so much emotion into a situation he has no connection with and yet he can't even muster up enough emotion to avenge his father's death. Hamlet plans to have a play that is based on his father's death performed in front of his uncle to evoke a confession.
This scene is psychological in many ways. Polonius is not trustworthy of his son. He thinks that he is up to no good and will use reverse psychology and human nature to figure out what his son is up to. He asks his messenger to relate to the people he meets instead of outright confronting them. Comfort will get the people to spill more than confrontation would. The king send for two of Hamlet's friends in hopes that creature comforts will help him out. He wants to use the two friends to distract Hamlet from his depression. Hamlet is a cunning man though, and uses the friends to his advantage. Hamlet does not tell anyone the full story about anything. Everyone is just a piece of his elaborate plot. They unknowingly interact with each other while Hamlet lords over them all. Hamlet even uses his love for Ophelia and the acting troop to his advantage. He can feign his madness and his recovery even easier when he has reasons for both. Hamlet uses the kings weakness of his conscious to his advantage. He has the idea to replay the situation of the murder, because the kings could not bear to see his acts played out in front of him.
Scene 2: The king invites two of Hamlets close friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to stay at the castle. He hopes to use them to cheer Hamlet up. The Ambassador that the king sent to Norway returns. Voltimand says that Fortinbra's uncle stopped the build up of troops and had Fortinbra vow to use those troops against Poland instead of Denmark. Polonius then informs the King and Queen Oephelia has cut off all connection with Hamlet and he thinks this is what has driven him mad. He even reads a letter that Hamlet sent Ophelias to prove his point. After this, Polonius speaks with Hamlet to try and figure out what is wrong with him, but to no avail. As Polonius leaves Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive to speak with Hamlet. Hamlet asks if they were sent for and they admit that they were. Hamlet then tells them why he thinks they were sent. The group then discusses the acting group which is on its way.Hamlet finds out that child actors are starting to take over in the city. Polonius comes to inform Hamlet that the acting group has arrived and Hamlet is rude and mocks him. Hamlet starts a speech about Hecuba and makes the actor say the rest of it. He is amazed that the actor can put so much emotion into a situation he has no connection with and yet he can't even muster up enough emotion to avenge his father's death. Hamlet plans to have a play that is based on his father's death performed in front of his uncle to evoke a confession.
This scene is psychological in many ways. Polonius is not trustworthy of his son. He thinks that he is up to no good and will use reverse psychology and human nature to figure out what his son is up to. He asks his messenger to relate to the people he meets instead of outright confronting them. Comfort will get the people to spill more than confrontation would. The king send for two of Hamlet's friends in hopes that creature comforts will help him out. He wants to use the two friends to distract Hamlet from his depression. Hamlet is a cunning man though, and uses the friends to his advantage. Hamlet does not tell anyone the full story about anything. Everyone is just a piece of his elaborate plot. They unknowingly interact with each other while Hamlet lords over them all. Hamlet even uses his love for Ophelia and the acting troop to his advantage. He can feign his madness and his recovery even easier when he has reasons for both. Hamlet uses the kings weakness of his conscious to his advantage. He has the idea to replay the situation of the murder, because the kings could not bear to see his acts played out in front of him.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Hamlet - Act 1
Scene 1: Bernardo and Francisco are doing guard duty at the castle. They run into Horatio and Marcellus. Horatio doesn't believe that there is a ghost. They all sit and wait while Bernardo tells about the sighting from the night before. At the same time as the night before, the ghost who looks like the dead king of Denmark reappears. They order it to speak but seem to offend it. Horatio thinks that seeing the ghost king in battle armor is a bad sign for the country. Marcellus wants to know why it seems that the castle is preparing for war and Horatio explains that Fortinbra's son, Fortinbra, wants back the land his father lost. The men discuss omens that seem to predict war. The ghost comes back and is about to speak, but the rooster crows and it disappears. Marcellus and Horatio go to tell Hamlet what has happened.
Scene 2: Claudius, the King of Denmark, says that he mourns the elder Hamlet's death, but has married his ex sister in law and now worries about the matter at hand; Fortinbra's threats. Claudius has written to the King of Norway, who is also Fortinbra's Uncle to get him to get control of young Fortinbra. He has Cornelius and Voltemand deliver the letter. Laertes decides to go back to France with the permission of his father, Polonius. Hamlet's grief about his fathers death makes him want to leave the country, but his mother convinces him to stay. Hamlet is not happy with the decision though, and disapproves of his mother's marriage to his Uncle so soon after his father's death. While Hamlet is moping Horatio comes and delivers the news about the ghost of his father. They describe exactly what happened to them to Hamlet. Hamlet then asks about the ghosts facial expression. He wants to know whether it was frowning or not and what exactly the face looked like. When convinced it looked like his father, Hamlet decides to watch tonight with the other guards. He makes them promise to keep anything they see a secret.
Scene 3: Laertes is departing and tells his sister that she should be careful with Hamlet; he is just flirting with her and it will fade away. He says that he may love her now, but his commitments to his country may overpower his love for her. While Laertes is still at the dock his father comes back. He gets double blessing from his father and also a list of life lessons that he should remember. Polonius then asks his daughter Ophelia what Laertes meant with his warning about Hamlet. Polonius then preaches to Ophelia about how Hamlet is a player and his love is that of a teenage boy. He also says that she needs to spend less time with him, because people may start calling her easy.
Scene 4: Horatio and Hamlet discuss the ruckus the King is making with all of his drinking as they wait for the ghost to appear. The ghost appears and Hamlet begs it to tell him why he is dressed in battle armor and back from the grave. The ghost motions for Hamlet to follow it. The others tell Hamlet not to go, because they ghost may draw him to his death. Hamlet decides to go anyway and tells them that anyone who tries to stop him will be killed. Hamlet goes and against his orders, Marcellus and Horatio follow.
Scene 5: The ghost tells Hamlet to listen very carefully to him. He can not tell him the secrets of the after life, but he does tell him to get revenge on his murder. The ghost informs Hamlet that the "snake" that bit him in the orchard was really his uncle. The ghost is disappointed that his wife fell to lust and left him so soon. He tells the story of how the uncle poured poison into his ear as he slept, and that's what killed him. He tells Hamlet to seek revenge how he sees fit. Morning then comes so the ghost has to leave. Horatio and Marcellus find Hamlet. Hamlet refuses to tell them what was discussed, because that is between him and the ghost. Hamlet and the ghost make the boys swear by the sword to never tell what they have seen tonight.
The first act includes a lot of things that would fit under the psychological criticism. First, the men see the ghost. When anyone sees a ghost they are temporarily stunned and have the need to bring order and sense to what they saw. They immediately try to figure out why the ghost is there to help them cope with the fact that they just saw a ghost. Hamlet has many psychological problems after the death of his father. He is depressed and angry at his mother and uncle. He despises his uncle for stealing his mother away so soon after the funeral. He is bent on getting revenge on his uncle, because it is an outlet for his hatred. When Hamlet sees the ghost, it becomes an excuse for him to get revenge. The ghost may not have been telling the truth, but it is what Hamlet wanted to hear, so he listened. The ghost gave Hamlet a reason to go kill his uncle, so Hamlet accepted the ghosts words even though he has little information on him.
Scene 2: Claudius, the King of Denmark, says that he mourns the elder Hamlet's death, but has married his ex sister in law and now worries about the matter at hand; Fortinbra's threats. Claudius has written to the King of Norway, who is also Fortinbra's Uncle to get him to get control of young Fortinbra. He has Cornelius and Voltemand deliver the letter. Laertes decides to go back to France with the permission of his father, Polonius. Hamlet's grief about his fathers death makes him want to leave the country, but his mother convinces him to stay. Hamlet is not happy with the decision though, and disapproves of his mother's marriage to his Uncle so soon after his father's death. While Hamlet is moping Horatio comes and delivers the news about the ghost of his father. They describe exactly what happened to them to Hamlet. Hamlet then asks about the ghosts facial expression. He wants to know whether it was frowning or not and what exactly the face looked like. When convinced it looked like his father, Hamlet decides to watch tonight with the other guards. He makes them promise to keep anything they see a secret.
Scene 3: Laertes is departing and tells his sister that she should be careful with Hamlet; he is just flirting with her and it will fade away. He says that he may love her now, but his commitments to his country may overpower his love for her. While Laertes is still at the dock his father comes back. He gets double blessing from his father and also a list of life lessons that he should remember. Polonius then asks his daughter Ophelia what Laertes meant with his warning about Hamlet. Polonius then preaches to Ophelia about how Hamlet is a player and his love is that of a teenage boy. He also says that she needs to spend less time with him, because people may start calling her easy.
Scene 4: Horatio and Hamlet discuss the ruckus the King is making with all of his drinking as they wait for the ghost to appear. The ghost appears and Hamlet begs it to tell him why he is dressed in battle armor and back from the grave. The ghost motions for Hamlet to follow it. The others tell Hamlet not to go, because they ghost may draw him to his death. Hamlet decides to go anyway and tells them that anyone who tries to stop him will be killed. Hamlet goes and against his orders, Marcellus and Horatio follow.
Scene 5: The ghost tells Hamlet to listen very carefully to him. He can not tell him the secrets of the after life, but he does tell him to get revenge on his murder. The ghost informs Hamlet that the "snake" that bit him in the orchard was really his uncle. The ghost is disappointed that his wife fell to lust and left him so soon. He tells the story of how the uncle poured poison into his ear as he slept, and that's what killed him. He tells Hamlet to seek revenge how he sees fit. Morning then comes so the ghost has to leave. Horatio and Marcellus find Hamlet. Hamlet refuses to tell them what was discussed, because that is between him and the ghost. Hamlet and the ghost make the boys swear by the sword to never tell what they have seen tonight.
The first act includes a lot of things that would fit under the psychological criticism. First, the men see the ghost. When anyone sees a ghost they are temporarily stunned and have the need to bring order and sense to what they saw. They immediately try to figure out why the ghost is there to help them cope with the fact that they just saw a ghost. Hamlet has many psychological problems after the death of his father. He is depressed and angry at his mother and uncle. He despises his uncle for stealing his mother away so soon after the funeral. He is bent on getting revenge on his uncle, because it is an outlet for his hatred. When Hamlet sees the ghost, it becomes an excuse for him to get revenge. The ghost may not have been telling the truth, but it is what Hamlet wanted to hear, so he listened. The ghost gave Hamlet a reason to go kill his uncle, so Hamlet accepted the ghosts words even though he has little information on him.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Oedipus
PROLOGUE: Oedipus goes out on the altar steps to see why there are so many upset people bringing offerings to them. He speaks to a priest who tells them that the city is dying; that children die unborn and plague rains over the city. The priest says that they have come to Oedipus, because he is wisest in the way of the gods and has solved their problems before. Oedipus informs the priest that he had sent Kreon to Apollo's place of revelation. When Kreon returns, he says that they must seek revenge upon the man who murdered Laios. They have no clues, but Oedipus promises to do what he can for the people.
Parados: The chorus members sing their prayer. They talk about the fact that they're scared. They then pray to Athene, Artemis, and Apollo to step in and save them from their afflictions. They describe how the ground doesn't grow any crops and the mothers cannot have children. They describe the circumstances as a war without swords or shields, because they cannot fend it off themselves.
I would choose to write about the prologue using the Marxist Criticism. The characters feel as if they have very little power with and with-in their selves. They have to beg the gods for their help in solving the cities problems. The gods are the complete power in this prologue. They tell the townsmen of Thebes that they need to seek revenge on a death to clear their cities name. Instead of planting in another spot or changing their birthing practices, the city decides to go kill. The gods have the power to make their people do whatever they want. The parados shows this very well. The members of the chorus are singing/praying to the gods to come and get them out of their mess, because they have done it before. The fact that they rely on the gods so much show that the gods have complete power.
I would also write about this from the feminist perspective. There are no mortal female characters in this story. All speaking characters are men. The only females mentioned are gods, which shows a woman in power. This story is contradictory, because at this time women were seen more as objects than people.
SCENE 1: Oedipus bans anyone from speaking to our housing the man who killed Laios. If they do, their life will be consumed with evil. Oedipus vows to seek revenge on Laios as if he were Laios's son. Oedipus speaks to the choir leader, Choragos, who says he did not do the murder and says they should call for Teiresias. Teiresias does not want to talk, but is forced to by Oedipus. Teiresias says that Oedipus lives in shame although others cannot see it. Oedipus starts to think that Kreon is trying to take over the throne with Teiresias. Teiresias then makes jibes about Oedipus not knowing who his parents are and will not give him any information about them. He also says that the mane Oedipus has been looking for has lived in Thebes all this time and even has a family.
Ode 1: The chorus sings about how the killer needs to be strong, because Apollo is coming after him. They also say that the killer will not be able to get away. They talk about how Teiresias said that Oedipus is hiding a secret. Last, they talk about how only Zeus and Apollo know the whole story. They hope that Oedipus is innocent, because he has been such a good man to his city.
This scene shows a power struggle between Oedipus and Teiresias. Teiresias is a cunning blind man who had the ability to manipulate Oedipus and to keep the whole truth from him. Teiresias also has the ability to toy with Oedipus' emotions. Since Teiresias has knowledge about the killings and about Oedipus' parents, he has a lot of power of Oedipus. He uses his knowledge to torture and anger Oedipus. He refuses to tell him anything concise that would help them find the killer. He gives out bits and pieces to toy with Oedipus. Oedipus does not like this, because he is the true king and is used to having power over all of his subjects and is not used to being defied.
SCENE 2: Oedipus accuses Kreon of plotting to kill him and take over the throne himself. Kreon denies it and explains that he has just as much power as the king, but none of the stress. Choragos tries to calm down Oedipus and reason with him, but to no avail. Oedipus' wife Iokaste then comes out to see what the commotion is about. She convinces Oedipus to let Kreon go. Her story of Laios' murder evokes memories in Oedipus. Oedipus then recalls the murder perfectly and thinks that he committed it. He then has his wife send for the one servant that escaped. If the servant described more than one person as attacking, than Oedipus would be free, if he only described one person as killing everyone, Oedipus would be guilty. Oedipus ended up at that crossroads because he was told that his parents were not his real parents so he went to an oracle. The oracle refused to answer his question but gave him the disgraceful news that he would murder his father and have sex with his mother. Oedipus then ran away from his problems.
Ode 2: This basically says that vanity will ultimately be your down fall.
SCENE 3: A messenger from Corinth brings news that Polybos (Oedipus' father) has died and is buried. Oedipus takes relief in this until he finds out that Polybos was not his real father. The messenger from Cornith tells Oedipus that he was given him by another shepherd found him with his ankles bound and took him to his father Polybos, who raised him. Iokaste begs Oedipus not to follow this lead because it will only bring the family sorrow. Oedipus wants to see if the shepherd who found him and the one who escaped the attack are the same one.
Ode 3: They want to know the truth about Oedipus, not stories.
SCENE 4: Oedipus learns the truth from the Shephard after threatening torture. He is the son of Iokaste and was given to him by her.
Ode 4: They chorus sums up the story so far, and says that Oedipus tricked Thebes for years.
EXODUS: Iokaste storms into her chamber and is torn apart by what she had found out. She hangs herself just before Oedipus bursts into the room the see her. He puts her limp body on the floor and takes the pins from her clothes and stabs them in his eyes. He wanders outside blind and asks Kreon to exile him, but only Apollo can do that. Oedipus gets to see his daughters one last time thanks to Kreon. He tells them to have a better life than him. Kreon agrees to exile Oedipus in the end.
This story is a good example of the psychological theory. In the beginning Oedipus seems to forget that he committed a horrendous act of murder years ago. When Odeipus and Iokaste's stories line up, they do not want to see a connection between to two, so they don't. Even with the facts right out in front of them, the information would be too much so it is ignored. When Iokaste learns the truth for sure, she has a complete mental breakdown and commits suicide. The thought of incest disgusts and frightens her to a point where she can not bear to be alive. Oedipus on the other hand, can not bear to know what he did. He tried to hard to avoid the prophecy, but ended up fulfilling it anyway. He stabs out his eyes, because he does not feel as if he is worthy to see the world. After the news he received, nothing could make him happy again. This is also an example of the psychological theory because of the Oedipus complex, which was name after him. This describes a stage in a child's life where they want to be with their parent and pleasing them is there main thing.
Parados: The chorus members sing their prayer. They talk about the fact that they're scared. They then pray to Athene, Artemis, and Apollo to step in and save them from their afflictions. They describe how the ground doesn't grow any crops and the mothers cannot have children. They describe the circumstances as a war without swords or shields, because they cannot fend it off themselves.
I would choose to write about the prologue using the Marxist Criticism. The characters feel as if they have very little power with and with-in their selves. They have to beg the gods for their help in solving the cities problems. The gods are the complete power in this prologue. They tell the townsmen of Thebes that they need to seek revenge on a death to clear their cities name. Instead of planting in another spot or changing their birthing practices, the city decides to go kill. The gods have the power to make their people do whatever they want. The parados shows this very well. The members of the chorus are singing/praying to the gods to come and get them out of their mess, because they have done it before. The fact that they rely on the gods so much show that the gods have complete power.
I would also write about this from the feminist perspective. There are no mortal female characters in this story. All speaking characters are men. The only females mentioned are gods, which shows a woman in power. This story is contradictory, because at this time women were seen more as objects than people.
SCENE 1: Oedipus bans anyone from speaking to our housing the man who killed Laios. If they do, their life will be consumed with evil. Oedipus vows to seek revenge on Laios as if he were Laios's son. Oedipus speaks to the choir leader, Choragos, who says he did not do the murder and says they should call for Teiresias. Teiresias does not want to talk, but is forced to by Oedipus. Teiresias says that Oedipus lives in shame although others cannot see it. Oedipus starts to think that Kreon is trying to take over the throne with Teiresias. Teiresias then makes jibes about Oedipus not knowing who his parents are and will not give him any information about them. He also says that the mane Oedipus has been looking for has lived in Thebes all this time and even has a family.
Ode 1: The chorus sings about how the killer needs to be strong, because Apollo is coming after him. They also say that the killer will not be able to get away. They talk about how Teiresias said that Oedipus is hiding a secret. Last, they talk about how only Zeus and Apollo know the whole story. They hope that Oedipus is innocent, because he has been such a good man to his city.
This scene shows a power struggle between Oedipus and Teiresias. Teiresias is a cunning blind man who had the ability to manipulate Oedipus and to keep the whole truth from him. Teiresias also has the ability to toy with Oedipus' emotions. Since Teiresias has knowledge about the killings and about Oedipus' parents, he has a lot of power of Oedipus. He uses his knowledge to torture and anger Oedipus. He refuses to tell him anything concise that would help them find the killer. He gives out bits and pieces to toy with Oedipus. Oedipus does not like this, because he is the true king and is used to having power over all of his subjects and is not used to being defied.
SCENE 2: Oedipus accuses Kreon of plotting to kill him and take over the throne himself. Kreon denies it and explains that he has just as much power as the king, but none of the stress. Choragos tries to calm down Oedipus and reason with him, but to no avail. Oedipus' wife Iokaste then comes out to see what the commotion is about. She convinces Oedipus to let Kreon go. Her story of Laios' murder evokes memories in Oedipus. Oedipus then recalls the murder perfectly and thinks that he committed it. He then has his wife send for the one servant that escaped. If the servant described more than one person as attacking, than Oedipus would be free, if he only described one person as killing everyone, Oedipus would be guilty. Oedipus ended up at that crossroads because he was told that his parents were not his real parents so he went to an oracle. The oracle refused to answer his question but gave him the disgraceful news that he would murder his father and have sex with his mother. Oedipus then ran away from his problems.
Ode 2: This basically says that vanity will ultimately be your down fall.
SCENE 3: A messenger from Corinth brings news that Polybos (Oedipus' father) has died and is buried. Oedipus takes relief in this until he finds out that Polybos was not his real father. The messenger from Cornith tells Oedipus that he was given him by another shepherd found him with his ankles bound and took him to his father Polybos, who raised him. Iokaste begs Oedipus not to follow this lead because it will only bring the family sorrow. Oedipus wants to see if the shepherd who found him and the one who escaped the attack are the same one.
Ode 3: They want to know the truth about Oedipus, not stories.
SCENE 4: Oedipus learns the truth from the Shephard after threatening torture. He is the son of Iokaste and was given to him by her.
Ode 4: They chorus sums up the story so far, and says that Oedipus tricked Thebes for years.
EXODUS: Iokaste storms into her chamber and is torn apart by what she had found out. She hangs herself just before Oedipus bursts into the room the see her. He puts her limp body on the floor and takes the pins from her clothes and stabs them in his eyes. He wanders outside blind and asks Kreon to exile him, but only Apollo can do that. Oedipus gets to see his daughters one last time thanks to Kreon. He tells them to have a better life than him. Kreon agrees to exile Oedipus in the end.
This story is a good example of the psychological theory. In the beginning Oedipus seems to forget that he committed a horrendous act of murder years ago. When Odeipus and Iokaste's stories line up, they do not want to see a connection between to two, so they don't. Even with the facts right out in front of them, the information would be too much so it is ignored. When Iokaste learns the truth for sure, she has a complete mental breakdown and commits suicide. The thought of incest disgusts and frightens her to a point where she can not bear to be alive. Oedipus on the other hand, can not bear to know what he did. He tried to hard to avoid the prophecy, but ended up fulfilling it anyway. He stabs out his eyes, because he does not feel as if he is worthy to see the world. After the news he received, nothing could make him happy again. This is also an example of the psychological theory because of the Oedipus complex, which was name after him. This describes a stage in a child's life where they want to be with their parent and pleasing them is there main thing.
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