Well, I must say, I really enjoyed reading the play! Shakespeare's work never ceases to amaze me, and the characters in this are just... really fun! I love the fact that this takes place in northern Europe, as that's where a lot of my ancestors are from--particularly Scotland, which is where King Duncan rules over! I sense this is gonna be a fun read for me and my other two classmates that are doing this solo read with me. Oh, and good luck to the majority of the class reading Romeo and Juliet! I loved that play and hope you will too!
Writing Style:
One of the selling points of Shakespeare's amazing plays is the fact that it's written in old English. Not only that, but there's a specific rhythm to the type of writing that is unique to his plays and his alone. In addition, Shakespeare took pride in creating his own words to fit definitions that he needed filled. I've already encountered several, and had to look them up online just to make sure I was right! All in all, I find Macbeth as another example of the genius that is Shakespeare's work.
Characters:
Another one of MacBeth's great traits just has to be the colorful characters. I immediately fell in love with the witches and Banquo's description of their gender neutral-ness. That made me laugh so hard. And even within the first few pages that we meet the famous MacBeth, we see just how much of a multi-dimensional character he really is. He wants to remain loyal to Duncan, but also wants to see the witch's prophecies that depict him coming into the throne to come true. That's a completely human thing to want, and makes MacBeth that much more easy to relate to.
I also have to say that I just love Banquo as the sidekick. He's obviously a high ranking officer in the military, but there's a reason that Macbeth recieved the Thane of Crawdor's title after he was imprisoned. But I think Banquo takes it on quite well.
Plot:
Well, so far, I've been able to decipher the plot as following. It begins with the three witches discussing whom their next target will be, and they settle for Macbeth. Already, you can sense some trouble. Then, Duncan is visited by a wounded soldier and is told that Macbeth and Banquo have defeated Ireland and Norway in a battle, and captured the Thane of Cawdor. They praise Macbeth, and Duncan decides to award his general with the imprisoned title.
The scene than switches to Macbeth and Banquo talking about their recent victory. The witches then appear--telling Macbeth that he is destined to become king and telling Banquo that he shall sire many future kings of their kingdom. They then disappear, and Macbeth initially ignores their prophecies. But then Ross enters, and tells Macbeth that he has been named Thane of Cawdor. This was one of the witch's prophecies, and he begins to wonder if they could really be true, and if he could really live with ousting Duncan from power.
He then writes to his wife about the prophecies. Lady Macbeth than decides that she will murder Duncan so that her husband will secure the throne. From what I can tell from here, Macbeth is initially hesitant when he hears of her plans, but when she challenges his manhood, he consents to his wife's plan.
I am soooo looking forward to reading the next acts! I can't wait to see what happens with the murder plot and if it is actually pulled off! I wonder how exactly the prophecy will come true, because I'm sensing this will be one of those stories where everything in the prophecies come true, but in terrible, unexpected ways.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail: Act II Analysis
Well, to be honest, I'm a bit sad that this book is finished now. The play was a really good representation of the Transcendentalist spirit and an eye opening piece of work. I hope we get to read something of this caliber again. =) Well, let's get to the weeks questions.
This Week's Assignment:
Read Act II of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then discuss the following on your blog.
Question One: Many of the conversation in this book contain examples of irony. List a few and explain why each is ironic.
To be entirely honest, I had quite a bit of trouble finding a few examples of irony. However, one of the examples that I found I think satisfies the requirement. I found it quite ironic how, at first, Henry is trying his hardest to be outside the box and be what other people don't expect him to be. (Though this may not have been a primary goal of his, it was certainly achieved.) Then, near the very end of the play, his spirit and his way of being was exactly how other people expected him to act, which I think may have been the opposite of his desired effect, if there was any.
Also, I found it ironic as well when people viewed Henry as a bit of a simpleton. You know, living out in the woods and the such. Then, however, we find out that he is the most enlightened of all of his fellow people. And not only that, but they say that they have a great relationship with God. However, after seeing their cruel ways of acting (A.K.A discouraging questions and beating down those who had the audacity to question the world around them) I felt that Henry really had the strongest bond with God.
Question Two: List the three most important characters. Choose a present day actor/actress to take the role of each. Explain why you would make these casting decisions and base you answer on the words and actions of each of the characters from the play.
Oh boy, this was a bit of a hard one. You have no idea how long I spent looking up pictures of actors and actresses to try and fit the role of the people. However, I think I came up with a pretty good cast list, if I do say so myself.
Of course, the MOST important character would be Henry David Thoreau. To portray him, I believe that stage actor Jeremy Hays would be the absolute best H.D.T. that you could get. He's best known for playing the hotheaded rebel, Enjolras, in the Broadway version of Les Miserables. I was lucky enough to go and see him, and my immediate reaction while reading this was that their characters are similar. Both want change for the better and both disagree with the governments decisions. I just think that Hays and the characters would make an incredible match.
The second most important character that I would want to cast would be John Thoreau, Henry's brother. I would cast Owen Wilson with this role. Not only does he and Hays have a resemblance with one another, but Wilson has a similar disposition to John. Both seemed like fun loving guys, but they can also be serious when a situation calls for it. I don't know, he just seems like a great person to fit the role.
Finally, I think that Edward Emerson was also an important character in the play--mainly because he shows the next generation and the kind of people that Thoreau wanted to effect. I think that Joel Courtney would be a good fit for the role--he has the same type of boyish charm that Edward had, yet he is in a state of adolescence that portrays him more effectively. Just remember, these are my picks, so ya'll can disagree and the like. =)
Question Three: Does Henry's protest prove successful in the end? Explain.
I do believe that Henry's protest was successful. He changed the life of the people that he met, such as the ex-slave that he encountered and Bailey--his jail mate in the cell. He gave Emerson something to think about and mull over. All in all, I think he achieved a new type of enlightenment while changing the world about him for the better, and also by changing himself for the better as well.
This Week's Assignment:
Read Act II of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then discuss the following on your blog.
Question One: Many of the conversation in this book contain examples of irony. List a few and explain why each is ironic.
To be entirely honest, I had quite a bit of trouble finding a few examples of irony. However, one of the examples that I found I think satisfies the requirement. I found it quite ironic how, at first, Henry is trying his hardest to be outside the box and be what other people don't expect him to be. (Though this may not have been a primary goal of his, it was certainly achieved.) Then, near the very end of the play, his spirit and his way of being was exactly how other people expected him to act, which I think may have been the opposite of his desired effect, if there was any.
Also, I found it ironic as well when people viewed Henry as a bit of a simpleton. You know, living out in the woods and the such. Then, however, we find out that he is the most enlightened of all of his fellow people. And not only that, but they say that they have a great relationship with God. However, after seeing their cruel ways of acting (A.K.A discouraging questions and beating down those who had the audacity to question the world around them) I felt that Henry really had the strongest bond with God.
Question Two: List the three most important characters. Choose a present day actor/actress to take the role of each. Explain why you would make these casting decisions and base you answer on the words and actions of each of the characters from the play.
Oh boy, this was a bit of a hard one. You have no idea how long I spent looking up pictures of actors and actresses to try and fit the role of the people. However, I think I came up with a pretty good cast list, if I do say so myself.
Of course, the MOST important character would be Henry David Thoreau. To portray him, I believe that stage actor Jeremy Hays would be the absolute best H.D.T. that you could get. He's best known for playing the hotheaded rebel, Enjolras, in the Broadway version of Les Miserables. I was lucky enough to go and see him, and my immediate reaction while reading this was that their characters are similar. Both want change for the better and both disagree with the governments decisions. I just think that Hays and the characters would make an incredible match.
The second most important character that I would want to cast would be John Thoreau, Henry's brother. I would cast Owen Wilson with this role. Not only does he and Hays have a resemblance with one another, but Wilson has a similar disposition to John. Both seemed like fun loving guys, but they can also be serious when a situation calls for it. I don't know, he just seems like a great person to fit the role.
Finally, I think that Edward Emerson was also an important character in the play--mainly because he shows the next generation and the kind of people that Thoreau wanted to effect. I think that Joel Courtney would be a good fit for the role--he has the same type of boyish charm that Edward had, yet he is in a state of adolescence that portrays him more effectively. Just remember, these are my picks, so ya'll can disagree and the like. =)
Question Three: Does Henry's protest prove successful in the end? Explain.
I do believe that Henry's protest was successful. He changed the life of the people that he met, such as the ex-slave that he encountered and Bailey--his jail mate in the cell. He gave Emerson something to think about and mull over. All in all, I think he achieved a new type of enlightenment while changing the world about him for the better, and also by changing himself for the better as well.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail: Act I Analysis
The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a play based upon Henry David Thoreau's life, and how his Transcendentalist ideals led him to be at odds with the rest of his society in Concord, Massachusetts. Despite his enlightened state of mind, he is arrested for tax evasion due to the fact that he doesn't believe the government is doing any good in the Mexican War. Through his night in jail, he reminisces about his lifetime and all that Transcendentalism has brought him.
This Week's Assignment:
Read Act I of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then chose one of the following quotes and discuss on your blog how, given the notes from class and any other legitimate, reliable resource, the passage reflects Transcendentalist thought.
Quote: Henry: Our own school, John. No buildings. Break out of the classroom prison All we need is the sky! (24)
I chose this quote to write about because I felt like it best supported the Transcendentalist ideals that Thoreau so idolized and lived by. All his life, he wanted to break the mold that society had set for education. He didn't want his students to fear asking questions. He wanted them to learn in their own way and make up their own minds on issues. He encouraged debate and questions that were considered blasphemous or inappropriate. He wanted to share his enlightened state with the ignorant masses.
Thoreau wanted to do this by teaching classes with his brother. He wanted to hold it within the meadow in the town: out of a classroom. He wanted his students to see the sky, and let their minds reach up to the heavens. Thoreau held the classes in the meadow because he wanted the sky to symbolize how boundless the mind is, if one allows themselves to open up to new ideas and to listen to everything possible.
If this is anything like what Thoreau was like, I need to start reading some of his stuff. This play is amazing!
This Week's Assignment:
Read Act I of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Then chose one of the following quotes and discuss on your blog how, given the notes from class and any other legitimate, reliable resource, the passage reflects Transcendentalist thought.
Quote: Henry: Our own school, John. No buildings. Break out of the classroom prison All we need is the sky! (24)
I chose this quote to write about because I felt like it best supported the Transcendentalist ideals that Thoreau so idolized and lived by. All his life, he wanted to break the mold that society had set for education. He didn't want his students to fear asking questions. He wanted them to learn in their own way and make up their own minds on issues. He encouraged debate and questions that were considered blasphemous or inappropriate. He wanted to share his enlightened state with the ignorant masses.
Thoreau wanted to do this by teaching classes with his brother. He wanted to hold it within the meadow in the town: out of a classroom. He wanted his students to see the sky, and let their minds reach up to the heavens. Thoreau held the classes in the meadow because he wanted the sky to symbolize how boundless the mind is, if one allows themselves to open up to new ideas and to listen to everything possible.
If this is anything like what Thoreau was like, I need to start reading some of his stuff. This play is amazing!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Reading Analysis: A Perfect Day for Bananafish
A Perfect Day for Bananafish, written by J. D. Salinger, ends with a man committing suicide. You know that the story is an interesting one when the tale ends with somebody killing themselves. And through analysis of the characters, the motifs, symbolism and the setting, I’ve found out that there’s more than one layer to the short story. There’s what people can read, and the deeper parts of the thing that they can interpret.
This Week's Assignment:
Read "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" and, on your blog, compare the characters to CitR
Comparison:
Truth be told, I honestly had a hard time comparing the characters to one another. But, finally, I came up with a good set.
I mostly identified Seymour Rye Seymour
Muriel could have been one of many characters in CitR, but I mostly compared her to Sally Hayes. Both women are completely taken by social status and material objects. The conversation in the beginning of the story just shows how Muriel and her mother are obsessed with how they look. Both have lost their innocence because of society.
Finally, I identified Sybil with Phoebe. Like Holden from CitR, Seymour Seymour Seymour
You know, when I start up a new blog, I do think I’ll do a full on analysis of this story. I liked it better than Salinger’s novel, to be honest. =)
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