12/8 Hamlet (#14)

Ophelia’s Madness
Ophelia goes mad because she is without direction and guidance. Never making decisions for herself, she received guidance found the men in her life, that have now left her. Ophelia sings popular songs of the day to herself. Songs have a lost love theme, reviling her desire to find comfort in Hamlet. At the end of Act IV Ophelia, in her in sanity climbs a willow tree. Accidentally, falling in to the river below, Ophelia continues to sing till her water heavy dress pulls her under. Her parents later explain that she didn’t commit suicide, but climbed the tree for fun and then thought the fastest way down was jumping in the river. Sadly, she forgot how to swim and decided to sing to get the attention of her would be rescuers. The explanation of an accident death allowed for a Christian burial, that would have been otherwise prohibited if she had intentionally drown herself. Ophelia’s death can be seen as a symbolic representation of the kingdom. The kingdom has been stripped of its former leader by Claudius and is now moving without direction, foreshadowing the kingdoms future demise.

Hamlet’s Madness 2

The question will always be posed, is or when does Hamlet become mad. I do not believe Hamlet to ever, even now in Act IV, to be truly mad. His madness is a tool to distract the present King and lower King Claudius’ guard. Hamlet’s actions leading up to his death, parallel that of Ophelia’s. Ophelia, in her insanity, does not recognize the danger she has put herself in. I actually believe she did not commit suicide, but in her madness accidentally happened to drown, this statement is honest and without sarcasm. Insane people are often the cause of their own demise, sorry for the tangent. Similarly Hamlet, in his sanity because he was only pretending insanity, does not realize the danger he has put himself in by accepting Laertes duel. Remember, Hamlet acceptance is not done in rashness of insanity, he did so in sane ignorance falling victim to Claudius’ well thought out plan.

12/3 Hamlet (#13b)

Hamlet’s Madness 1

Hamlet’s madness from the beginning held purpose and was fully under his control. It is evident that he wears his insanity willingly because he warned the guards, after first meeting his father’s spirit, that they should not be alarmed by his future actions foreshadowing his acting of madness. In addition, his plan to verify his uncle’s gilt, could not be done by a mad man. Such a plan could only be conceived by a rational and intelligent person. Again, Hamlet proves sane when he drops the mad act for his mother as he explains his father’s murder. The purpose of his acting mad is not explicitly explained, only that it is part of his plan to revenge his father’s death. It is reasonable to think that it was meant to make his uncle let his guard down.

Ophelia & Gertrude

Gertrude, the queen, is quick to use Ophelia to help lift her son’s spirits. When Gertrude thinks her son has gone mad from a broken heart, she is quick to throw Ophelia back at him. She does not really care about Ophelia, but only for her son.

It is hard to get an idea of how Hamlet feels about his mother and Ophelia because he has been playing mad around them. Before he started his act of insanity he sent love letters to Ophelia, so he probably loves her. It seems he loves his mother, but holds her accountable in someway to his father’s death.

Play within a Play

Shakespeare had Hamlet stage a play in his play. The play-within-a-play partially adds realism to Shakespeare’s play. Just as television shows have actor watching television or characters in books often read. The play Hamlet puts on also alludes to the act he has been putting on, convincing everyone of his insanity.

The speeches and actions reflect poorly on the events in the kingdom of Denmark. They demonstrate the temporarily good, but unstable state of things.

After the King sees his actions replayed on stage he is convicted of his sin and retreats to pray. Hamlet anticipates the Kings reaction and believes it to be clear evidence the ghost told him the truth. The Kings reaction actually puts Hamlet in a good mood. He now knows that he truly did not hallucinate his father’s spirit. In the back of Hamlet’s mind he might have wondered, if while acting mad, if he might really be mad. The Kings reaction evaporated any doubt Hamlet might have had in himself and strengthened Hamlets resolution to revenge his father’s death.

12/1 Hamlet (#13a)

Opening Scene

The opening scene is one of quiet eery stillness. Francisco describes the nights watch as “bitter cold” explaining that it has been a quiet watch “Not a mouse stirring.” In this scene the spirit of the old king crosses Marcellus and Bernardo as they stand guard. The ghost of the king drive the mood of the scene to one supernatural intrigue and mystery. In the fourth scene the ghost reappears. Horatio is more terrified now crying out to the heavens in fear. He believes the ghost’s intensions are to destroy Hamlet either through leading him to danger or as an instrument of insanity. On the other hand Hamlet believes the ghost to be connected to his own fate and shows less fear.

The Ghost

When the ghost finally speaks to Hamlet he reveals himself as Hamlet’s father. The old king’s spirit explains he was murder by his brother who now holds the kingdom and has taken his wife. Hamlet is informed, his father’s spirit cannot rest until there is revenge for his murder and the kingdom is brought to order. Hamlet takes the news quite well, having just conversed with a ghost claiming to be his father and having his world flip upside down with family drama and murder plots. Much better than would be expected of a person in his situation.

After his supernatural family, conference Hamlet tells the guards to tell no one what happened that night. He warns them not to be surprised of his actions in the near future. It is evident he means to put his father’s spirit to rest, taking revenge on his uncle and reclaim the kingdom.

Extra Credit

Polonius cares for his children greatly and does his best to guide them through advice. Laertes and Ophelia respond well to their father’s advice. Ophelia and Laertes act as sibling do, though not necessarily how their supposed to. Laertes is given advice from her brother that she is slow to accept, believing him to be a hypocrite not taking his own advice.

11/19 Paradise Lost (#12b)

Devil’s Consult

John Milton expands the story of the fallen angel’s plot against God in Book 2 of “Paradise Lost.” In Milton’s telling the angel’s do not all agree on one plan of action in dealing with their sinful states, but debate the issue amongst themselves. First, their is the question should they seek to regain God’s favor? The majority decide not to. Second, how should they go about their revenge on God. They could create a heaven in hell or rise up in a war like battle. They decide to torture and turn God’s creation against him.

Parallels can be seen between the thoughts and actions of the devils and that of humans. Humans must decide first to follow God or not. If, the decision is made not to follow God it may be because they seek a heaven on earth and there is no need for God when you already have a heaven. Other times human’s are angry with God and will seek to rebel as the fall angels did.

The scene Milton creates gives further insight into the Biblical account by making it easier to imagine. Describing the devils as holding regret for there actions humanizes them. Giving the devils as a group a level of indecision and as individuals unique personalities it is easier to envision the devils as more of a fallen people or even lost humans.

God vs. Milton

Milton amplifies the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis by adding details to the story no included in the Biblical telling. Milton sets up the scene with the the serpent, more than the Bible, by showing how Adam and Eve interacted as a couple and giving them personalities.

One of the facts Milton included in his telling is Adam and Eve’s knowledge of the devils. In the Bible the fact the couple knew or did not know of the devils is omitted. Milton made it clear that Adam was away from Eve when she was tempted. While in the Bible the couple is together. Milton explains the reason that Adam took the fruit. The Bible just tells of him taking the fruit without an explanation of Adam’s motivation.

Milton’s telling of Genesis was entertaining, that is all. Much of what Milton added we can not know is true or false because the Bible simply does not go into further detail. As far as stories go Milton’s was a pretty good one.

11/19 The Prince (#12a)

Human Nature

Niccolo Machianelli in his work “The Prince” demonstrates the values and practices a good ruler should have . Machianelli believes that man is by nature dishonest. It can not be said that he believes man to be evil, because he at no time describes lying, cheating and manipulating as evil. He argues, a ruler can not be expected to be honest, when his subjects and citizens are not honest.

Manhianelli came to this understanding by observing the rulers of his day and rulers of the past. He uses Alexander as an example stating “Alexander did nothing else than deceive men” and ruled well. The important thing is not to have all the virtues, Manhianelli explains, but it is“very necessary to seem to have them.”

Virtues

Manhianelli contrasts and compares the value of different virtues. First, he evaluates the value of being liberal vs. stingy. To appear to be liberal is important for the up and coming prince, but dangerous for the ruling prince. To be too liberal will force a prince to give too much too his people. Being so generous will create a people too dependent on their ruler and will force the prince to raise taxes. So, it is better to be stingy. A stingy leader will be scorned for his selfishness, but does not create an unstable rule that might threaten his position. Second, he examines the value of being loved vs. feared. He explains that to be loved is a great position to be in, but an unstable one. For men will turn their back on love when in need or for selfish gain, but men find it much harder to ignore fear for their own gain and are more likely to be loyal in fear. In both cases Manhianelli gives strong arguments for his opinions.

I think while fear is more dependable and easier to gain, love is more powerful. Fear will motivate a man to comply to preserve his life at the threat of death, while love will drive a people to comply to the point of death.

Extra Credit

1. If Manhianelli had written about the rulers depicted in the ancient world he would have thought them to have been to ideological. Often the ancient ruler brought about their own demise out of gilt or shame of past sin. Manhianelli repeatedly states that a prince should do anything and everything he can to stay in power and there is no reason to be convicted of wrong doing because those acts are necessary to stay in power. Oedipus brought about his own fall, removing his eyes out of shame of his past sin. Manhianelli would have thought this needless. He would have said “so you killed your dad and married your mother, so what. Now your King, you can do whatever you want.”

2. If, Machiavelli had studied the good leaders of scripture who found more value in being virtuous than looking virtuous, he probably would have thought them to have lived in a more idealogical world. He would likely explain, if the virtues a prince should appear to have were truly used uncompromisingly, it would be political suicide and impossible in his day of political deceit and manipulation.

11/12 John Donne (#11b)

Holy Sonnet 14

“Holy Sonnet 14” is a love narrative from John Donne. It is apparent Donne is writing to the Christian God when he addresses the “ three-personed God.” Donne is crying out for God to break him completely, that he might be brought closer to God. Donne knows that while he is seeking God, he also has reservations in his faith, stating he is “betrothed unto your enemy” still falling in sin that pleases the devil rather than God. Donne pleads for God to tear him from evil stating “Divorce me, untie or break that knot again.” He wishes that he might be made a prisoner of God, taken captive in God’s love.

Donne’s use of imagery depicts his passionate pursuit of God in a sexual manner. The sensual prospective Donne uses was characteristic of the renaissance.

Flea Bait

John Donne describes love in two of his poems “The Flea” and “The Bait.” While, the poems both are centered on love, they do approach the subject from different directions, though, they are not without similarities. Both poems use elements of nature to illustrate love. In the first poem, “The Flea”, a flea is symbolic of love. In the second poem, “The Bait,” the relationship between the fish and the bait represents love. Both poems describe one individual tempting another’s heart. “The Flea” has a male narrator attempting to seduce a woman. “The Bait” has a male narrator describing a seductive woman as bait on a hook, enticing him. Both poems end on a down note. In “The Flea” the woman squishes her suitor’s flea, suggesting she will not succumb to his persuasion. In “The Bait” a fish, representing the narrator, falls to the lure of a woman, represented by bait. Through two different poems, John Donne achieves two different and informative perspectives on love.

11/10 The Praise of Folly (#11a)

Folly

Folly is the goddess that celebrates the bliss of ignorance. Folly describes her self as the ruler over the “greatest lords” because all of humanity, and even the gods, worships her in their acts of foolishness and stupidity(1923).

Folly is the daughter of Plutus. Folly brags of her father being the governor of “war, peace, kingdoms” including “all the affairs , public or private” (1922). He is the god of wealth and abundance, which is the desire of everyone. So, over everyone he rules.

Folly greatly pities the wise-men. The wise-men fight to rid themselves of emotion to think all the more logical, but in doing so they loose their humanity and become miserable. Folly explains it is the academics that suck the marrow out of life, causing so much grief and strife. On the other hand the man that rejects logic and embraces Folly finds pleasure in pain, perceiving loss as gain. Folly gives the example of the foolish man, who thinks his ugly wife beautiful or his broken home delightful.

I do not think that Folly’s character is meant to represent or symbolize something as much as she is supposed to draw attention to an observation. The observation is how the happiest people are the ignorant ones without a care in the world. While the educated population is bogged down with the weight of reality.

Christian Folly

The author, Erasmus, goes out of his way to point out how especially ridiculous the Christian faith is in all of its folly. Interestingly, the character Folly does not applaud Christians, as she does to other fools, but insults and sort of rebukes them, because their foolishness is so outrageous. One problem Folly has with the faith is that the Christian God encourages ignorance, because Christians have no reason to think because God will think for them.

Though, Erasmus does point out true flaws in the way many Christian practice their faith that Christians should take note of. One of the flaws is when Christ’s mother is exalted above Him in worship and praise. Another, is when saints are given a position of responsibility and Christian pray to that saint for help in their area of responsibility. When it would makes sense to just pray to God, because God has not delegated roles of power to any of the saints.