2. Write about the scene in which Gloucester’s eyes are plucked out. Obviously, it serves the symbolic purpose of allowing Gloucester to “see” [the truth] better after he has been blinded. But the scene is also graphically violent. Even when Oedipus gouges out his eyes at the end of Sophocles’ play, it occurs off-stage. Consider the place of graphic violence in art. What purpose does this particular incident serve? Is it gratuitous, or is it necessary for the meaning of the play? What about slasher films? What about Grand Theft Auto? When is there a place for graphic violence? When is there not?
Though the scene in which Gloucester’s eyes are plucked is rather grotesque, I believe that it is justified. Because it is so graphic, it truly shows the insanity and utter ridiculousness of the sisters and their husbands as well. Thus this particular incident in a way can show the painful process that it takes for one to be able to see the truth- the same as what has happened to Lear, except that in his case it is more emotional pain than physical. Both of the men are the victims of a great deal of pain and violence- Gloucester, physical violence and pain, while Lear, emotional. I believe violence can be justified, especially if it is intended to show realism. For example, in movies such as “Saving Private Ryan”, the violence is realistic- showing the horrors of WWII. War movies, holocaust movies- etc; these are and should be violent for a reason. Though it is good to maintain some level of shock when one sees violence and thus should not be completely desensitized to it, one should also know what goes on in the world and should not be completely sheltered. HOWEVER, things like slasher films or Grand Theft Auto are gratuitous violence. They are not necessary at all. This doesn’t mean that they should be illegalized or banned, as that would violate a right to free expression and speech, but they are simply “indulgences” (of violence… somehow).
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Act 2 blog 2!!!!
4. Cordelia has disappeared from the play. What’s she doing? You might write a dialogue between her and her new husband France—have they heard word of the goings-on in Lear’s kingdom? Is she still concerned about her father? Whatever you want to say here, but they should probably not be discussing whether or not to have roast lamb for dinner. Alternatively, you could have Cordelia write a letter to her father or sisters. What would she say?
Cordelia has physically disappeared- she is not allowed in Lear’s kingdom any longer, but now has a great deal of power in France. Cordelia, as shown by her letter to Kent, is very much concerned about her father and sisters, but is respectful and humble enough to bid her father’s wishes and keep her distance, as she is banished. This is an interesting concept- Lear banished and renounced Cordelia, doing something that would be extremely hurtful and would normally cause a daughter to resent her father very much. It would almost not be surprising for Cordelia to wish ill upon him simply because of this particular action he took, but she will not take action like this because her role to this point in the play is to show the contrast between her purity and love for her father and the scheming greed driven actions of her sisters. It is difficult to tell if Cordelia knows exactly what is going on, as the only indication of her existence in this section is Kent’s brief commentary on her letter to him. In it, she mentioned that she wanted to help the situation any way she could. This is very noble, and though it seems unlikely that she would know exactly what is going on, she must have gotten a hint of her sister’s plans to bring down her father, because she is standing behind her father more than ever even after how he wronged her. If she were to write a letter to her father, I would assume that it would warn him about what her sisters were up to- and at this point, he would trust and believe it. What she would write to her sisters, though, is a different story. As she would probably be wise enough to know that trying to reason with her sisters will be to no avail, it is possible that she would somehow try to pair up with her father and use the sisters’ own greed against them in order to save her father and led the sisters feel the effects of their own wrongdoing.
Cordelia has physically disappeared- she is not allowed in Lear’s kingdom any longer, but now has a great deal of power in France. Cordelia, as shown by her letter to Kent, is very much concerned about her father and sisters, but is respectful and humble enough to bid her father’s wishes and keep her distance, as she is banished. This is an interesting concept- Lear banished and renounced Cordelia, doing something that would be extremely hurtful and would normally cause a daughter to resent her father very much. It would almost not be surprising for Cordelia to wish ill upon him simply because of this particular action he took, but she will not take action like this because her role to this point in the play is to show the contrast between her purity and love for her father and the scheming greed driven actions of her sisters. It is difficult to tell if Cordelia knows exactly what is going on, as the only indication of her existence in this section is Kent’s brief commentary on her letter to him. In it, she mentioned that she wanted to help the situation any way she could. This is very noble, and though it seems unlikely that she would know exactly what is going on, she must have gotten a hint of her sister’s plans to bring down her father, because she is standing behind her father more than ever even after how he wronged her. If she were to write a letter to her father, I would assume that it would warn him about what her sisters were up to- and at this point, he would trust and believe it. What she would write to her sisters, though, is a different story. As she would probably be wise enough to know that trying to reason with her sisters will be to no avail, it is possible that she would somehow try to pair up with her father and use the sisters’ own greed against them in order to save her father and led the sisters feel the effects of their own wrongdoing.
Act 2 blog 1!!!!
2. What is it—what could it conceivably be—that would make children turn against their parent as completely as Goneril and Regan have turned against Lear? They’ve gone beyond irritation and its consequent neglect to outright cruelty. You may consider this question either specifically in reference to the two women (imagine their backstory the way you did Edgar’s) or consider it in general. Where do the terrible resentments of children for their parents come from? What is so very powerful about that relationship?
There are several factors that are involved in Goneril and Regan’s blatant disrespect and subversion of the king (their father)’s power. Primarily, the girls are just inherently greedy and evil. They had been brought up as princesses their entire lives and thus knew nothing other than getting whatever they wanted. However, this cannot be the entire problem, because Cordelia did not follow in the footsteps of the other two, although she grew up in the same household. Somehow the dichotomy exists in which Regan and Goneril view their father as the King, and when he loses his Kingly power, they lose all respect and trust for him. On the flip side, Cordelia still loves and respects him as her father. Thus somehow in their childhood something switched on for Cordelia and not for Goneril and Regan. However another level to it is the fact that Cordelia had always been the favored child, and Goneril and Regan knew this. Their utter cruelty to their father could be their way of trying to get back at him for treating them like second-class daughers (though it is difficult to know in the book how much differently he really treated them). However, sometimes to a child, even the knowledge that one is viewed as inferior can be damaging. Thus although Goneril and Regan are mostly at fault for this, Lear could also be to a degree. To add on to this, Lear simply gave his kingdom away to his daughters, and to whichever daughter could sweet talk him into thinking she loved him more than the others. He obviously has a very skewed idea of what love is, as he simply cannot understand his own love for his daughters. He gives away his entire kingdom to them, rightfully expecting them to treat and love him like their father still, and yet they don't, but it could have something to do with that the doesn't really treat and love them like his daughters. I already mentioned that he picks favorites; he is quick to be offended and quick to claim hatred of and renounce one of his daughters. (This happens with not only Cordelia but later Goneril).
There are several factors that are involved in Goneril and Regan’s blatant disrespect and subversion of the king (their father)’s power. Primarily, the girls are just inherently greedy and evil. They had been brought up as princesses their entire lives and thus knew nothing other than getting whatever they wanted. However, this cannot be the entire problem, because Cordelia did not follow in the footsteps of the other two, although she grew up in the same household. Somehow the dichotomy exists in which Regan and Goneril view their father as the King, and when he loses his Kingly power, they lose all respect and trust for him. On the flip side, Cordelia still loves and respects him as her father. Thus somehow in their childhood something switched on for Cordelia and not for Goneril and Regan. However another level to it is the fact that Cordelia had always been the favored child, and Goneril and Regan knew this. Their utter cruelty to their father could be their way of trying to get back at him for treating them like second-class daughers (though it is difficult to know in the book how much differently he really treated them). However, sometimes to a child, even the knowledge that one is viewed as inferior can be damaging. Thus although Goneril and Regan are mostly at fault for this, Lear could also be to a degree. To add on to this, Lear simply gave his kingdom away to his daughters, and to whichever daughter could sweet talk him into thinking she loved him more than the others. He obviously has a very skewed idea of what love is, as he simply cannot understand his own love for his daughters. He gives away his entire kingdom to them, rightfully expecting them to treat and love him like their father still, and yet they don't, but it could have something to do with that the doesn't really treat and love them like his daughters. I already mentioned that he picks favorites; he is quick to be offended and quick to claim hatred of and renounce one of his daughters. (This happens with not only Cordelia but later Goneril).
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
EDMUND IDENTIFICATION
. Identify with Edmund. What do you know about family dynamics and parents’ treatment of children that might make him act the way he does? What is there to respect about him? Why do you think Gloucester treats him the way he does? Is there any modern day equivalent to this?
Though Edmund is raised equally as his brother, it is known that Gloucester is ashamed of him as he is a bastard son. Edgar, however, may be treated a bit better because he is the legal son- he is the one that will inherit- etc. Edmund is scheming, but there is also a lot to respect about him. He is very intelligent and cunning. His drive for power is a drive to be seen equally as his brother, as his society forces him to be viewed as something lesser, even though he is clearly more intelligent than Edgar. Gloucester may treat him the way he does to try to suppress his ego, to try to keep him humble and thus keep him from striving for power, but this is obviously not effective. I can’t really think of a modern day equivalent to this, except people finding legal loopholes to cheat each other out of money. The idea of bastard sons having less power than legitimate sons has kind of dissipated.
One family dynamic that is interesting is that Edgar seems to be very innocent and not treat Edmund badly. Edmunds schemes would seem to make sense if the entire family treated him as if he were something lower, but in fact it seems as though only Gloucester does- and in fact, Gloucester may not treat him all that badly. This is what forms the realization that Edmund truly is a villain in the story- in the beginning, the reader wants to feel sorry for him, and though out the first few scenes it is easy to sympathize with Edmund, but when Edgar is brought into the story, oblivious and obviously loving of his brother Edmund, it is easy to begin to see the switch into Edmund’s true intentions.
Though Edmund is raised equally as his brother, it is known that Gloucester is ashamed of him as he is a bastard son. Edgar, however, may be treated a bit better because he is the legal son- he is the one that will inherit- etc. Edmund is scheming, but there is also a lot to respect about him. He is very intelligent and cunning. His drive for power is a drive to be seen equally as his brother, as his society forces him to be viewed as something lesser, even though he is clearly more intelligent than Edgar. Gloucester may treat him the way he does to try to suppress his ego, to try to keep him humble and thus keep him from striving for power, but this is obviously not effective. I can’t really think of a modern day equivalent to this, except people finding legal loopholes to cheat each other out of money. The idea of bastard sons having less power than legitimate sons has kind of dissipated.
One family dynamic that is interesting is that Edgar seems to be very innocent and not treat Edmund badly. Edmunds schemes would seem to make sense if the entire family treated him as if he were something lower, but in fact it seems as though only Gloucester does- and in fact, Gloucester may not treat him all that badly. This is what forms the realization that Edmund truly is a villain in the story- in the beginning, the reader wants to feel sorry for him, and though out the first few scenes it is easy to sympathize with Edmund, but when Edgar is brought into the story, oblivious and obviously loving of his brother Edmund, it is easy to begin to see the switch into Edmund’s true intentions.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Those Conniving Sisters...
How do you understand the relationship between Cordelia and Lear? He seems to love her, and she him, but how? Why is she unable to speak when her very survival depends on her speaking? Why is he unable to hear her truth?
To take the same concept from another angle…. While her sisters’ speeches are excellent examples of verbal manipulation, the one person (Cordelia) who goes in honestly with Lear’s best interests at heart is punished because she doesn’t want (or know how to) “play the game.” Have you seen situations like this? Have you used your powers of manipulation to get what you want? Have you been the loser in a game like this?
Cordelia does indeed love her father, and Lear does indeed love her, but unfortunately Lear has a very skewed idea about love. He believes love is materialistic, that love is about who gets the biggest piece of the pie- in the sense that he gives his most loving daughter the biggest piece of his kingdom, but also that the daughters are in competition for who loves him the most. What Cordelia has realized is that this is not so. Because Cordelia loves him, she cannot lie to him and try to scheme him into giving her part of his kingdom. In fact, she loves him to the extent that she would rather him realize that her sisters are simply power hungry and lying to him to get to he kingdom than for herself to get a part of the kingdom as well. He, once again, is unable to hear her truth because he, like the sisters, is somewhat power-hungry. He does not like the idea of this form of honesty because in his eyes one should be able to state how much they love him and be done with it. I don’t believe I have ever personally experienced something like this, other than simply noticing people that will appear to care about an issue in order to appear a “better person” or maybe even just to put it on a college resume and end up pushing aside people that really do care about the issue because they are so concerned with their self image (think back that poem we read about the man who appeared on the surface to be this wonderfully wholesome man but in fact had done something very bad in the past, and maybe he treated people badly personally, but he was convinced everyone seemed to like him because he did good things). I believe this happens frequently, and it comes out of a similar desire for power and selfishness that the sisters are consumed with.
To take the same concept from another angle…. While her sisters’ speeches are excellent examples of verbal manipulation, the one person (Cordelia) who goes in honestly with Lear’s best interests at heart is punished because she doesn’t want (or know how to) “play the game.” Have you seen situations like this? Have you used your powers of manipulation to get what you want? Have you been the loser in a game like this?
Cordelia does indeed love her father, and Lear does indeed love her, but unfortunately Lear has a very skewed idea about love. He believes love is materialistic, that love is about who gets the biggest piece of the pie- in the sense that he gives his most loving daughter the biggest piece of his kingdom, but also that the daughters are in competition for who loves him the most. What Cordelia has realized is that this is not so. Because Cordelia loves him, she cannot lie to him and try to scheme him into giving her part of his kingdom. In fact, she loves him to the extent that she would rather him realize that her sisters are simply power hungry and lying to him to get to he kingdom than for herself to get a part of the kingdom as well. He, once again, is unable to hear her truth because he, like the sisters, is somewhat power-hungry. He does not like the idea of this form of honesty because in his eyes one should be able to state how much they love him and be done with it. I don’t believe I have ever personally experienced something like this, other than simply noticing people that will appear to care about an issue in order to appear a “better person” or maybe even just to put it on a college resume and end up pushing aside people that really do care about the issue because they are so concerned with their self image (think back that poem we read about the man who appeared on the surface to be this wonderfully wholesome man but in fact had done something very bad in the past, and maybe he treated people badly personally, but he was convinced everyone seemed to like him because he did good things). I believe this happens frequently, and it comes out of a similar desire for power and selfishness that the sisters are consumed with.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Blog #4
Huxley's view of the future is indeed horrifying, and it is indeed difficult to put a finger on exactly why, seeing as everyone is perpetually content and happy. However, it is a false happiness. People are homogenous, they seem to lack a real understanding at what is going on. They spit back information without fully grasping it. Even the most intelligent ones- the Alphas- are very brainwashed. People have no ability to have a personality. Though they are constantly under an illusion of happiness, they in fact are not truly happy because they have no appreciation of happiness. One must experience suffering and pain in order to know that happiness is something to treasure. Therefore they are in a constant state of dumb bliss that is unfounded and illogical. They are like robots, too brainwashed to break out of the mold. To people in our society now, a society that encourages individuality, this loss of individuality is horrifying. True, for one inside the society it may not seem too bad, but once one has had a real taste of what it is like to truly experience life, I'd imagine that people that are not too terribly brainwashed would never turn back.
Blog #3
The argument essentially is arguing for freedom. Yes, the society has comfort and "happiness", or at least, lack of sadness, anger, shock- "negative emotions"... but for this, the humans are like children. They have known no suffering. Mustapha Mond's argument is that this is better, to know no suffering, and have no freedom to know suffering. The savage, John, however, believes that the world is better with suffering... because when one has the freedom to suffer, one knows what happiness truly is, and one appreciates it. The people in the society do not appreciate anything because everything is handed to them. The savage is making the argument that he would much rather feel the pain and appreciate the happiness, because he has the experience of feeling the pain, and the freedom to experience it. His argument is that the freedom to be happy and sad and to live one's life the desired way is many times better than a controlled state of constant contentment.
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