Winter's Tale Act II & III

An interchange in Act 2 that I was particularly interested in was that between Leontes and Antigonus. Antigonus seemed to be quite disturbed by the King’s accusations towards Hermione. He is even so convinced of her chastity that he swears his own daughters’ reproductively upon it. The harshness of this claim seemed to really emphasize both Antigonus and Hermione’s characters. Antigonus is clearly a man who stands strong in his conviction and has no qualms about expressing them directly to King Leontes. Hermione’s reputation as a virtuous and honest woman is also so indisputable that men are willing to swear upon their children on it. It makes Leontes’ accusations seem even more absurd. In 2.1.139-41, Antigonus states, “For every inch of woman in the world, ay, every dram of woman’s flesh is false if she be”.

3.1 may have been dramatized to emphasize the innocence of Hermione. It also could have demonstrated the reliance that was placed on the oracle during this time period.

I would have to say that Hermione is the most compelling during her trial. Her insistence of her innocence is nonwithstanding, but she also accepts whatever is meant to happen. Throughout this scene she speaks rationally and assures the King that she loved polixenes no more than a friend should. She also seems to be unafraid and even welcomes his unfair judgment. She tells the king that “The bug which you would fright me with, I seek” in 3.2.90. She knows that she is innocent but is willing to face whatever the gods have in store for her. The next compelling character would have to be Paulina. It is ironic that the most compelling characters in this scene are both women. You would usually categorize women during this time as quiet but neither of them held their tongues when talking to Leontes. Paulina seemed to be chastising the King for his wrongful decisions that led to the deaths of both his son and wife. 

A Winter's Tale Act I

The Comedy of Errors

Egeon , who is a merchant of Syracuse is in trouble because he has disobeyed a law governing the city of Ephesus. The law states that no native of Syracuse may enter the bounds of Ephesus and the penalty of doing so is either a thousand levies or death. Unfortunately Egeon does not have that type of capital to avoid execution. He is not currently in Syracuse for the exchange of goods or profit, but rather he is there to search for his long-lost son. He begins to tell Solinus, a Duke of Ephesus his reasoning for being there. Many years ago, he was happily married. His wife became pregnant with twins. When they were born. Egeon and his wife also decided to adopt another set of twins who happened to be poor to look after each son. Shortly after their birth, they left to sail back home when a violent storm wrecked their ship forcing them to separate. Each parent, son and twin boy drifted separately towards different cities. It is Egeon and his son’s mission to find the other members of their family which is what brings him to Syracuse. Because Shakespeare plays tend to be ironic, I feel that they will eventually meet up with the other family members but the question is how will Egeon survive with no money to pay his penalty?

Winter’s Tale

Leontes and Polixenes has the typical “bromance” relationship except there is a twist; Leontes is secretly jealous of his friend. It is really emphasized the closeness that these two characters posses with one another. They have a long friendship, being described as childhood friends. In Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 19-21, Camillo speaks of them, “There rooted betwixt them then such an affection which cannot choose but branch now”. Even Polixenes stated, “We were as twinned lambs that did frisk I’th’ sun, and bleat the one at th’other” in 1.2.69-70. Despite their closeness, Leontes seems to feel that his best friend is having an affair with his wife.

Hermione and Polixenes seem to have a relationship that definitely causes concern, and not merely because of Leontes’ accusation. As seen in Scene 2, it is Hermione that finally convinces Polixenes to stay for another week, despite his insistence. There also seems to be a slight sense of flirtation between them, especially after he agrees to stay. Even her husband remarks that there is only one other moment in which she has never spoken to better purpose, which is the time where she take his hand in love and marriage. But there are moments in which Hermione reminds the audience that Polixenes is merely a friend of the family, so her friendliness and being a gracious host could be mistaken for something more.

We have seen this type of jealously amongst friends in Much Ado About Nothing. Claudio quickly became suspicious of Hero and Don Pedro, one of his closest friends. The audience knew that this was unwarranted so I am predicting that it will be the same in Winter’s Tale. 

King Lear: Act V

The audience really starts to see the development in Edgar and Gloucester’s relationship in this act. We encounter a man at his lowest, having been betrayed by his illegitimate son and then horribly blinded by his enemies and it is at this moment in which he begins to reflect on his wrongdoing. He realizes the pain that he has caused Edgar, exclaiming that if only he could “live to see thee in my touch”(4.1.24) Ironically at this moment is where he unknowingly encounters Edgar disguised as a beggar. We then see Gloucester display a sort of concern towards the beggar, for example offering him clothing and money. It is as if he is trying to repent for his actions against Edgar by showing kindness towards a complete stranger who happens to actually be Edgar. Despite his father’s past treatment, Edgar cannot help but feel sorry for his condition and in this way we see a sort of unbreakable bond between a father and son no matter the circumstance. The love and respect for his father is still intact and demonstrates this by guiding him to Dover and not allowing his attempt for suicide. In what Gloucester thinks are his last words, he says, “If Edgar live, O, bless him!” (4.6.40). His dying wish was for God to bless the son that he has treated so horribly, which reveals his upmost apology and love that he still has for his son.

Even though I am slightly skeptical of Lear’s loss of consciousness, he certainly had a reason to drive him towards madness. The two daughters that he believed loved him most banished him outside his own kingdom and the only daughter who truly loved him he has cursed. I think that it is ironic that a man who began the play with so much power, authority and resolution has resulted in someone who is out of touch with reality and whose mind is beginning to falter. It seems to be a befitting punishment for someone who refused to listen to sound judgment from Kent and the Fool. 

King Lear: Act III

I decided to do an Anti-Blog post for Act Three but instead of comparing a character to a celebrity, I chose a movie character. When I began to focus on the Fool’s character, there was a particular movie character that I was reminded of, and I feel that both the Fool and this character share similar qualities. In the movie, “Drop Dead Fred”, (which was a childhood favorite of mine), Fred shares many characteristics as the Fool in King Lear. Fred is an imaginary friend to a young girl Lizzie. Many of his actions and speech was erratic, his humor was quite dark and he often caused trouble but he still managed to provide somewhat sound advice for Lizzie, who was suffering from an overbearing, controlling mother. Besides the fact that Fred wore eccentric clothing that could even be compared to that of a fool or jester, it is particularly the dark humor that I found very similar. He would often speak satirically such as the fool, and sometimes downright insulting but deep down he cared about the well-being of Lizzie. This exact sort of sentiment is expressed in Act three between the Fool and King Lear. The Fool advises him to make amends with his daughters so that he is spared a night full of rain but King Lear refuses. Directly afterwards, the Fool insults the King by implying that it is he that is foolish, in lines 40-41, “Marry, here’s grace and a cod-piece; that’s a wise man and a fool”. I also think that this comparison between the Fool and Fred is ironic because similarly to Lizzie who wishes to escape the brutal emotional treatment from her mother, King Lear escaped from his abusive daughters. It is in both this situations in which the Fool and Fred gives advice, even if it is in a skewed manner.

Fred

Lizzie & Fred

King Lear: Act 1 & 2

1.1.35-53

In this speech, King Lear reveals his intentions on dividing his estate amongst his three daughters. In order to do so, he has required each daughter to express how much they love their father. Each daughter and her respective husband are to receive their portion of the kingdom depending on the eloquence of their answer.

1.1.109-41

In this speech, King Lear is dismayed and angered at his youngest daughter, Cordelia’s response, rather lack thereof. He swears by the gods that he disowns her in every aspect and that she is no longer his daughter. He goes on to debase her by comparing her to classical barbarians.

1.1.175-87

In this speech, infuriated by Kent’s defense of Cordelia, banishes him inside of the kingdom. He has six days to leave and if he still present during the 10^th day, he is to be executed. King Lear once again swears by celestial beings that this decree shall not be revoked.

In the second speech, King Lear appears to be shocked, then outraged at Cordelia’s response towards his request. He references the classical goddess, Hecate, as if to enhance the seriousness of his declaration. He states in lines 111-12, “By all the operation of the orbs from whom we do exist and cease to be,…”It is as if by swearing by entities of an higher being, it makes his words irrevocable. He goes on to disown Cordelia of all rights, listing them in an almost-brisk, business-like manner as if their relationship was a contractual agreement. Then, once again he mentions another classical figure, but this time to disgrace her. He says that this barbarous Scythian, one that devours his own parents, means as much to him as his former daughter. Using this particular analogy implies that Cordelia herself is destroying her father by avoiding his wishes. It expresses his deep hurt as well has bitterness towards her actions.

 

The soliloquy that Edmund begins with in Act 1, Scene 2 alerts the reader to several things. First we see a true frustration with him being identified as illegitimate or bastard. He feels that is wrong for him to be deprived of his father’s estate merely because his is younger than his brother, whose mother happened to be married to his father. He argues that he has just as many qualities as his brother, therefore he deserves just as much as him. We also see his plans for deception at the expense of his brother. He intends to steal his brother’s right to land and by doing so, the bastard will rise above what is considered as legitimate. This soliloquy is important because it reveals Edmund’s motive for his upcoming deception and it also warns the audience of the trouble he is about to cause. We now know that Edmund intends on deceiving both his father and brother to gain what he feel is rightfully his.

Merchant of Venice: Act V

I feel that the first third of 5.1 acts, specifically Jessica and Lorenzo both act as a foil to the relationships portrayed later in the act between Bassanio and Portia and Nerissa and Graziano. In the beginning of Act 5, the audience gets this sense of true, love and affection from Jessica and Lorenzo. They declare their undying love for one another, Jessica telling Lorenzo, “In such a night did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, stealing her sould with many vows of faith and ne’er a true one.” He responds to her her saying, “In such a night did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew, slander her love, and he forgave it her.” 5.1.2462-2471. There is this display of innocence and romanticism that is not so obvious with the other two couples. Instead with Bassanio, Portia, Nerissa and Graziano, we witness manipulation, deceit and a lack of trust. Bassanio and Graziano have both failed the ring test miserably, and when confronted about it, their wives insist that they will instead lay with the judge and his clerk. This is of course a comedy, so the audience knows that they are not serious but their tricky and deceptive way at affection and loyalty deeply contrasted against Jessica and Lorenzo. 

Merchant of Venice: Act III & IV

In Act Three what stood out to me the most was the development of Portia’s plan as far as deceiving Shylock as well as Antonio and Bassanio. She says to Nerissa in 3.4.60-71

“They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit that they shall think we are accomplished with what we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager, ……wear my dagger with the braver grace, and speak between the change of man and boy with a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps into a manly stride, and speak frays like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies how honourable ladies sought my love, which I denying, they fell sick and died.”

This passage to me really emphasized the conflict between male and female identity and assumed roles. Portia clearly has a desire to take matters into her own hands but her assertiveness is being portrayed as traditionally a male characteristic. This concept of “lacking” in females has been perpetuated all throughout history and Portia reminds the audience of this. Not only do women lack in physical male characteristics, but she also implies that they lack in other qualities she describe such as bravery and confidence. Its ironic that Portia reminds of the audience of these assumed gender roles, yet chooses to disguise herself as a man which in a sense further these stereotypes. This makes me think whether Beatrice from Much Ado would do something similar. She was assertive and outspoken, qualities generally associated with men but I feel that she would have not submitted to such antics like Portia .

In Act four, during the court scene involving Shylock, Antonio and Bassanio, Portia disguised as Balthasar tells Shylock in 4.1.179-84

“The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. “Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.”

I thought that it was convenient for Portia to use Christian doctrines to support her argument especially when religion is such a dominant issue in this play.  I think that the Christian characters seem to use their religious morals only when it is beneficial for them. When they treat Jews in contempt, spitting on them and calling them dogs, are they behaving in a merciful manner? This play and particular act really demonstrates the issues that arise from two conflicting religions. What may be considered merciful for one, may seem blasphemous to another. It seems easy for them to manipulate the meaning of mercy and justice as it pertains to this situation. Im not implying that Shylock is not a villain and he certainly has evil intentions but I do believe that the Christians are morally superior to Shylock and Jews in this story.