The Glass Menagerie #3

Although there are many different dimensions to this play, I would consider it to be a tragedy in some ways. Amanda, Laura, and Tom all appear to be unhappy with something in their life. Their unhappiness contributes to the conflicts and difficulties that arise throughout the play. Starting with her husband's abandonment, Amanda parents her children in a way to avoid anything traced back to her husband. Tom is unhappy and has to support the family financially despite his hatred towards his work. Laura is held back by her disabilities in her life and cannot overcome her shyness. Tom is held back by his responsibilities to his family and job. As a whole, their lives are pretty pathetic and miserable, thus presenting the play in a very tragic manner.

The unicorn

6. What symbolized by the unicorn?

To me, I feel as if Laura relates to the unicorn. The unicorn is different from a regular horse with the horn sticking out from its head. Just like this, Laura feels different with her physical disability. In scene 7, Jim states, "Unicorns, aren't they extinct in the modern world?". Similar to this, Laura is not really present in the modern world. She prefers to be by herself and has made her own existence extinct in a way. Furthermore, when Jim calls Laura pretty, a new sense of self-worth and confidence is produced within her. Similar to this, the unicorn loses its horn and becomes just like a regular horse. Laura is similar to the glass unicorn in the sense that she has become something new and feels normal for once in her life. However, she has also lost a part of herself just as the unicorn's horn has been shattered. 

The Glass Menagerie

3. Identify the protagonist and antagonist. Are there any foil characters?

Although at times his character acts in peculiar ways, I think that Tom is the best fit for the protagonist in this story. Tom works for the family and helps out Amanda by finding a gentleman caller for Laura. Tom's role as the protagonist is made known through several moments throughout the story. For example, "For sixty-five dollars a month  I give up all that I dream of doing and being ever! And you say self- self's all I ever think of. Why, listen, if self is what I thought of, Mother I'd be where he is- GONE!". Tom gives up a lot in order to provide for his mom and sister. I think the antagonist is two people, Amanda and the father. Amanda drives Tom to not become his father and she pushes Laura to marry someone who is not like her father. Amanda wants her children to act in certain ways due to her own past experiences with her husband. In this way, the father plays a role as the antagonist as well. The only foil characters I can identify in the play are Laura and Amanda. While Amanda is demanding and an extrovert, Laura is very shy and quiet.

As You Like It- #3

"Lay sleeping on his back: about his neck a green and gilded snake had wreathed itself, who with her head nimble in threats approach'd the opening of his mouth." (IV.iii.64)

As a comedy, there is less logic to the plot of the story. In Othello, Shakespeare purposely wrote things to develop the plot and characterize individuals such as Iago and Othello. However, in a comedy, things seem to be really unrealistic and for a completely different purpose. Things like Rosalind and Orlando constantly talking but Orlando not knowing it is Rosalind because she is dressed up like a man seem to be really unrealistic to a reader.  Of course Orlando should recognize the woman he is desperately in love with. Also, the snake and lion attacking Orlando out of the blue seem to have no real logic or point to them. However, it does keep the reader engaged and develop the comedic and satirical tone to the plot.

As You Like It- #2

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages." (II.VII.32)

The passage that Jaques states about all the world is a stage is a major metaphor that relates to one of the themes of the play. The world is the stage and all humans are the actors throughout life. Every person goes through life playing different parts and questions life and why they played certain parts and not others. It relates to the theme of the play being following your heart. Orlando, Rosalind, Audrey, Touchstone, and so many other characters used their heart to pursue what they truly wanted. Just as one follows their heart, they play different parts and go through different phases to reach a certain point. I also find this passage easy to relate to world today. People go through different phases in life to reach the person who they want to be or who they feel they are supposed to be in the world; ultimately following their heart.

As You Like It- #1

Although the play as a whole wasn't all that intriguing, I felt like the title was a very accurate description of what Shakespeare intended the play to be. I feel as if Shakespeare literally meant that you can analyze the play just as you like it. There are several different aspects of the play. The romance between all of the characters. "Look here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers." (V.II.70) There is romance between several different characters in the play. For someone, this may be the main theme of the play. Another theme may be the simplicity of nature and the forest. "Are not these woods more free from peril that the envious court." (II.i.17) As you like it or to each his own, Shakespeare left it up to the reader to decide what to get out of the play. Rather than having an explicit point, there were several for the reader to decipher on his own.

Reflective Essay

The play Othello by William Shakespeare is a perfect example of a timeless piece of literature. The themes, characters, and motives in the play are all concepts present throughout historical and modern day fiction, nonfiction, and entertainment. As the play Othello justifies, showing love can often require courage. Othello and Desdemona both had to overcome stereotypes and disapproval to show their love. Similarly, the movie Titanic has two main characters that must surmount many obstacles due to their different social backgrounds to express their love. This theme is also prevalent in Shakespeare’s infamous tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Othello and Desdemona= ♥

Shakespeare uses the characters Othello and Desdemona to exemplify the concept of forbidden love. Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian soldier, and Othello, a black Moor, rise above many social difficulties to marry each other. Desdemona hides her love from her father Brabantio because she knows he would not understand or permit this relationship. In fact, when Brabantio discovers his daughter’s marriage he assumes that Othello “practiced on her with foul charms” and “abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals” (I.ii.75-76). However, due to their secretive relationship, Othello and Desdemona are able to listen to each other and fall in love without interference and objections from Brabantio. Negatively, Desdemona’s father feels betrayed when he learns of their love. Desdemona must go against her father’s wishes and ultimately deal with the fact that he does not approve. In turn, Brabantio warns Othello “she has deceived her father, and may thee.” (I.iii.289). Later, this increases Othello’s suspicions of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Nevertheless, Othello and Desdemona illustrate the theme of courageous love despite the tribulations that later unfold.

Romeo and Juliet (a film adaptation of
Shakspeare's play)

Although the plot was very different from Othello, Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet shares the same premise of forbidden, courageous love. Due to the fact that Romeo and Juliet come from feuding families, interaction, friendship, and especially love with one another is not allowed. However, Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight. Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other causes them to go against their families wishes in order to be together. Yet, the threat of the Prince killing both Capulet and Montague if another fight breaks out keeps Romeo and Juliet from publicizing their love. Similar to Desdemona’s father, Juliet’s father completely rejects her love for Romeo and desire to marry him. Capulet states “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look me in the face. Speak not. Reply not. Do not answer me.” (III.V.160-164). Juliet shows courage when she tells her father whom she wants to marry. Despite the fact that her father entirely disregards her plead; she still remains faithful to her love for Romeo. Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other remains courageous when they both commit suicide based on the conviction that the other is dead (V.iii.129-131; 182-184). Romeo and Juliet would rather die than live without each other. The lover’s ultimate fate is determined by their courage in dying to prove their love and loyalty to each other

Similar to both Shakespeare plays, the film Titanic tells a brave love story between the characters Rose and Jack. Due to their different social classes, Rose and Jack are not allowed to talk to each other, let alone date. In hiding their love, Rose and Jack learn about one another. For Rose, she is able to be herself and not act pompous or fake. Jack is able to be the gentleman upper class men would not expect him to be. Due to their monetary differences, Rose and Jack are forced to be secretive about their meetings. Compared to other men, Jack feels as if he is not good enough for Rose or her family. Later on, when Rose’s ex-fiancé finds out about their love, Jack is arrested while the Titanic is sinking. Rose saves Jack and gives up her saved spot to board a lifeboat. In order to stay with Jack, Rose risks the possibility of death. Jack and Rose’s relationship is defined by courage in the midst of panic and devastation.

Jack and Rose in the water after the Titanic ship has sunk.
They promise to "never let go"

Although Shakespeare’s play Othello was written in the 17th century, it contains themes and characters that prove to be universal. Certain concepts that pertain to love, jealousy, deceit, and stereotypes are just as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago. These concepts can be applied to many works of fiction or nonfiction as well as various types of entertainment today. Even though society tends to change, Shakespeare’s themes still remain familiar and timeless.


Works Cited

Perrine, Laurence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. Forth Worth.
Harcourt College. 2002. 161-462. Print.

Crowther, John, ed. “No Fear Romeo and Juliet.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

Titanic. Dir. James Cameron. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Gloria Stuart, Billy Zane. Paramount Pictures, 1997. DVD.

Stay

In Othello, Iago continually feeds information to Othello informing him of Desdemona's "unfaithfulness". However, because Iago is lying about Desdemona's affair with Cassio, Desdemona has no idea what is going on with her husband. Othello is visibly angry with Desdemona and he is acting completely different, for a reason unknown to her. The lack of communication and rage associated with Othello's jealousy feeds all of these emotions. In the song "Stay", by Safetysuit, the singer says,

"Cause something must have made you say that. What did I do to make you say that to me. Something must have made you so mad, what can I do to make you come back to me?" 

These lyrics perfectly describe how Desdemona feels about this entire situation. Desdemona is completely left out of the loop regarding what her husband is feeling and thinking. She has no idea what happened, but she wants Othello to talk to her. Eventually, due to the severe lack of communication, Desdemona is murdered for something she didn't even do.

I don't like Iago

Although Iago is very cunning and smart in deceiving every single character in this play, his character is so awful.  In Act II, Iago describes the different types of women and what his "perfect woman" would be. To Iago, a woman who nurses babies and does kitchen work is the perfect woman. As a girl, obviously I think that is just so annoying. He's like all of those men who tell their wives to "go make them a sandwich". We are capable of much more than that! Even though I understand Shakespearean times were very different, I still find Iago annoying in this regard. Then, he stabs own wife because she was an actual decent human being who revealed all of the terrible things Iago did. Even Emilia doesn't believe that Iago lied and deceived so many people. Emilia continually says "My husband?" (V.i. 139). I do give Iago props for his intelligence in devising a plan and almost not being revealed. In that regards, what he did was pretty impressive. But, I still don't like his character.

Othello & Shakespeare's reasoning.

What amount of time is covered in the action? How much of the action is presented as a report rather than dramatized on stage? Is there a meaning behind the selection of events to be dramatized and those to be reported?

After Othello leaves for Cyprus there is only a few days in between the time that nearly everyone is killed. Although the play is long, the time span of the actual events is pretty short. Also, almost everything in the play is dramatized rather than reported, with the exception of the storm at sea and bedroom scenes between Othello and Desdemona. I believe that they simply reported these incidents because reenacting these events would have been difficult to carry out. Also, reenacting Othello and Desdemona in bed would probably have been considered a tad bit inappropriate. I also think that Shakespeare left a lot of the details up to the audience to imagine and interpret for themselves. I think that Shakespeare wrote his plays so that they could be properly acted out on stage so the audience could enjoy the play.

Storm at Sea-
"Nothing at all. It is a high wrought flood. I cannot 'twixt the heaven and the rain descry a sail. (II.i. 2-3)

Invasion of the Turks-
"The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes. So I was bid report here to the state." (I.ii.14-15)
"The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk, and let ourselves again but understand that as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes." (I.ii.20-23)

Desdemona and Othello-
"Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour of love, of worldy matters and direction, to spend with thee. we must obey the time." (I.iii.295-297)

Jealousy- Othello

What themes does the play present? To what extent do the thematic materials of the play have an effect on the dramatic experience?

One theme I previously mentioned was hate. In acts IV an V a new theme seems to be more prevalent: jealousy.  The jealousy is the root cause for the death and downfall of Othello and Iago. Iago acts on this weakness, creating several lies that will ultimately lead to Othello's, Roderigo's, and even his own misfortune. Iago encourages Roderigo's jealousy of Othello's marriage in order to get him to erase Cassio from the picture. Because Roderigo is so in love with Desdemona, he is willing to do anything. By the end of Act IV, Iago had easily convinced Roderigo to kill Cassio so that Desdemona would remain in Cyprus.With Othello, Iago carefully explained and "proved" that Desdemona was cheating on him and then allowed his jealous rage to take over his everything in his life. Othello, who was originally described as calm and collected, transformed into a jealous monster. He began to mistreat Desdemona, even going as far as to hit her while she remained honest and confused as to why Othello was acting so strange. Othello, overtaken by jealousy willfully wants to kill his wife. "Get me some poison, Iago, this night."(IV.i.188) Iago acts out of his own jealousy to destroy others. First, he was jealous of Cassio for the fact he was named lieutenant, and then later he states there is a rumor that Othello had slept with his wife. Determined to seek revenge, Iago's jealous nature is what causes the plot to advance. The true actions of jealousy are carried out in acts IV and V.