Success!

Alright, the drama of my last post is over. My blog is still functioning at peak capacity. All seems to be fine. Now, back to Composition.

Return of the Composition!

Co-op is coming back after a summer of inactivity, so it's time to test my blog! Will this post appear, or will blogger inexplicably fail me? It all hangs on that sinister question...

Dastardly Questions from the Mind of our Teacher, Part II

Kate really only starts lecturing the other wives because Petruchio told her to, but once she gets going, she really gets on a roll! She emphasises the duty of obedience wives have to their husbands, as could be expected from such an ending. She is disgusted by the disobedience of the other women, as many were once disgusted by the "curst shrew" once called Katerine. At the end of the speech, she admits to once having been such a person- as bad or worse than Bianca and the Widow. But then, she urges the others to swallow their pride, and submit to their husbands, or "place your hands below your husband’s foot: In token of which duty, if he please, My hand is ready, may it do him ease.".  Was her view of marriage Christian? It's difficult to say. In ways, it is. The Bible whole-heartedly endorses the obedience of wives to their husbands, particularly in the Old Testament. What Kate didn't mention is that Husbands are instructed to be mutually obedient to their wives. Why? I don't think that would really be appropriate to the situation. She was trying to "tame" the other women, not like Petruchio tamed her, but by harshly reprimanding the others. In conclusion, I think Kate really did have a stable Christian view of marriage, something she tried to impress upon the other wives. I think it's not only obvious, it's unanimous: Kate is tame. I don't really know how you could see past her behavior in the last scenes (and her long speech on marriage) to convince yourself she isn't. Petruchio has mellowed out a bit, and is less boisterous by the last scene. He is pretty well tame, not that he was all that wild originally. He will probably enjoy settling into his new life as a (wealthy) family man. Is the last scene a joke between the newlywed Kate and Petruchio? I doubt they planned this whole scene out as a practical joke to earn cash fast! A joke, no. But I can imagine them laughing about later that night, or reminiscing about it for many years to come.

The Taming of the Shrew: Mrs. Flickner Question 1

Character summaries, in order of appearance.

Lucentio is a scholar at first, but quickly forgets the quest for education when he first lays eyes on Bianca. His thought are constantly focused on her, and while the play is mostly focused on the relationship between Petruchio and Kate, it's clear that Lucentio really pines after his bride-to-be. As I said, he's not really the center of the play, and therefore not the deepest of the characters

Bianca lives in a shattered household. Her family life is a real mess. Her relationship with Kate is filled with envy, hate, and a lust for revenge. And when she butters up her father, it's so sweet it's sickening. She is the jewel of the family, and attracts the attention of many suitors. This of course, makes her the absolute favorite of her father, something she's not afraid to exploit. In turn, this fuels the envy and hatred of her sister. Talk about a viscous cycle! In the final scene, however, Bianca is utterly upstaged by her once demonic sister, while Bianca proves herself to be the disobedient one

Kate is cruel, violent, and hot-tempered. She's angered at both her sister and her father, jealous of their relationship, and Bianca's suitors. The delima here is that Bianca cannot wed before Kate. Remove this policy, and the cycle will be cancelled. Bianca cannot wed, so suitors follow her everywhere. Her suitors anger Kate, who gets "revenge" on Bianca not only with physical violence, but with the fact no one will marry her, fueled directly by her anger for Bianca. Kate would have kept growing more and more shrewd, shrewing away men until the day she died, Bianca would grow old, alone and unloved, and probably waste her whole life an unhappy maiden. Death, sorrow, and tragedy make for a morbid play, but Shakespeare has written more than a few tragedies. Thank goodness this wasn't one of them, for enter Petruchio.

Petruchio is always on the verge. This rather unstable (and usually quite loud) fellow is unpredictable and boisterous. His entrances are guaranteed to generate shock. From declaring his intetion to tame Kate, to arriving at his own wedding dressed like a fool, there's no telling what he might do next. His methods tend to match his demeanor, as demonstrated when he tried to "kill his wife with kindness". It seems he needs to break Kate before he can reform her, molding, shaping or hammering her with the skill of an expert potter or blacksmith. He embarrasses her, deprives her of such necessities as food, sleep, and clothing, and puts her through trails she could not endure. Her spirit becomes broken and she loses the will to fight. She perfectly fits the description of a "conformable, household Kate", a hopeless but obedient woman.  Petruchio's "taming" of Kate may seem cruel and unusual, but it's oddly effective. She conforms to his every word. If her husband says that the Sun is actually the Moon, then it really is the moon! She takes this to the next level of creepy when she agrees that the withered old Vincentio is a "budding virgin, fresh, fair, and sweet.", a "gentle mistress" and a "lovely maid". She proves her obedience once and for all in the final scene. She earns not only money for her husband, but love and respect from all by proving herself a good wife. Truly, Petruchio has done the unthinkable when he finally tames the shrew.

Much Ado: Lesson IV: Review Questions II, III, and IX

When Benedick challenged Claudio, he displayed a very uncharacteristic trait; dedication for Beatrice. His love for Beatrice had bound him, just as he originally feared. He became so dedicated that he turned against his friends for love. Claudio, the object of the challenge, seemed to side with his friends and against Hero when challenged, particularly in the first wedding scene. This illustrates an important difference between Benedick and Claudio, both as lovers, and as men.

 Claudio eventually repents when he realises Hero's innocence. He throws himself at the mercy of Leonato, and seems genuinely sorry for his little temper tantrum back at the wedding, even if he sees no wrong in humiliating an unfaithful woman so violently, a belief not shared by the other characters.

His repentance comes to a climax during the second wedding. There, he takes vows with a woman he thinks he has never met. This is important not only because it is a leap of faith, but also because it shows that he is truly sorry, and regrets humiliating Hero after all. In order to atone for his crime against the innocent bride, Claudio does whatever Leonato says in order to make his apologies. Even if it means marrying his Lenato's "niece".

Much Ado: Lesson III: Thought Question IX

Lady Macbeth and Beatrice. Similar, but also very different. Lady Macbeth is a ruthless killer through and through until she begins feeling guilty. Beatrice just gets caught up in the moment and finds an apt way to test Benedick and let off a little steam. Beatrice's grim request is emotional, based off a need for revenge. Lady Macbeth's is a tactical strike. She is more or less her husband's agent, advising and managing him for his political position. After the Murder of Duncan, she grew panicked, worried, and more than a little insane due to her guilt. Beatrice eventually cooled off because luckily, her plans didn't come to fruition. If Benedick would have hunted down and butchered Claudio then and there, the events of the play would be radically different...

Much Ado: Lesson III: Review Questions IV & V

At first glance, Claudio's outburst at Hero seemed like the mistake of a wounded lover. On closer inspection however, I've determined that he is just stubborn. He becomes convinced that it was Hero who betrayed him, and is obsessed with the idea of Heroes betrayal. He fixates upon her unfaithfulness and is converted to Benedick's view of marriage. He sees Hero as a war trophy, a prize at the end of the journey, and a fine status symbol, but not a real companion. When he realizes his "orange" is "rotten", he sides with his army buddies, and ruins the wedding.