A partially Inclusive Summery

Gain “Shakespeare Literacy.”
Over the semester it has been an amazing experience to be engrossed in Shakespeare's works.  Through our group project i have had the chance to dive into countless more of Shakespeare's works besides those developed in our class. Story Board for Music Video. This was also great as i was able to plow through my favorite five in contributing to this list.  The most time i spent with any one work was with The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing.  From both of these plays i was able to view a major motion picture of the play as well as the live performance of The Tempest.

Analyze Shakespeare Critically. 

This is one that i tried to spend a little more time with the last half of the semester.  One of the most interesting points that came to light was the physiology of the fool and that this role is still played in society today.  This theme of the fool i followed all though King Lear. Also i really liked analyzing the idea of why the caged birds sing and what Lear was actually saying with these lines.  

Engage Shakespeare Creatively
This is the second area that i tried to focus on this second time around.  I'm more into source code than art but nevertheless King Lear and Glauster received there very own cpp and Turing machines.  In addition to this through our final project i have memorized and recorded several of the lines from our movies including, King Lear's blow winds, and jealousy, ambition, forgiveness, a great price, and faults.  (for the exact lines see Lyrics page) Like i mentioned on our group blog this was one of my favorite parts of the project.

Share Shakespeare Meaningfully.
I have never ceased to do this.  However, one of the most notable conversations and topics of my blog has come from Tue.

See also Brief Encounters.

Brief Encounters

One of my favorite works is a compilation of stories in which the common theme is the effect of a brief encounter.  Though the works character will appear in a city for a brief time, run into an old friend, encounter a tragedy or some touch with another person.  For example, there is the story of a business man that makes a short stop to a small Mexican town on his way to future appointment.  While there he makes a bet over eating hot peppers.  The businessman in the end dose win; however, that is not the point.  In this novel this seemingly small moment opens the eyes of this town and the man.  Over a game race is finally put to rest and they begin to see each other as equals and human beings.  This brief encounter ends up changing the racist structure of an entire city and the thought of a very staunch man.

I feel like i have had such a brief encounter!  Over the past few weeks of this semester i have found through Shakespeare motivations to make huge decisions in my life.  It has change the way i view myself, others, and the power of the written word.

London Study Abroad
One of these changes caused me to apply and subsequently accept the opportunity to study abroad in London.  It will be such a marvelous chance to see first hand the rivers that prompted Shakespeare's "fishing" lines and the theater in which his plays were performed.

Roommate
Along with my exeriance has been interwoven the experiance of one of my roomates.  He first approch to me in regards to Shakespeare was that it held the Grammy for the "worst experiance of his life".  My inital reaction was the two year old approch "Na ah."   His: "Ya ha!"  You get the idea, things didn't go so well on convincing him!  Then later as i showed him a clip from our music video, he had a sofening of the heart, "so what were you saying?"

So study evermore is overshot.

While it doth study to have what it would,

It doth forget to do the ting it should.

And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,

'Tis won as towns with fire--so won, so lost.

I explained to him that i had found "My Story" in Shakespeare!  That i saw my ambitions and goals, my crazy dreams in these lines.  I saw my touch in had as i took my goals with fire and burning everything in my path.  I told him that when we win our goals with fire we have nothing but ash to show for it in the end.  The power of Shakespeare then becomes the universal truths that are the backbone of his plays.  It is not only what is said that is power but in the way it's said!  


What made our Shakespeare night so power for me was that we all took those powerful moments, in the way they were said, and shared them in our own way.  These moments culminated to a power and moving experience that will not shortly be forgotten.

Group Encounters
One of the most power moments in class came for me while working our final project.  It was Matt, Meg, Kara, and I all sitting down in our room just the four of us pouring over the quotes that we had pulled from Shakespeare and in essence selling them to the others.  One of the cool things about Shakespeare is the only thing need to sell is simply to perform it.  So that right, we sat down there reading lines to each other with all the passion our conviction could cascade into it.  I must admit there was a feeling there i will never forget as we pour over lines together.  Kara's ideas and passion for Measure for Measure i will not soon forget!

“They say, best men are moulded out of faults;
And, for the most, become much more the better”
(Measure for Measure V.i)

I can't wait to read Measure for Measure for myself so that i too can share in the passion and insight that she gained from her time in the work.

After, Kara finished Matt began soon after...

“...If we are mark'd to die, we are now
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more....
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon [this] day.”

(Henry V)

The power of these line rallied and called my thoughts to my brother and all that he has done in the military.  The price that he has paid the lives that have been lost and the lives that have been won for this great country in which we live.  The feeling were only intensified as i watch men and women in there battle colors say these same lines.  Like wise my soul hungers for the time to spend in Henry V.

Following Matt's stirring lines it was my turn, my sentiments followed in tune pulling from an odd spot a principle of truth that fit just right.  For nothing that was ever worth fighting for came at a cheap price!

“But this swift business
I must uneasy make, lest too light winning
Make the prize light.”

(The Tempest)

Tie into Shakespeare Night
Over all i saw the same passion the same dream and the same drive in everyone of our classmate's final projects as we met on Friday night.  Each one of us, based on our background and choice of project, engaged Shakespeare in a different way, but at the same time we all were caught by something that Shakespeare said and then acted upon it.  There was a definite passion and motivating force as we all rallied together.  The art was amazing, the play captivating, audio insightful, and the night well prepared.  All in all, my encounters with these class mates has and unfortunately for most will only be a brief encounter, but this brief encounter has left a lasting and profound impact!  Why--In the Way it was Said!

Why Caged Bird Sings

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreamshis shadow shouts on a nightmare screamhis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing 

The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged birdsings of freedom.(Maya Angelou “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”)

No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison. 

We two alone will sing like birds i' th' cage. 

When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 

And ask of thee forgiveness. So we'll live, 

And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh 

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues 

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too- 

Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out- 

And take upon 's the mystery of things, 

As if we were God's spies; and we'll wear out, 

In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones 

That ebb and flow by th' moon.

Why Do Caged Birds Sing?

Talk about a truly changed character, Lear has gone from a prideful foolish old man. To one with wisdom and age.  Throughout the play he has refused all reason! When faced with the reason of true love versus the empty flattering words of love, he banished the source of true love "Hence and avoid my sight!" to save the image of his pride. He must not be wrong! Later when all power resides in his two evil daughters, he is faced with his will and the power of his daughters--he runs away into the night, the storm of all storms in order to hold to his will and his word. "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout .../Singe my white head!" He would rather face nature head on than admit he was wrong, he still believes that pride will make him happy!  

Then why do birds sing? 

They sing for each other, they are the closest to humans than any other species.  They use song to communicate with each other and like us it is a language that is learned from each other.  In a cage with everything removed and his pride crushed, why will Lear sing? Because he is with Cordelia, he has finally realized through all hell that it is the ones that love him most that make him happy.  If he is with her in jail, he has cause to sing, to talk, and a reason for joy!  Without having the 'world' they can have the world.  The mysteries of the world they can unfold, stories can be spoken, songs sung, and laughter had, as long as they are together.  He finally sees that his world, his joy, and his happiness are in the one who loved him most.  Happiness is found in others that truly love, and not in pride and power and worldly possessions.

They will sing together of freedom, of the outside world, of prayer, and God.  And together they will be happy.  ...Caged Birds Sing for Each Other...

Rap up on Lear // Tue and Me

Original Note:
TUE:
The essence of King Lear, in my view, ... Lear is distorted emotion (he doesn't understand the developments that take place around him, which confuses him to the point of desperation). What I mean by that is that, by this perspective, the character of Lear specifically represents distorted emotion, one of the consequences of which is that he lacks the rational attitude to be open to education (in contrast, his daughters represent reason, but of a loveless kind). Lear's tragedy, to a large extent, is his inability to understand what is going on, although several characters, incl. Gloucester, attempt to explain it to him. If we are consistent in seeing Lear as distorted emotion, then his death is not a tragedy in itself, but the end of tragedy;

Truth Spoken in Jest // Psychology

So i wanted to add a little more backing behind my idea of the prophetic jester.

What is the purpose of speaking truth in jest? Why dose one do it?
It turns out that it has to deal with conflict.  Wither we are dealing with members of our family, co-workers, or just customers, eventualy challenges and conflicts arise.  We have a few ways to react but the most common are to try and avoid the situation, pretend it isn't happening, we can stand toe to toe with it, or more like the first we can try and save our face.

Saveing face often refferse to our tendancy to be more concerned about how we are perceived that saying what needs to be said.

...we may err in saying too little when things go wrong. ... This is especially so during what could be called a "courting period." Instead of saying things directly, we often try to hint. But the honeymoon is likely to end sooner or later. At some point this "courting behavior" often gets pushed aside out of necessity. We may find it easier to sweep problems under the psychological rug until the mound of dirt is so large we cannot help but trip over it.  Gregorio Billikopf

 Ultimately the jest allows both parties to choose wither or not they want to continue feeding the conflict.  It allows the truth to be spoken plainly while allowing the speaker to save face.  It the offending partly is ready to change he has the option of changing while if choosing not to hear the speaker still appears a good person.

In Lear the jester is allowed to speak the plain blunt truth and remain in Lear's company because the truth is spoken in jest.  The truth is allowed to work in Lear till he is finally ready to change.  However, the fight it out approach, that Cordelia and Kent take just end up getting them banished because Lear will throw out the baby with the bath water at that point to save admitting he is wrong.

O God of Battles! Steel my Soldiers' Hearts

Possess them not with fear; take from them now
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord O, not to-day...

There is nothing more stirring than to see a commander speak in light of his troops, to see one painted in the colors of war, empowered with rank and glory speak passionately a speech from the dust, a speech asking God to inspire the hearts of his troops. HIS troops.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother;

We watched a solider one who has been called to die for his friends--for the ones he loves--We watched him and his commander give these lines, the firmament in all it's glory is not arrayed in more glory than the two of these...  Hecuba is someone to them! 

Those who knew Shakespeare had these lines memorized! This is the power of Shakespeare!

COMPLETE REPORT

PHOTOS: BYU ROTC -- OUR BROTHERS NOVEMBER 17th, 2011

Turing Machine Lear

Turing Machine Gloucester

KingLear.cpp ~To Suffer Algorithm~

Final Project Group Blog

To be a Fool

The Ultimate Cosmic Irony!

So what's the catch?  The fool is the only one that has foresight!  He can see things as they really are, he forecasts the storm in Lear's family, tells that Lear is past hope that he is in his last season, and that Kent is fighting for a lost cause.  I also agree that he acts as a teacher in this regard. (See Act 2, scene 2 comments).

The fool clearly tells the character of the kings two daughters: Fathers that wear rags/ Do make their children blind,/ But fathers that bear bags/ Shall see their children kind./ Fortune, that arrant whore,/ Ne'er turns the key to the poor.  His daughters were kind to their father only when he had power to give them things that they wanted.  Now that they have received his riches, they have no need for him.  They consider him poor and a pest, they think he should reap his pestilent reward, 'Tis his own blame, hath put himself from rest, And must needs taste his folly.  

The fool forecasts the storm of Lear's family by stating: That sir which serves and seeks for gain,/ And follows but for form,/ Will pack when it begins to rain,/ and leave thee in the storm./  But i will tarry, the fool will stay,/ And let the wise man fly./ The knave turns fool that runs away,/ The fool no knave, perdy.  The fool tells Kent that the kings daughters were only servants in form, they were only daughters in form.  They stayed as long as they got gain.  Now that a storm has come: they have gained their inheritance and literally a storm has come.  They pack there bags and run!  They have stripped their father of everything and care not for him.  They leave him out in the storm, both literally and figuratively.  Ragan: I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower.  [During the storm with Lear abroad] Shut up your doors...   

The fool telling Kent of Lear's condition and Kent's folly, yet his grace.  We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no laboring i' the winter.  All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking.  Let go they hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it .  The king is in his winter he is past all hope of saving, like food is to be gathered in the summer--the winter is too late.  Kent in trying to save the king that is dead and already stinketh, is attempting to catch a wheel that is running down hill--he wont catch it but will break himself in the attempt.  

Kent fullfills his role of the man chacing the wheel by being, like the fool, one of the only characters that speaks truthfuly.  But Kent unlike the fool just gets punished for his truth where the fool is just laughed at and not taken seriously.  This point is hit home when Kent bluntly fleshes out the servent Oswald, No marvel, you have so bestirred your valor. You cowardly rascal, Nature disclaims in thee.  A tailor made thee.  A stone cutter or painter could not have made him so ill, though he had been but two hours at the trade.  Here basically calls the servant a soulless shell, he is a empty and as worthless as clothing, there is nothing in him.  By trade Kent also is accusing Cornwall, Gloucester, and Ragan with this same treason.  In his passion to correct the demons he employs blunt speech he also atempts blunt speech on the king, each time his reward is punishment.  He is cast out by the king and Fetch forth the stocks! by Cornwall.

Who's the fool? All in all the irony is the one who see's is the fool, the one who attempts to save is branded a traitor and the ones who are trators are given everything.  Why cosmic because this still happens today--it's ubiquitous!

Make it [Explicit]

Tue Sorensen

Me:

Hey there,

My name is Chris, i'm a college student studying Shakespeare.  One of the recent plays i studied was Much Ado.  Hence i watched Kenneth's adaptation and subsequently your review.

I really appreciated your review of Kenneth's Much ado about Nothing.

Shakespeare all throughout his plays deals with vast contrast, wither it is between scenes, number of actors on stage at a time, seasons, or even through foils.  There is a defined power in providing contrast.  I'm with you i really feel that it added a whole new color to the rest of the characters and the movie.  It augmented this idea of much ado because compared to him the world is drunk on the clouds.

Thanks,

Christopher Morgan

http://chris-clm.blogspot.com/

Tue:

Thanks, Chris! Always happy to hear from a fellow Shakespeare appreciator! If you like, you can check out theshakespearestandard.com, where I write a multimedia news column on a fortnightly basis.

Who the...

Who's the Fool

The old addage wisdom comes with age seems to be far from true in King Lear.  The fool is the only one who can speak the truth without getting thrown out, yet since it's the fool speaking true and the aged that's the fool and the fool who is wise, who's fooling who?

Fool: 

They'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace.

May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?

If thou wert my Fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.  Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

Much truth is spoken in our society in jest!  In fact most of the time that is when pure truth is spoken, yet because it's in jest nothing is done about it; therefore, we end up just like King Lear, pared [our] wit o'both sides, and left nothing i' the middle.  So the next time your friend or roommate throws a "jest" listen and then throw the book at them!  This book preferably. One would be fool not to listen and they need to quit playing the fool and get their horse in front of the wagon.  But the rug is you may be the one attempting to be wise before your old!

I love the conceit of the fool! Yet the bigger question is who's the fool!

Midterm Assessment

Learning Outcomes

         1)     How have I gained Shakespeare literacy?

     One of the unique things about Shakespeare and literature in general is that to become literate in them or to even versed one must read the work.  There are many insights and bits of understanding that one can draw about Shakespeare and his time by studying his life, where he lived, who he grew up with, and every other facet of his life; however, it is only in reading/viewing his plays that one becomes literate.  One can study Martha Gram and her life but it is not until one views her work that one realizes why she was revolutionary.  Likewise i have gained literacy in Shakespeare's work but completing on time every reading assignment.  I have been in and enjoyed: Hamlet, The Winter's Tale, Love's Labor's Lost, Much Ado about Nothing, and The Tempest.  These works have covered a few windows of his works from tragedy and romance to comedy. 

The Pioneer Theater Company

I truly enjoyed this production!  It was an amazing experience!

One aspect of interpretation that was in stark contrast to that of Helen's interpretation of Prospero was that Prospero was very ... a bully, jerk, in a rage, don't cross him... In some ways this provided a very stark contrast for the great change that happens in him through out the play and in an other, one almost just goes wowow--not a nice guy!

One major example of this stark difference is when Ariel reminds Prospero of his promise to free him.  In the play Prospero recounts the horrible experiance of Sycorax. Here the play, Prospero forces Ariel to relive the horrible experience, in essence beating Ariel back into submission.  Here we see a very strong, manipulative Prospero.  He is set on revenge and has it in his heart.

This same scene with Ariel is completely different in the Helen production. Watch.  She is still very firm and persuasive but the inflicting of pain is not at all present.  This clip also leaves out some of the encounter.  But in the Helen production we see a much more noble and persuasive Prospero than that of the Pioneer company.  We see a truer change to compassion and virtue and a more pure forgiveness in the Helen production.  There is more of a theme of love in Prospero as well as forgiveness.

Your Affections Would become Tender

Ariel. 

        Your charm so strongly works 'em
        That if you now beheld them, your affections
        Would become tender.
Prospero. 

        Dost thou think so, spirit?
Ariel. 

        Mine would, sir, were I human.

Watch

This has become one of my most favorite passages from The Tempest.  One of the raising question in The Tempest could arguably be what dose it mean to be human?  Up to this point Prospero has been leading the islanders along in his plan.  They are being punished for their evil deeds and wrongs by rough magic.  It is here that Ariel comes in and reports to Prospero of the cast away's situation...your affections \Would become tender.  This is one of the greatest moments for this movie, for it is here that we see Prospero change in the same way that he is striving to change others.  He embraces nobility and virtue, he chooses to forgive instead instead of inflicting the full measure of justice. 

This is the great turning point of the play.  I love Prospero's character here, there is no rage nor anger only humbled enlightenment from a spirit he loves.  It adds a great deal of power and catharsis. In the words and the way they are said we get to see Prospero completely change, he becomes the great ruler, one in no need of magic, one who has power over action, and rules by virtue.

Social Report to A Rant on Education

Reaching out and getting to talk with people about Shakespeare has really been a lot of fun.  There is a kind of euphoria that comes when someone take a comment of yours and runs with it.


It also been fun to see how much people care about what you write in responce to what they have said.  Two amazing people that i have rubbed shoulders with so far are Sylvia Morris and Tue Sorensen as well as KJ.  Two of them have been trough blogs and the other email.


The point is this has been a lot of fun!  The one conversation i'm looking forward to right now is with Tue.  I told him i would be studying Lier and he sent me back some pointers, insights, and movie reviews, most of this has been through email.  I looking forward to writing him about with i learn and think.


Also Sylvia had an amazing post on The Tempest it's been fun to comment on her insight to productions that have been made.


I just reason for this post is to formally report.  I have also had some wonderful conversations with people throughout my ward.  One of my favorite answers to the question "how is school" is to bring up i'm taking a Shakespeare class--Boom!--they instantly want to know more.  One such conversation lead to Arthur writing on my blog and my post in response to his.  But this is just one public example, there have been many more.


It's been interest this Shakespeare class, it's thrown me completely out of my comfort zone, i'm no English major!  I do well with exact formula's and machines that are deterministic and finite.  So while i might fall way short of others, i have definitely grown leaps and bounds in my small book.


One of the greatest blessings of this class is that it is so open.  There is no leveling exam that damns one thoughts and experience to a universal grave.  But i'v been able to learn and explore Shakespeare with out fear of it biting me in the butt on an exam!!  I have spent a lot of time in my blog and others and in the text because i have known my grade has the potential to reflect it, versus prepping for some exam. I think in many ways those who have devised the educational system have taken the city by fire(1)!  In an effort to "increase" education and measure it, they have burn it to the ground, lost it.  Burned everything, it's come around and bit not only them but their society in the butt!  There is so much more to education and this for example has been a really neat project!  I've spent more time with it because there is hope that i will be judged on my experience and not some other course i would have had to ambiguously hunt down.  

So what has been my experience, talking with people about the plays, recording and reporting on my study, talking in groups, tying Shakespeare to my life, following courses of analysis that interest me, and diving into thoughts that interest others, revisiting the books and plays, and taking time to see the plays!  Rap that up into a standardized exam! This has been a great class! I hope to be able to articulate it when time comes!


The pic, a C Round Robin Operating System analysis of it's virtual memory address space in 320 virtual frames of memory.  And it relates to Shakespeare! That is letter B on your ENG232 final exam!

With a Bang

It is interesting to me that this play dealing with the realm of magic and the fantastic really pulls me in. For some reason i can relate to it more than some of the other plays.

I find myself saying this is my favorite play but without a whole lot of evidence to back it up other than "it just is."

It is curious to me then...
Is our culture drawn to this idea of magic more so that other themes? Or it is we are more drawn to spectacle? And if so what dose this tell us about our society?

Or is it just telling of me?

Fishing

One of my favorite lines from Much Ado is

”Bait the hook well; this fish will bite”.

Sylvia Morris really opened my eye as to the reason why Shakespeare liked this conceit of fishing. (See the Comments)

Brave New World

You never know what your missing until you loose it and you never never know what your missing out on until you are told.

Let me introduce Arthur to you, Arthur is one of my good friends, we live in the same ward and he and his family are from Japan. We spent an hour or so last night talking about my ENG232 project.  As we talked about Much Ado and reporting, The Tempest and much more, i shared my blog with him.  Hence, Arthur's Comments "To Cherish" have really got me thinking.


Miranda is a truly innocent girl she has grown up on the island and known nothing more.  Her father tells her so, [thou] Art ignorant of what thou art: naught knowing Of whence I am, nor that I am more better Than Prosper, master of a full poor cell, And thy no greater father.  For example when she sees the prince of Naples for the first time, her first man save her father ever seen, she states, What is't? A spirit? Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, It carries a brave form.  But 'tis a spirit. I might call him A thing divine, for nothing natural I ever saw so noble.


She is captivated by this new world, a world she knew nothing of, it nether haunted her nor did she dream of it.  But now she is captivated by it and can't live with out it.  I'll be his surety.  My affections Are then most humble: I have no ambition To see a goodlier man. 

Now that a map has been seen and there is a unexplored world to be had her island will not do any longer.
O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here!  How beauteous mankind is!  O brave new world, That has such people in't.  


This is why there must be opposition in all things.  If not so, happiness nor righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.  She lived on an island with little knowing no man nor relation save her father and a monster.  She knew no good nor evil, no world other than her own.  Now see the world it truth, it's grand measure, she will be happy on the island no long.

Like wise our world changes as we gain light and knowledge.  We either realize a better way one that will allow us to increase in happiness or that we are right were we belong and we receive justification for our previous actions.

We are such stuff As dreams are made on: and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.
In as much as we fail to comprehend it all we are asleep not knowing the beginning from the end and therefore failing to understand our actions and world in which we live.

Like Rain

Fair encounter

Of two most rare affections!  Heavens rain grace

On that which breeds between'em.

There is no word nor pen that captivate nor hav power to convey my feelings and thoughts of this play!  It was a master piece, it is a master piece.  The plot, characters, themes carried me away with such power as if it could be said against my will.  Stranded on a distant island i feel in love, cast spells and bleed to never wake up from this dream!  And when it was over i plead to sleep to dream!  

Prospero was one of the characters that enchanted me! His words were often short simple and yet transcendent.  Consider this line the previously quoted line...here his daughter has met her mate.  Just, honest, beautiful unexpected meeting, joining of fates. Unusual, sacred, not common gentle feeling of admiration, love and kindness.  Heavens--eternal, sealing, powerful, holly, pour, give life, strength and enabling power on that bond, love, marriage, and passion that grows between them. 

Lost

Lost in study Prospero lost his kingdom power and all, his library was dukedom large enough.

And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,

'Tis won as towns with fire--so won, so lost.

It is interesting to me how many times as a computer science major i feel this way.  Every week my professor asks so what are you doing this weekend, and instantly with those words i like Prospero begin to conger in my mind the devastating storm for his soul, indeed i plot my revenge for his malicious tyranny, his vial mutiny and spurning spite against my soul.  I think to myself i will slave for hours married, indebted, and therefore cordially "official" to my school work, to HIS assignment.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING!? 

Ignoring your, can't be finished this semester unless you sell your soul to the devil first, project and, o yeah, by the way, YOU NEED TO DATE IT'S DATE NIGHT, i have loads of time!! I often look at my heart and feelings as if they have never been apart of my being, wondering what they were ever for because i have forgotten their feeling and use! So burning the town and conquering the library seem to be my Fate.

This is just Cool!

Much Ado About Nothing

Click To Play

Lose all to keep our oaths!

Love's Labor's Lost

Berowne:
Let us once lose our oaths to find ourselves,
Or else we lose ourselves to keep our oaths.
It is religion to be thus forsworn,
For charity itself fulfills the law,
And who can sever love from charity?

King:
Saint Cupid, then, and, soldiers, to the field!

Longaville:
Now to plain delaing. Lay these glozes by.
Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?

King:
And win them, too...

Here we are again burning the town with fire!  At what price do we keep our goal and our dreams?


The Tempest

Prospero lost in is study:
I, thus neglecting worldly ends, all dedicated
To closeness and the bettering of my mind
With that which, but by being so retired,
O'er-prized all popular rate, in my false brother
Awaked an evil nature; and my trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood in its contrary as great
As my trust was; which had indeed no limit,
A confidence sans bound.

Lost in study Prospero lost his kingdom power and all, his library was dukedom large enough.

A Hero Unfaithful!

So everything comes to this, one of the most violent reports to be made in the play--the accusation of fair Hero.  Here Claudio, supported by the prince, accuse Hero of being a harlot and of cheating on Claudio the very night before their wedding.

Claudio:
She knows the heat of a luxurious bed; Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.
Here the theme of Reporting has truly reached a climax, Claudio's report weighs heavy on all who attend.  This report however is truly deceitful in nature also arguable one of the dominant themes of Much Ado. The reactions of King, Hero, Beatrice, Benidick, and the friar to which are most revealing.  Their reactions almost mimic the "classes and social groups" of types of people found in the world today.  In other words, cretin groups of people react in a specific way to reports, tragedy, etc.

Hero:
She, upon the horrific assault, turns to life itself for refuge, willing to bet her life, everything to show her innocence, Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death!  This is her plea if she is guilty.
Even today we people of this nature who turn to emotion for nullification, she is turning to human nature and empathy from others to release her from her guilt.  She is pleading that surly if she is willing to place all this on the table she is innocent.  Upon sympathy she puts down the report.

Beatrice:
In similar fassion first turns to her own soul for repose, O, on my soul, my cousin is belied!
This is the only public display of opposition in the written play that we receive, however, in the movie Beatirice throws up her hand in an attempt to stay the raging Claudio in defense of Hero.
Once in private Beatrice shows her true freelings, wishing she was a man she swares to kill Claudio for the offences heaped upon Hero.  She is not so much concerned about the root or cause or reason for the affence, but the vessel--Claudio. Kill Claudio, are her words! In our world there are those people who care not for the purpose or reason for an offence but just that the offender is dully punished and revenge paid.

Frier:
The frier attacks the acusation directly with an appeal to the princess and the missunderstanding of Claudio,
And in her eye there hath appear'd a fire, To burn the errors that these princes hold Against her maiden truth.  He also put his reputation on the line, calling for trust, his knowledge of the bible, his age, reverence, calling, and even divinity, to witnesses Hero's innocence.  From here the Frier add a new reaction to a report, he comes up with a plan to discover the truth.  There is a plan created, a hypothesis stated, and a test set into motion.  He reaction is to discover the truth through experiment and observation and then pass judgment.

Benedick:

His responce to the acusation is to look for the souce where did the report really come from and why was it given.  He appeals to the repuation and honor of both the prince and Claudio and concluds that the lie must have come from the bastard.
Two of them have the very bent of honour;
And if their wisdoms be misled in this,
The practise of it lives in John the bastard,
Whose spirits toil in frame of villanies.

Here we see the tendency to look through the reporter to the source of the report being given.

King:

The King, like many in our world today, took the bate hock, line, and sinker, he swallowed it all!  This reaction is extreamly vivid in the movie.  He reacts by wailing and joining in the abuse, he grabs Hero by the hair and throws her around, tries to beat her, only to be restrained by the friar.  In the text he questions why he had to have a daughter and wishes she had never been born or a least to die now and end the shame.  Because of the report Hero's reactions to the public dishonor and physical abuse show evidence to the king of her guilt, he sees every sign pointing to her guilt.  She blushes--guilty, cries--guilty, faints--guilty, Beatrice not her bed fellow--evidence, she's guilty!!  He completely over the looks the fact she could be innocent and skips right to condemnation, everything is scene through the eye of the report!  Making Claudios line, "are our eyes our own"  altogether fitting and proper.  How often this role in society is played.  We see people constantly painting a scene to fit the report they were given.

Even the movie itself in costumes and character casting was tailored to fit the report of the play:
I think this is also one of the great assets of the movie as well, all of the scenery, actors and costumes were painted to fit their stereo type.  We get the idea from the text that the king is this wealthy yet kind of fickle man, this image summons the image of someone middle height, with a beard and slightly plum--movie was a perfect match. The prince was unique in the text, in his reasoning, status, and prose--he was cast black; this fit perfectly with persona of the prince, for he did stand out and was noble.  Hero, young and fair, the castle, grand and noble, the bastard, tall dark and awkward, everything fit the stereotype or report perfectly.  I really think this was a great asset to the work.

Other View of Kennith's Production (See the Comments as well)

Why are things so Hard?

Well this is the first time i have caught a glimpse of tying my major into Shakespeare.  Ok, probably not but it's the first time these ancient words have come to life and bit me with this regard.

As the age old wizards daughter falls in love with the recently stranded prince Ferdinand, things move too quickly for the wizard.  She has never seen a man, a man so handsome, she has never seen such a god, (ps: why can't i be a god and receive such praise, anyway...), and she has fallen for him(DUAH!), literally she's just been launched over a 1000 foot cliff as is free falling, she's committed.  He on the other hand learns she is a virgin and tells her: O, if a virgin, And your affection not gone forth, I'll make you The Queen of Naples. Yep those are the first words out of his mouth; He's hooked too! Picture a fish with a hook, mortally desined never to free it's victim, piercing the fish's side as it struggles vainly for be free.  He's hooked! His will is bound, he loves her, he no longer takes commands from himself, Cupid is now his master, his king.

So what dose the wizard do about this netted couple, he breaks them up!--ok only for a time, BUT WHY?!

...but this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning Make the prize light.

Now i've been too light in tone, let me change...

The things in life that are worth fighting for come at a very high price.  This is a transcendent truth, universally applicable!  Regardless of time, space, or purpose if it is worth something there's a price to be paid.  Freedom, education, love, friends, peace, joy, life, it all comes with a price.  When one wants to become something great many wants, desires, passions are sacrificed to the end.  I think of this beautiful country in which I live, the freedoms i have, to dream, the possibly to become anything i want, there is literary no law, no force that bans me from reaching any dream, save my own choices.  I have the freedom to worship God, to go and come as i please, and speak freely with my own voice.  This great freedom was purchased long ago from those who wanted to rule and persecute, it was purchased with many lives and much time.  Today there is still a price that is required.  How true it is, because such a price was paid for freedom, I cherish it.  O, I cherish it! I have family that has fought for this end, a brother that went to war, a brother that continues to serve to keep the peace here at home as well.  He puts his life in harms way so that my life doesn't have to be.  The strongest among us don't wear crowns.  To loose him would be unthinkable--the winning is heavy therefore i will forever hold the prize great.  The winning heavy made the prize great.  

As i look at future opportunities for employment and my career, still apart of this freedom, the same principle is true.  To enter these companies that interest me there is a great price to be paid.  Each company requires a grueling interview process.  To give one a taste, if you had to take a final exam before one could graduate from college, an exam that covered every year one spent there and then one had to prove it, perform one's work in front of a board scrutinizing one's every move, this is the interviews that i speak of.  Then this thought came to my mind....lest too light winning Make the prize light.  That which I work for I appreshiate.  Work hard!  "What wilt thou have pay the price and take it!"  As i have paid the price, the dream becomes more and more cherished--granted the price has yet to be paid in full!!  

I hope one day someone will see in me something great, i hope one day someone will see the potential that i feel in myself, that i will get a chance to fill great shoe at someones feet.  I hope and pray i will get a chance to shine, to make the world a better place--in that sense to put my name in history.  ...for all this the burden great and hence so to must be the prize...

Beatrice, Beatrice, Beatrice

Beatirce

• Beatrice. Good Lord, for alliance! Thus goes every one to the 
  695
  
  
  world but I, and I am sunburnt; I may sit in a
  corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband!

• Don Pedro. Lady Beatrice, I will get you one.

• Beatrice. I would rather have one of your father's getting.
  Hath your grace ne'er a brother like you? Your 
  700
  
  
  father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them.

• Don Pedro. Will you have me, lady?

• Beatrice. No, my lord, unless I might have another for
  working-days: your grace is too costly to wear
  every day. But, I beseech your grace, pardon me: I 
  705
  
  
  was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

• Don Pedro. Your silence most offends me, and to be merry best
  becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in
  a merry hour.

• Beatrice. No, sure, my lord, my mother cried; but then there 
  710
  
  
  was a star danced, and under that was I born.
  Cousins, God give you joy!

In the book there was no room for me to love Beatrice, but in the movie she was for almost the main player. She grabbed my eye and wouldn't let it go! I too found myself sworn to never love, to never marry a fictional character, but Beatrice stole my heart and soul right along with Benedick. I love this rendition of Beatrice in Kenneth's Much Ado about Nothing. The way that her character is portrayed bring a great admiration and respect for her. She is given life, a happy and noble one , not the sower puss that i imagined her to be. This brought whole new life to the entire play. There was a lot more ado about her! Over all i was bum founded, i loved this play, i must admit when done right Shakespeare's clowns almost always still the show!

Another of the scenes that the movie add power to for me was the one of Hero's accusation.  It was extremely powerful and socking to see the reactions of all the those present to the REPORT of Claudio.  It was interesting(Interests and Questions) to see how I viewed the report versus when i read it.

Another reason this play was so moving to me was because of the music. The actual songs in the play were sung and the ambient music was altogether powerful! It brought powerful meaning and depth to the words of the play.