Hamlet

1. Through the conversation Claudius has with Gertrude he does not act seem like he is feeling guilty for murdering the king at all. He doesn't seem to have it on his mind anymore as he lies to her and plans to kill her child! Besides being a liar, Claudius is also selfish and has little concern for Gertrude, Hamlet, or anyone else. He is concerned only with his reputation and his power as king. He hasn't stopped to think that not only does he deserve to be killed for being a murderer too, but also that he is repeating the act that he first felt guilty for. Claudius obviously doesn't feel too bad if he's going to have Hamlet killed, just like he did to his father. Having Hamlet killed is his top priority at this point and I think that this proves that he is vindictive. He's also deceitful as he uses the fact that Laertes is mad to his advantage. He asks hamlet "Laertes, was your father dear to you?" - hoping to stir up rage in Laertes. "What would you undertake, to show yourself your father's son in deed more than in words?" Laertes replays "To cut his throat i' the church". Claudius proves that he is sly and possibly manipulative.


2. Ophelia goes mad mostly due to her father's death or at least this is the breaking point and the eventual cause of her suicide. Throughout the course of the story Ophelia has gone through a lot that would probably cause any girl to become emotional, maybe crazy. Hamlet at this point has left and seeing as he's the one who accidentally killed her father, I think I'd go crazy too. Before this Hamlet has already had a conversation with her saying that he doesn't love her anymore. She is now left without a lover and father. She most likely feels alone and lost without the most important male figures in her life. The Queen comes to tell that Ophelia has drowned saying that she lay "there with fantastic garlands did she come of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples.." She tells the story as if Ophelia accidentally fell into the water because the branch she was on snapped. I think the Queen is implying that Ophelia was innocent and precious and that these events were destroying her innocence and messing her up!

3. The real significance of the gravediggers seems to be that they are used to bring about the discussion of Ophelia's death and if she should be buried in the churchyard or not. There must be also be a reason that the gravediggers are called clowns although I don't know why. Although I assume the second clown's question was some kind of funny joke as well as the song the first clown sings. These two characters are used for for comedic purposes, even though the conversation is rather serious. The incorporation of these two men into the play are for the reminding the audience/reader that if someone commits suicide they should not be given a proper burial. When Ophelia is brought to be buried it has been decided that instead of "charitable prayers, shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her". Laertes is not happy about this and discusses the priests decision with him.

4. Three revenge plots in Hamlet are: Hamlet vs. Claudis, Claudis va Hamlet, Laertes vs, Hamlet and

Hamlet - blog 13

The play within the play is supposed to represent the King's murder by Claudius. The play begins very similar to what actually happened. The King dies and the queen is left behind as a widow. The murderer then decides to pursue the widow just as Hamlet's mother remarries his uncle. Hamlet at this point is trying to stir up trouble and cause a reaction from his uncle. Maybe he hopes to make his uncle feel guilty or perhaps he just wants to make him feel humiliated in front of everyone who is at this play. Regardless, the play is used to bring about the truth, that Claudius is the murderer. The play even mocks his mother a little and might be used to put the situation in perspective for her too and stir up her emotions as well. From the way Hamlet acts during the play it is obvious that he's concerned about the reaction from the King and Queen and wants them to pay close attention. As he unnecessarily interprets the play he makes sure to point our things of significance that will certainly grind on the King's nerves. He says, "He poisons him i' the garden for his estate" and "you shall see anon how the murderer get the love of Gonzago's wife". Hamlet wants to make sure that the King sees that "The Mouse-Trap" is put on for a purpose.

2. Shakespeare writes the play so that Hamlet doesn't act right away against Claudius possibly just to draw more suspense to the reader/audience. The play would definitely be less exciting if Hamlet had just killed Claudius right then and there instead of prolonging the murder. Definitely more can be taken away from a play in which the murderer must live longer with his guilt. There's no real solid explanation for the delay, but Hamlet may just want Claudius to suffer a little more and think more about what what he did and feel more guilty. The play was used by Hamlet to judge Claudius' reaction and make him feel certain that it was Claudius who was the murderer and that his father's ghost was telling the truth. There wasn't a need for him to react abruptly and kill Claudius right then. It was not too long after when Hamlet does go to kill Claudius. Through Hamlet's reaction after finding Claudius praying it can be seen why Hamlet does wait even longer. Hamlet says he wants to kill Claudius when he is in another act that "has no relish of salvation in 't" so that "his soul may be as damned and black as hell, whereto it goes". Hamlet waits for just the right moment to kill Claudius, instead of instantly after the play.

3. Ophelia seems to have gone mad due to her father's death and because Hamlet was the one who murdered him, who is now also gone. None of what she says appears to really make sense as she sings about random things to the King. As she responds to him with these songs she definitely is acting crazy but when she leaves her closing lines tell why she is behaving in such a way. She is thinking of her father and how "they should lay him i' the cold ground". Through all that has happened in the kingdom, first the death of Hamlet's father and then the death of Polonius and the loss of her lover who has run away, Ophelia is suffering and as a result kills herself. Her death symbolizes the destruction of the kingdom. The evil that started with the murder of Hamlet's father came all the way to the point of effecting Ophelia who had no part in the evil. All because of Hamlet's revenge, or really Claudius' evil actions, innocent Ophelia is dead.

4.In the end of Act 3 Hamlet still is not acting in a way that would be called "mad" or at least mad to the point of not being able to control it. However, this act is where Hamlet begins to turn that way especially when he kills Polonius on accident. And later he doesn't seem to be overly concerned about his mistake. His anger and his need for revenge is understandable, but is beginning to get worse. When comparing Hamlet's action to the way Ophelia acted he is not quite as mad, because he is still pretending instead. Hamlet changes his attitude back and forth where Ophelia did not flip flop. The way he talks is at one moment in a way of pretending and in another angry and destructive and mad. Hamlet tries to make it seem that he is insane so that Claudius will not find him threatening especially to Laertes and therefore he is still conscious about what he is doing and not just uncontrollably mad.

*Laertes is the character that most reflects some of the characteristics of Hamlet. He is the foil in the play. Just as Hamlet's father is killed so is Laertes;. The two resemble each other in the fact that the both are outraged and seek revenge, Hamlet from Claudius and Laertes from Hamlet. The difference is Hamlet does not act right away and kill Claudius when he first hears from the ghost, he waits to find out the truth for himself. Laertes really does not hesitate in wanting Hamlet to pay the price for his father (and Ophelia's) death. Nothing will slow Laertes down or hold him back from killing Hamlet. Hamlet in a way acts more rationally than he does.

Hamlet

1. Scene 1 of the second act reveals some characteristics regarding Polonius particularly. The first line that Polonius says is "Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo", referring to Laertes. This could show that Polonius generally wants to take care of Laertes, making sure he has the money he needs. It seems that despite some of the ridiculous things Polonius does, he does genuinely care about his children. Although Reynaldo is being ordered by Polonius to go spy on Laertes, maybe this is out of concern for his son as well. He mentions drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, and Drabbing as some of the things in which Laetes could be doing. Polonius does not always need to appear as a terrible guy, just maybe a protective father. Further along in the scene, however, Polonius works to manipulate Reynaldo into going and seeing what it is Laertes does. He reaches him how should ask questions to Laertes' friends in order to find out what they are doing. Polonius says, "Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth" as well as "By indirections find directions". These statements suggest that Polonius is deceitful and wishes for Reynaldo to be just as tricky or sly in finding out about Laertes. The third incident that reflects the character or Polonius is seen in his conversation with his daughter, Ophelia. In his final statements to her he says, "it is common for the young sort to lack discretion". As previously seen in the story, Polonius dictates how Ophelia should live her life. By this comment he is suggesting that he is older and wiser. Polonius plays the role of the common male character, who is in control and all-knowing.

2. In scene two Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to figure out the reason behind Hamlet's madness. Through their conversation it seems that Hamlet's madness is self-inflicted and is not truly crazy. I think the first sign of this is when Hamlet tells his friends that he knows the King and Queen have sent them to him. Being sure of this shows that Hamlet is aware of his aunt and uncle's concern regarding the madness that has come over him recently. Hamlet even goes on to say that he knows the reason for his friend's coming. He says they have come because he has lost his "mirth" and "forgone all custom of exercises". By recognizing the purpose of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's visit it seems that Hamlet knows how he's been acting and is doing it on purpose. He knows how his madness is causing his aunt and uncle to react and that is exactly what he wanted. Hamlet is clearly aware that he has changed, and admits to this when he recognizes the reason for the visit. After the trumpets sound and the players come it can finally be concluded that Hamlet is causing himself to be mad. He bluntly says, "my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived", meaning that he is in fact tricking them. He continues by saying "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw". Hamlet is admitting that he only sometimes pretends to be mad, when really he is not. He is certainly choosing when he will appear crazy, and that is especially during the times he is in from of his aunt and uncle. Hamlet's madness is definitely purposeful.

3. Polonius and Claudius listen in on Hamlet's conversation in order to see if he is mad because of his love for Ophelia or not. Afterwards the king decides that it does not seem that Hamlet has been going crazy because of love, but Polonius still thinks that it could be the reason. Hamlet talks about suicide and acts as if the world is a terrible place for anyone to want to be. He becomes rude toward Ophelia and says that he no longer loves her. He tells her, "Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?". It seems that Hamlet is not only mad at Ophelia but to everyone in general, but nonetheless his attitude toward her has become completely opposite than it was before. There is question on why this has happened, but it seems that perhaps one possibility is that Hamlet's life is now dedicated to searching and killing his father's murderer. That has become the most important thing to him and maybe Ophelia has become thrown on the back burner because of it. At this point it seems possible that he really does love her somewhere deep inside of him but he has let everything that is going on around him drive him crazy as well as gotten in the way of his love for Ophelia.

Travel and Discovery and Hamlet

1. I am presenting the travel and discovery works in class today.

1. The opening scene of Hamlet gives an eerie and dark mood to the play. It seems to be quiet as the men stand outside. The watchmen are frightened and startle each other. They both believe they have seen apparitions in the form of the King. Before anything really occurs in the play the audience, or reader, knows that this creepy mood is significant in some way. The fact that they speak of the ghost right from the start shows what will be important in the following scenes. Bernardo and Marcellus talk in a whisper about what they have seen and the overall scene seems eerie to the characters and the reader. In scene IV the men are in the same place as they were in scene I. Haratio and Marcellus are there this time and look around quietly. It is night again and they wait to see if the ghost appears. Both scenes have the same mood.

2. Toward his son, Polonius acts kindly and trusts him to go on his own. He gives him encouraging advice, but allows him to make his own decisions. Laertes basically tells Polonius that he is leaving for school and that's that. However, with Ophelia he acts as a typical father by not wanting her to be with Hamlet. His decision does not seen completely evil, but maybe just protective. Laertes and Polonius seem to think that she is naive and incapable of making her own decisions. This was typically what was assumed of most girls of that time. Perhaps Laertes acts toward Ophelia as a protective brother would, trying to make sure nothing happens to her just like her father. The men clearly are in control of the household and and the women are expected to do as they say. Ophelia does not argue with her father and brother but instead obeys. This reflects the gender roles of the period- men being in charge and all-knowing and women being less than them and ignorant.

3. The ghost says that he is Hamlet's father and that he seeks revenge. He explains to Hamlet how he was killed. He seems selfish and comes just to ask a favor from his son. He comes to ask Hamlet to kill the one who killed him so that he can be free. Hamlet responds in a way that acknowledges that he has heard the ghost but seems unsure of whether it was really his uncle who killed him. Despite his uncertainty he swears that he will kill his father's murderer. His father tells him that it is his uncle that he must kill. Hamlet concocts a plan to act crazy in order to figure out who is truly the murderer. He hopes to trick his uncle to find out if it is in fact him who killed his father and gives hints of this plan.

Don Quixote & Praise of Folly

1. Despite Don Quixote's insanity Cervantes still manages to incorporate what would be considered Renaissance-style humanism. It is the reasons that motivated Don Quixote to act like he did that reflect this humanism. He acted out of courage and wanted to show qualities of a knight. He wanted to help others and generally rid the world of evil. This obsession with displaying knightly qualities eventually led to destruction. Don Quixote began hurting others on his journey to try and save them. Despite this, he can still be admired for being so chivalrous and perhaps to them excused for harming others because he was crazy. During the Renaissance what was thought to be right or wrong was not what matters. What was important was the reasons behind the actions. Don Quixote just had a passion of becoming this knight and the story reflects the idea of "beauty" that the Renaissance literature often portrayed.

2. Don Quixote is written from a third person point of view which makes the narrator, or Cervantes, able to persuade how the audience feels toward Don Quixote. It seems that Cervantes wants to portray Don Quixote as insane or at least in a way that builds sympathy from the reader. Perhaps this was so the reader might not judge him as harshly for the negative things he does but instead remember him for his brave actions. Cervantes began writing Don Quixote while he was in jail. Maybe he felt sorry for the insane sort of people he saw there. Don Quixote displays such dedication through his adventure and maybe Cervantes was not depicting insanity as being as awful as it often seems. In his work he is reflecting the thought that of those in the Renaissance that the beauty behind motives is greater than what is morally right.

1. Erasmus focuses on the Catholic church in The Praise of Folly. Through Folly he tells how the rituals in which the Catholics persist in following are meaningless and make their religion controlling or uptight instead of personal. He also criticizes the way they hold Mary in higher regards than Jesus. Erasmus disagrees with the Catholic church's sale of indulgences as well. This is typical done to buy one's relatives out of purgatory and into Heaven. Erasmus refers to it as a way to wipe away sins. Erasmus is condemning and mocking this ritual as he says, "imagine here... some businessman or soldier or judge who thinks that if he throws into the collection basket one coin from all his plunder, the whole cespool of his sinful life will be immediately wiped out". He also finds that the superstitions they hold are ridiculous. A lot of what Erasmus says in The Praise of Folly follows the lines of Biblical theology. The practices of the church in which he condemns are in fact things that are not found in the Bible- such as the selling of indulgences. The Catholic church's way of praising Mary is also not what the Bible teaches and Erasmus is pointing out that the Catholic church has strayed away from what is truly in the Bible and has become a religion that is based on rituals that man has created. However, some of what Erasmus says seems a little off from what Christians today believe.. It seems that he believes that it is through folly in which true wisdom is gained- saying that foolishness is necessary. Although this seems logical I do not think that Bible suggests that we should be foolish it's just that we are often foolish.

2. In The Praise of Folly Erasmus uses satire for the purpose of making his serious message come off in a humorous way. Writing in this way often keeps the writer in a safe position. Particularly, in having his story told from an old woman dressed as a jester, Erasmus can hide behind her in a way. He can either say that those were simply the words of the old lady, or he can say that it was what he truly thought. Many writers take this method when writing on such serious and sensitive subjects. A comic approach is usually thought to be a good method in bringing up such controversial ideas. By having a woman named Folly dressed as a jester addressing a crowd makes Erasmus' whole story seem like foolishness. Although to him it really is serious by hiding behind such satire he can at least pretend, if necessary, that it was not his actually thoughts. This satire would keep him away from any negative reactions and is quite an impressive idea to address such issues.

Paradise Lost

1. Although Milton takes many ideas from the Bible, Paradise Lost includes some details that Milton creates on his own. Milton says that he will "assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men". Unfortunately Milton will never be able to understand God and explain in his epic all that God intended, so his product resulted in some false ideas or at least some that are not biblical. In Book 1 he mentions that Satan's legions were given the names of the "idols known afterwards in Canaan and the countries adjoining" mostly saying that they serve fake gods. I believe that the Bible does not mention the names of any of "angels" that fell with Satan. For the most part Milton stretches out the Biblical account of the Fall adding more details which are manly his own ideas. Milton writes that it is Beelzebub who is next to Satan in power. This is not something that I believe the Bible mentions. The Bible doesn't mention much about Satan's fall from Heaven but throughout book 1 Milton describes Hell, Satan, and his legions in vivid detail portraying him to be powerful and almost a great warrior. Book 2 goes on saying that Satan has the option to fight back for his spot in Heaven which is definitely not what the Bible says. It seems that although the Bible makes Hell seem like a place of destruction and as a lake of fire, Milton portrays it as a place that's not so bad after all. God is the ruler of all things, even Satan, but Paradise Lost makes it sound like Satan had a chance to fight back.

2. I think Milton's purpose was not necessarily to contradict the Bible but to bring about a new idea or version that would shock its readers as well entertain as he incorporated his ideas. He wanted to be different and stand out from previously written prose and that is what he did. Some details that he incorporated seem logical and perhaps could have happened where others do not. For the most part I think reading Paradise Lost does not help one better understand the fall because it is not accurate. For people who did not or do not have a Bible to compare it to might be misled. For instance, when Satan was cast out of Heaven the Bible does not say that he was given another chance. But, Milton does show the evilness of Satan and how he wishes to destroy this new race that God has created by first tricking Adam and Eve. Some aspects of the story are interesting to read and think about. I particularly liked on page 2588 where Adam is told to give names to the animals. Milton mentions Adam does this with the knowledge God gave him. I always wondered how Adam thought up the names for animals, seeing as they are pretty strange names, but this part made me think that of course God was really the one who named them. Such small details that Milton writes can really help one think deeper into the actually true stories from the Bible. Paradise Lost may however appeal to non-Christians more than the Bible might which could be better than reading nothing at all about the differences of heaven and hell and such. It doesn't seem that the story addresses non-believers and where they stand. Perhaps it was written in hopes of helping those who are already saved.

3. In Paradise Lost Adam first states that him and Eve will be "one flash, one heart, one soul". She was made without having yet sinned and came with "innocence and virgin modesty". Adam admires her beauty in an harmless way, free of lustful desires. The beginning of Milton's story start out similar to that of the Bible's account. Adam and Eve have a relationship that is pure and sinless. The two are in charge of this garden in Paradise and everything seems perfect. However once Eve decides that the two should work separately but Adam is fearful that the enemy might come to her since she is alone. Adam gives in and let's her go showing that he is not the dominant one or head of this relationship. When Eve is tempted, despite the warning given to them she gives in. She is fascinated that the snake can talk and is flattered by his remarks. Adam then decides "through vehemence of love, to perish with her". This shows more of a romantic story than found in the Bible. Adam just decides he will perish too so he can be with Eve for he cannot imagine being alone again. It seems to not phase Adam that he is disobeying God he just decides he's so in love he can't be without her. The two are now attracted to each other out of lust amongst other things. The two argued back and forth on who had caused it "And of their vain contest appeared no end". The couples relationship before they sinned seemed wonderful, but after was turned to bickering and lust.

4. It seems that one of the main themes in Paradise Lost is the desire for obtaining knowledge. It was this desire that caused Eve to sin and give into the serpent's temptations. He tells Eve that through the fruit on the Tree of Knowledge he learned his speech and ability to reason. These abilities appealed to Eve just as they appeal to people today. People believe that the more knowledge you obtain the more successful you will become. In many cases this proves to be true but in some cases inquiring knowledge is negative. People are constantly drawn to constantly learning more and more. Some people feel that have can outsmart anyone, including God. Often times people feel on top of the world when they have attained so much knowledge and don't stop to see that knowledge is given to them from God. The theme of temptation is a contemporary issue amongst people today as it has been ever since the day of Adam and Eve. People are constantly being tricked by lies, but mainly the lie of deceit that comes straight from Satan. We are constantly being deceived and made to think that sin is not as bad as it seems. The serpent sure does make the fruit from the forbidden tree seem pretty amazing to Eve when really she knew before that it wasn't. Temptation is a part of everyday life. Even the temptation from other people such as Adam wanting to be so badly with Eve that he ate the fruit to do so. The issues that can now be seen in society are due to the Fall that Milton describes from the Bible. He shows that changes in life that occurred and have effected us ever since.

John Donne

Donne's Holy Sonnet "Death Be Not Proud" reflects his religious beliefs. Donne grew up in a Catholic home but because of this he was denied a degree at the schools he went to and could not attain a well paying job. It was for these reasons he probably joined the English Church. No matter which church he truly felt connected to it is reasonable to believe through his poem that he felt sure there was a Heaven and that he would be going there. His poem suggests that there is no need to fear death - a common though amongst Christians. If you know there is eternal life in Heaven there is no reason to fear dying. The first lines of this poem are among the most remembered out of the collection of Holy Sonnets. Donne speaks to death telling it not to be proud because it's really not as scary as everyone thinks. He compares death to taking a nap and says that such a nap can simply come from taking drugs. Once a person awakes from this sleep, he says, death will die. Donne's poem is obviously a sonnet and has a mixed up rhyme scheme. It begins with the usual ABBA pattern but ends without it.