Acting Bias- November 20, 2008

In watching all of the groups tonight, you can appreciate the text even more. Othello and Hamlet changed something about the text in their specific play. Hamlet changed the words to make the text more understandable. However, with every new director there is a specific bias toward each character. The Othello group changed the entire play and even though everyone still died in the end, the interpretation of the play is probably entirely different than what Shakespeare intended. Shakespeare is dead, but the text is still alive and can be interpreted to be important to every reader. In performing tonight, I was amazed to see that a text that is meant as a tragedy could be turned into a comedy. Just as in life, there are funny moments even in the hardest of times.

Shakespeare and Feminism- November 12, 2008

Does Shakespeare’s text sympathize or antagonize feminism? Lady Macbeth is a woman who wants power of her fate. We can conclude that Shakespeare’s text understood the woman’s need for control over her life, but the text seems to show that feminism went against the natural order of the day. Women were meant to be subservient to the man of the household. The text perceives that Lady Macbeth would have been perceived as evil according to the thought process of the time. This is unusual because a year before Macbeth was written Queen Elizabeth ruled England. During her reign, England prospered and grew in power. Now that a man had come to the throne, patriarchal ideals must be reinforced. At the time, Shakespeare had a great example of a powerful woman that succeeded. Instead, he created women as evil or frail characters and follows the lead of the patriarchal society.

The Noble Eightfold Path- November 12, 2008

Macbeth and The Throne of Blood follow the ideals of “The Noble Eightfold Path.” Washizu and Macbeth both fail to follow the first basic step of seeing things as they are and not as they appear to be. The second step of “The Noble Eightfold Path” is denying something very dear, such as money, power, or title. Washizu does not deny his right to the throne and in doing so; Washizu cannot have peace according to the Buddhist tradition. When we consider Shakespeare, students admire the play on words and discover that the spirits really were speaking the truth. The Throne of Blood also uses the riddle of the trees to show truth as it needs to be perceived. Both main characters desire power and in the Buddhist Tradition, one must be aware of oneself without craving or desire. These are only three out of the eight that both Macbeth and Washizu have violated and in the end show the reality of life, suffering, and peace.

Ideological Pinnacles- November 7, 2008

Cordelia and Saburo are the pinnacle of their particular religious belief. Cordelia is a wonderful example of Judo-Christian ideology. In the beginning of the play, we can infer that she has loved her father through actions. Christ also loved through actions when he washed the disciples feet. Second, Cordelia even though she was a woman exemplified the Christian perspective. When a woman marries she is no longer under any obligation to her father, but now under her husbands domain. Then she was an innocent life that was killed by the follies of others. Christ was killed to save mankind from their sins. Saburro also follows the Buddhist tradition. From the beginning of Ran, Saburro understands that life is suffering. He knows that there will be know peace if his father divides the kingdom. Saburro wants to keep the family together, which is also a part of Japanese culture. In Ran, Saburro denies the power given to him by his father. This self-sacrifice is treasured in Buddhist ideology. These two people are examples that the fathers should have been.

Shakespeare Social Activist- Novemeber 3, 2008

Was Shakespeare a social activist? In Othello, he does not conform to any social norms. To start off with, the evil character is a typical Englishman. Iago is white, intelligent, and has a good military career. This compared to Othello, who to start off with is black and ends up destroying his military career through his weakness. Then Shakespeare uses some interesting questions in “The Merchant of Venice.” The great speech, given to an “inferior” being asks questions that mankind has to answer about anyone. “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die?” Does Shakespeare want us to understand that our soul, though the strenght may vary from person to person, is what needs to be given a chance to live.