"Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, / And much offense, too. Touching this vision here, / It is an honest ghost-that let me tell you. / For your desire to know what is between us, / O'ermaster 't as you may" (Shakespeare 1.5.152-156).
Hamlet has heard from his father's ghost that the old king was poisoned by his brother, Claudius. The ghost has also told Hamlet that he wants his son to kill Claudius and avenge King Hamlet's death. After the ghost departs, Horatio and Marcellus appear and asks what has happened. Hamlet does not reveal anything, except that he believes that the ghost has told him the truth. Hamlet believes the ghost because it is his father, who Hamlet loved very much, and given (what seems like) his strained relationship with Claudius, he believes Claudius could do something like that. Hamlet does not tell his friends what he has learned because he fears that the two of them could spread the word that Claudius murdered King Hamlet. If that were to happen, Denmark would be thrown into a state of chaos, and with a battle over land impending, chaos in Denmark would cause the country to lose the land. Hamlet keeps the information to himself as he vows to avenge his father's death.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Hamlet (1.2)
"My father's spirit-in arms! All is not well. / I doubt some foul play. Would the night were come! / Till then, sit still, my soul. [Foul] deeds will rise, / Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's / eyes" (Shakespeare 1.3.277-281)
Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo have told Hamlet that they have seen his father's ghost, and they believe that the ghost wants to se his son. Hamlet decides that he will join them in their shift that night to see his father's ghost with them. When they leave, Hamlet notes that something must be wrong if his father was wearing his arms. In addition, Hamlet suspects some treacherous action might have taken place, whether it pertains to the impending battle against young Fortinbras, or whether it pertains to King Hamlet's death. Hamlet is visibly excited to see his father again, which shows that he must have been close to him; in addition, Hamlet's reaction to what the ghost was wearing is an indication that he knew his father very well. It'll certainly be interesting to see whether the ghost will talk to Hamlet or not, and what the ghost might say if it does.
Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo have told Hamlet that they have seen his father's ghost, and they believe that the ghost wants to se his son. Hamlet decides that he will join them in their shift that night to see his father's ghost with them. When they leave, Hamlet notes that something must be wrong if his father was wearing his arms. In addition, Hamlet suspects some treacherous action might have taken place, whether it pertains to the impending battle against young Fortinbras, or whether it pertains to King Hamlet's death. Hamlet is visibly excited to see his father again, which shows that he must have been close to him; in addition, Hamlet's reaction to what the ghost was wearing is an indication that he knew his father very well. It'll certainly be interesting to see whether the ghost will talk to Hamlet or not, and what the ghost might say if it does.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Pride and Prejudice XV (Ch.16-19)
"Well my dear," said [Mr. Bennet], when [Elizabeth] ceased speaking, "I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy" (Austen 317)
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have finally assented to marry, so Mr. Darcy goes to Mr. Bennet to ask for his consent for the marriage. Mr. bennet cannnot believe that Lizzy really wishes to marry a man who Mr. Bennet thinks Lizzy does not like. However, Lizzy induces him to know the truth, and Mr. Bennet's reply to Lizzy is that he could not be any happier for his daughter, and Mr. Darcy is indeed a truly deserving man for his daughter. His approbation to the marriage allows for the two to be married, bringing the love story full circle: the two lovers, who had to overcome a lot, including foils (Miss Bingley, Lady Catherine, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins) as well as personal problems (lack of contempt for the other, social class, etc.) are now able to live "happily ever after." A great ending to a great love story.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have finally assented to marry, so Mr. Darcy goes to Mr. Bennet to ask for his consent for the marriage. Mr. bennet cannnot believe that Lizzy really wishes to marry a man who Mr. Bennet thinks Lizzy does not like. However, Lizzy induces him to know the truth, and Mr. Bennet's reply to Lizzy is that he could not be any happier for his daughter, and Mr. Darcy is indeed a truly deserving man for his daughter. His approbation to the marriage allows for the two to be married, bringing the love story full circle: the two lovers, who had to overcome a lot, including foils (Miss Bingley, Lady Catherine, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Collins) as well as personal problems (lack of contempt for the other, social class, etc.) are now able to live "happily ever after." A great ending to a great love story.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Pride and Prejudice XIV (Ch.13-15)
"Neither duty, not honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any possible claim on me in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage to Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern - and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn" (Austen 301).
Lady Catherine has visited Longbourn to prevent a marriage of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, for Lady Catherine has heard that the two of them were to be united after Jane and Mr. Bingley's union. For the next few pages, Lady Catherine importunes Elizabeth to think about how platry such a union between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy would be by attacking Ms. Bennet's lack of wealth, connections, and the fact that Lady Catherine wants Dracy to marry her daughter. At first, Elizabeth denies that there is a connection between herself and Mr. Darcy, but due to her disdain of Lady Catherine, she begins to goad her, by saying that such a union wouldn't be such a bad thing. Her final remark to Lady Catherine is that both Mr. Darcy and herself would be happy in a marriage, and if either family, or the world altogether, were to object such a union, she would care less. Elizabeth is finally allowing her feelings to overcome her, and she pretty muchs admits that she does indeed love Mr. Darcy and could see a marriage between them. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks of a marriage, she just wants to be with Darcy.
Now that she has proclaimed her love, she must seek Darcy and proclaim it to him. Hopefully, she won't be a jerk and accost him again.
Lady Catherine has visited Longbourn to prevent a marriage of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, for Lady Catherine has heard that the two of them were to be united after Jane and Mr. Bingley's union. For the next few pages, Lady Catherine importunes Elizabeth to think about how platry such a union between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy would be by attacking Ms. Bennet's lack of wealth, connections, and the fact that Lady Catherine wants Dracy to marry her daughter. At first, Elizabeth denies that there is a connection between herself and Mr. Darcy, but due to her disdain of Lady Catherine, she begins to goad her, by saying that such a union wouldn't be such a bad thing. Her final remark to Lady Catherine is that both Mr. Darcy and herself would be happy in a marriage, and if either family, or the world altogether, were to object such a union, she would care less. Elizabeth is finally allowing her feelings to overcome her, and she pretty muchs admits that she does indeed love Mr. Darcy and could see a marriage between them. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks of a marriage, she just wants to be with Darcy.
Now that she has proclaimed her love, she must seek Darcy and proclaim it to him. Hopefully, she won't be a jerk and accost him again.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Pride and Prejudice XIII (Ch.10-12)
"Write to me very often, my dear. As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for writing. My sisters may write to me. They will have nothing else to do" (Austen 276).
Lydia has married to Mr. Wickham and shall be traveling in his regiment with him for a while. Mrs. Bennet has asked her to write often, and she replies that married women don't have time to do so. Then she takes an affronting shot at her sisters by saying that they could write often because they were not married like she was. It's amazing how proud Lydia is of herself. She is impertinent because she willingly runs off with Wickham, then decides to prydently marry him, and mocks her sisters for marrying before any of them. Lydia certainly seems and acts like an insolent child. She must be so proud of herself for her predicament.
Why is it that so many women in Pride and Prejudice solely care about marriage and nothing else? Sometimes this really gets on my nerves and makes the novel a little less appealing then I think it is.
Lydia has married to Mr. Wickham and shall be traveling in his regiment with him for a while. Mrs. Bennet has asked her to write often, and she replies that married women don't have time to do so. Then she takes an affronting shot at her sisters by saying that they could write often because they were not married like she was. It's amazing how proud Lydia is of herself. She is impertinent because she willingly runs off with Wickham, then decides to prydently marry him, and mocks her sisters for marrying before any of them. Lydia certainly seems and acts like an insolent child. She must be so proud of herself for her predicament.
Why is it that so many women in Pride and Prejudice solely care about marriage and nothing else? Sometimes this really gets on my nerves and makes the novel a little less appealing then I think it is.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Pride and Prejudice XII (Ch7-9)
"My dear, dear Lydia!" [Mrs. Bennet] cried: "This is delightful indeed!-She will be married!-I shall see her again!-She will be married at sixteen!-My good kind brother!-I knew how it would be-I knew he would manage everything. How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too!" (Austen 256)
Oh Mrs. Bennet, how I hate you so! Two chapters ago, Mrs. Bennet had been condemning Lydia for running off with Mr. Wickham and now, she is ecstatic for her marriage to the man. Her disposition on the subject rapidly changes from one chapter to the next... It makes me wonder just how ignorant she can really be. How can you go from blaming everyone but herself for Lydia's impertinence in running off with Wickham to approbating her decision to marry him? Because Mrs. Bennet only seems to care if her daughters marry; doesn't matter to who or how, but as long as they marry, she ok with whatever they do. What a role model! (Sarcasm)
Oh Mrs. Bennet, how I hate you so! Two chapters ago, Mrs. Bennet had been condemning Lydia for running off with Mr. Wickham and now, she is ecstatic for her marriage to the man. Her disposition on the subject rapidly changes from one chapter to the next... It makes me wonder just how ignorant she can really be. How can you go from blaming everyone but herself for Lydia's impertinence in running off with Wickham to approbating her decision to marry him? Because Mrs. Bennet only seems to care if her daughters marry; doesn't matter to who or how, but as long as they marry, she ok with whatever they do. What a role model! (Sarcasm)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Pride and Prejudice XI (Ch.3-6)
"'If I had been able,' said [Mrs. Bennet], 'to carry my point of going to Brighton with all my family, this would not have happened; but poor dear Lydia had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever let her go out of their sight?I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing [...] And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham wherever he meets him, and then will be killed, and what is to become of us all?'" (Austen 240)
Mrs. Bennet is probably the most ignorant character ever created in a novel: she blames everyone but herself for allowing Lydia to run of with Wickham, when if is wasn't for her terrible parenting and her begging Mr. Bennet to allow Lydia to go with the officers, this would not have happened. Mrs. Bennet is the one who precipitated these odious events, and yet she cannot figure that out for herself. Even worse, none of the other characters seem willing to remind Mrs. Bennet of her unpropitious actions. Maybe they feel sorry for Mrs. Bennet because she is in agony over these events, but I feel like Lizzy should have said something to the effects of "Well, you shouldn't have encouraged her..." Maybe this could knock some common sense into Mrs. Bennet, and maybe she'll stop being such an ignorant character.
Yeah, not gonna happen.
Mrs. Bennet is probably the most ignorant character ever created in a novel: she blames everyone but herself for allowing Lydia to run of with Wickham, when if is wasn't for her terrible parenting and her begging Mr. Bennet to allow Lydia to go with the officers, this would not have happened. Mrs. Bennet is the one who precipitated these odious events, and yet she cannot figure that out for herself. Even worse, none of the other characters seem willing to remind Mrs. Bennet of her unpropitious actions. Maybe they feel sorry for Mrs. Bennet because she is in agony over these events, but I feel like Lizzy should have said something to the effects of "Well, you shouldn't have encouraged her..." Maybe this could knock some common sense into Mrs. Bennet, and maybe she'll stop being such an ignorant character.
Yeah, not gonna happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)