Reflection on the play “School Bag” written and directed by Eahra & Airall
[Extra Marks]
The play was a very extraordinary one, it had a very profound impact on my life and I ascertain that it did so as well in others that was there. It was well put together it and targeted the youths in these dire times. In these modern times in our society they are a lot of rapes, gang violence, teenage pregnancy and other evil vices that have been plaguing this environment. This play and the group members had the special ability to tap into that evil world and were able to project those vices on a screen which was excellently done.
The emphasis put into this play can be clearly seen in our very own Daniel mcoy, she was yea. She was just great, she acted and played the part for real, I mean compare to her character in real life and that on the screen was a total different one. It was a very immense and very dramatic one. She really put that person in that character.
I wish that all youths could have get the opportunity to see this play and I am positively sure that it would affect them as it did on me it would give them the ability to see life as a teenager from different angles; angles such as being a gang member, being fat, from a girls perspective. A great lesson that can be learn from this play is that even though in life family members have grievous problems and would kill each other, in reality if we see that family member is in a situation where harm is going to be inflicted onto them we would rather try dying to help them than let them be harm. I am of the view that it would have a dramatic effect on any youth, if it could have made Gladis shed tears, jamara chatting a lot about it, idella, shennel and Jamie sitting down attentively lost in their own consciousness of thinking, and I who thinks he is a gangster, more ill willed than any body else and, a black man going to a theater to watch a play seeming corny, actually sat down and when it finish just was amaze and was awestruck. I concur that it would have a positive effect on all youths.
How do you know when someone is at the peak of overloading like a computer, how do you know when ones life is over or is coming to an end what does the future holds for youths? The play answers those questions to certain extents. We as people don’t really know ourselves. Everyday we go about out business without caring for others, we someone and just judge them, base on race, color, status and so on, many days persons would come to school but we don’t care to ask how is everything or how is the family, maybe that person was on the verge of committing a vile act and because of those simple words “how are you doing” can actually save that persons life or life of others. We shouldn’t take life for granted, we should appreciate every single day of it, and as well we should impact on somones life everyday, whatever opportunity we get to do good let it be. Someone once said “no man is a island” we need people to go through life. We as humans have that need that is essential to us and cant be found nowhere else which is “love”.
In conclusion it can be stated that this play is a very unique one, the characters are very skilled and they tap into there roles very good and realistic, one suggestion is that this play should be aired on the television and should be a checking mechanism for youths, so that they can see what life in these modern times is about, and finally what is in our school bag.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The cultural and religious aspect in clear light of day
Much of the conflict in India during the time if Anita Desai’s novel Clear light of day Centers upon the religious an cultural tensions between the Muslims and Hindus. As well the dividing lines between the roles of the families in the different segments.
Religion and cultural can have a very profound impact on ones life, it can be for the good an on the other hand for the worst. Compare to the western world where both males and females go out and work for a better fiscal arrangement, in india in anita’s times the male was the only one that work for the family while the wife stayed home looking pretty and go out with her husband in the night, wife didn’t even take care of their children.
In terms of religion the das family was Indian’s but by learning Urdu, Raja separated himself from his family and Hindu friends and connected himself to the Hyder Ali family. Going to the Hyder Ali's garden parties brought him close to Muslims and their conversations, and he began to view things the way they did. "When the boys at the Hindu College found that Raja was one Hindu who actually accepted the idea of Pakistan as feasible, they changed from charmed friends into dangerous enemies". This caused his Hindu friends to think that he was a traitor to the Indian cause. "When he spoke to them [fellow students] of Pakistan as something he quite accepted, they turned on him openly, called him a traitor, drowned out his piping efforts at reasonableness with the powerful arguments of fanatics" . Eventually Raja marries into this Muslim family that he had visited so many times in his youth. Raja's reading of Urdu and Iqbal separated him from his siblings, while uniting him with the Muslims.
The typical women in India was suppose to marry, and be subservient to her husband like tara, but bimla didn’t think about life like thst she resented all traditional culture of the hindu tradition and became a more feminist lady, she didn’t married, she smoke and drink rum like other men, and sat at the same table as them and form in loud, political conversations challenging their manhood.
Religion and culture in the book can be used as either a means of dividing or uniting people. It can be used, as in Clear Light of Day, as a way to reinforce religious divisions, or, separate family members while another family is benefiting from that change.
Much of the conflict in India during the time if Anita Desai’s novel Clear light of day Centers upon the religious an cultural tensions between the Muslims and Hindus. As well the dividing lines between the roles of the families in the different segments.
Religion and cultural can have a very profound impact on ones life, it can be for the good an on the other hand for the worst. Compare to the western world where both males and females go out and work for a better fiscal arrangement, in india in anita’s times the male was the only one that work for the family while the wife stayed home looking pretty and go out with her husband in the night, wife didn’t even take care of their children.
In terms of religion the das family was Indian’s but by learning Urdu, Raja separated himself from his family and Hindu friends and connected himself to the Hyder Ali family. Going to the Hyder Ali's garden parties brought him close to Muslims and their conversations, and he began to view things the way they did. "When the boys at the Hindu College found that Raja was one Hindu who actually accepted the idea of Pakistan as feasible, they changed from charmed friends into dangerous enemies". This caused his Hindu friends to think that he was a traitor to the Indian cause. "When he spoke to them [fellow students] of Pakistan as something he quite accepted, they turned on him openly, called him a traitor, drowned out his piping efforts at reasonableness with the powerful arguments of fanatics" . Eventually Raja marries into this Muslim family that he had visited so many times in his youth. Raja's reading of Urdu and Iqbal separated him from his siblings, while uniting him with the Muslims.
The typical women in India was suppose to marry, and be subservient to her husband like tara, but bimla didn’t think about life like thst she resented all traditional culture of the hindu tradition and became a more feminist lady, she didn’t married, she smoke and drink rum like other men, and sat at the same table as them and form in loud, political conversations challenging their manhood.
Religion and culture in the book can be used as either a means of dividing or uniting people. It can be used, as in Clear Light of Day, as a way to reinforce religious divisions, or, separate family members while another family is benefiting from that change.
King’s Lear’s Character
At the very beginning of the play the Lear’s character is revealed. The first lines tells us that his mind is beginning to fail with age, formerly he had perceived how different how different were the characters of Cornwall and Albany, but now ne seems either to have lost this perception or to be unwisely ignoring it. The rashness of his division of the kingdom troubles us and we cannot but see with concern that its motive is mainly selfish.
The absurdity of the pretence of making the division depend on protestations of love from his daughters, his complete blindness to the hypocrisy which is patent to us at a glance, His piteous delight in these protestation, the openness of his expressions of preference for his youngest daughter all make us smile, but as well pain us. But pity begins to give way to another feeling when we witness the precipitance and the uncontrolled anger of injustice to cordellia and Kent and the hideous rashness of his persistence in dividing the kingdom after rejection of his one dutiful child. We feel now the presence of force as well as weakness, but moreover we feel the presence of death. The consciousness that decay of old age contributes to his condition deepens our pity of Lear and of human infirmity, it certainly does not leads us to regard the old king as irresponsible harsh and prejudice. This can be illustrated in these words to cordellia
Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower.
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist and cease to be
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour’d, pitied and relieved
As thou my sometimes daughter.
The dramatic effect of this passage is repeated again to his daughter Goneril who had done no more than to require him a little disquantity and reform his train knights. Certainly her manner and spirit in making these demands are hateful and probably her accusations against the knight are false, as well we should have expect from any father in Lear’s position passionate distress and indignation. But surely he famous words from Lears immediate reply were meant to be nothing more short of frightful:
Hear nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend they purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful
Into her womb convey sterility
Dry up in her the organs of increase
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her! If she must teem
Create her child of spleen that it may live
And be thwarted disnature torment to her
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent tooth it is
To have a thankless child!!
The question is not whether Goneril deserves these appalling imprecations but what they tell us about Lear, they show that although he has already recognized his injustice towards Cordellia, he is secretly blaming himself and is endeavoring to do better. As well he is at a stage where there is no turning back from what he is doing. If he needs to invoke nature, the gods or any other form of deity with some extreme supreme higher power he is saying let is come forward and deal with his daughter as well in the rest of the play.
In conclusion King Lear’s character can be said to be “a man more sinned against sinning”. He is very evil and selfish. His suffering is very cruel but the recollection of the wrongs that he did to Kent and his dutiful daughter Cordelia and to the realm has been well night effaced. The last four acts have inspired in us, together with this pity much admiration and affection. The force of his passion has made us feel that his nature was great, his frankness and generosity, his herotic efforts to be patient. The depth of his shame and repentance, and the ecstasy of his re-union with Cordelia have melted our hearts and thus provide a balance with King Lear’s character and his role in the play.
At the very beginning of the play the Lear’s character is revealed. The first lines tells us that his mind is beginning to fail with age, formerly he had perceived how different how different were the characters of Cornwall and Albany, but now ne seems either to have lost this perception or to be unwisely ignoring it. The rashness of his division of the kingdom troubles us and we cannot but see with concern that its motive is mainly selfish.
The absurdity of the pretence of making the division depend on protestations of love from his daughters, his complete blindness to the hypocrisy which is patent to us at a glance, His piteous delight in these protestation, the openness of his expressions of preference for his youngest daughter all make us smile, but as well pain us. But pity begins to give way to another feeling when we witness the precipitance and the uncontrolled anger of injustice to cordellia and Kent and the hideous rashness of his persistence in dividing the kingdom after rejection of his one dutiful child. We feel now the presence of force as well as weakness, but moreover we feel the presence of death. The consciousness that decay of old age contributes to his condition deepens our pity of Lear and of human infirmity, it certainly does not leads us to regard the old king as irresponsible harsh and prejudice. This can be illustrated in these words to cordellia
Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower.
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist and cease to be
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour’d, pitied and relieved
As thou my sometimes daughter.
The dramatic effect of this passage is repeated again to his daughter Goneril who had done no more than to require him a little disquantity and reform his train knights. Certainly her manner and spirit in making these demands are hateful and probably her accusations against the knight are false, as well we should have expect from any father in Lear’s position passionate distress and indignation. But surely he famous words from Lears immediate reply were meant to be nothing more short of frightful:
Hear nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend they purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful
Into her womb convey sterility
Dry up in her the organs of increase
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her! If she must teem
Create her child of spleen that it may live
And be thwarted disnature torment to her
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent tooth it is
To have a thankless child!!
The question is not whether Goneril deserves these appalling imprecations but what they tell us about Lear, they show that although he has already recognized his injustice towards Cordellia, he is secretly blaming himself and is endeavoring to do better. As well he is at a stage where there is no turning back from what he is doing. If he needs to invoke nature, the gods or any other form of deity with some extreme supreme higher power he is saying let is come forward and deal with his daughter as well in the rest of the play.
In conclusion King Lear’s character can be said to be “a man more sinned against sinning”. He is very evil and selfish. His suffering is very cruel but the recollection of the wrongs that he did to Kent and his dutiful daughter Cordelia and to the realm has been well night effaced. The last four acts have inspired in us, together with this pity much admiration and affection. The force of his passion has made us feel that his nature was great, his frankness and generosity, his herotic efforts to be patient. The depth of his shame and repentance, and the ecstasy of his re-union with Cordelia have melted our hearts and thus provide a balance with King Lear’s character and his role in the play.
Aunty Mari Masi’s Role in the Das Chlidrens Upbrining!!
Aunty Mira Masi was married and widowed at an early age. At her mother in law home she work and slave for them until she turned old and grey. She finally got an opportunity to stop being exploited, when the Das family invited her to stay with them with the sole purpose of taking care of Baba, the mentally challenge youngest child.
Aunty Mira Masi can be said to be both a mother and a father for the children because she was more engage in their life and their upbringing more than there biological parents. She was the one that was able to bring out special skills in Baba that no could have done. She had a profound impact on life. As well she impacted Tara’s life significantly; Tara was attracted to her from the beginning that the aunt arrived. They both had that mother daughter connection. When Tara was being bullied by the other 2 older children (Raja and Bimla) she ran to the aunt, for her comfort, protection and her wisdom.
In terms of Raja and Bimla because they were already old enough, in their mental thinking, physical structure and so on. Thus because of these elements they didn’t see aunty masi
as that mother figure towards them but maybe as a relative.
Aunty Mira Masi was married and widowed at an early age. At her mother in law home she work and slave for them until she turned old and grey. She finally got an opportunity to stop being exploited, when the Das family invited her to stay with them with the sole purpose of taking care of Baba, the mentally challenge youngest child.
Aunty Mira Masi can be said to be both a mother and a father for the children because she was more engage in their life and their upbringing more than there biological parents. She was the one that was able to bring out special skills in Baba that no could have done. She had a profound impact on life. As well she impacted Tara’s life significantly; Tara was attracted to her from the beginning that the aunt arrived. They both had that mother daughter connection. When Tara was being bullied by the other 2 older children (Raja and Bimla) she ran to the aunt, for her comfort, protection and her wisdom.
In terms of Raja and Bimla because they were already old enough, in their mental thinking, physical structure and so on. Thus because of these elements they didn’t see aunty masi
as that mother figure towards them but maybe as a relative.
Language in the book “Clear light of day”
According to the New York Times Book Review “Clear Light of Day does what only the very best Novels do, it totally submerges us. It takes us so deeply into another world that we almost fear we won’t be able to climb out again”. The language and meaning of such profound style would be discussed.
Firstly Anita Desai’s Language can be said to be very clear and vivid she describes old Delhi and new Delhi with such great graphic images that a person who has never grasp a picture of India would surely after reading the novel their visual senses would be activated. Vivid descriptions of the koels are illustrated as they are flying around talking in their own language. Moreover a picture of the rosewalk one that is of beauty and splendor was described in the childhood days, it had numerous arrangements such as papaya trees, fig and silver oaks, mulberry, Eucalyptus and roses that lined the walkway. An image of the verandah encircling the Das family house of dwelling is as well seen. Additionally vivid mages of conflicts were included in the author’s use of language, conflicts that are internal (domestic) among the family; Tara and Bimla, Bimla and Raja, Raja and his father, as well they were external conflicts such as that among the Muslims and the Indians which split the country in half India and Pakistan. Also there is the conflict of the mind occurring with Aunty Mira Masi who was an alcoholic who turned insane because of the ill treatment that she received from her past life. There is the drowning of the cow in the well intermingle with the stagnant stench of death and grime, Baba Playing the gramophone and so on. Anita Desais scenes were clearly vivid through her use of language because it draws persons in the actual events that occur giving the reader that first person preference.
The concept of flashback was utilized in the language. This is so as to give the reader extra information about some of the character one being Aunty Mira Masi, it showed from her marriage at 12yrs widowed at 15 up until she was worn and torn from working with her family in law’s, as well the author uses strong adjectives, Pronunciation, vocabulary and great grammar in her language to reinforce and to emphasized her thoughts.
Thirdly meaning is significantly important in the novel, the New York Times stated that “it’s a wonderful novel about silence and music, about the partition of a family as well as a nation”. The meaning convey is that in life persons will have different views whether it’s in culture, tradition, norms or values. Persons are generally different and this difference can bring about massive destructions. Persons even to an extent may become violent and destroy others because of their beliefs. Another meaning is that of family love, its warmth, tenderness and its compassion. At times families need to forgive and forget in order for that unit to be a cohesive one standing the test of time. Additionally meeting siblings after long period of time can lead to immense drama, beauty, and even self understanding. As purported by the Washington post Book World “this is a wonderful book a book about where passages must be read and reread so that you savor their imagery, their language, and their wisdom.”
According to the New York Times Book Review “Clear Light of Day does what only the very best Novels do, it totally submerges us. It takes us so deeply into another world that we almost fear we won’t be able to climb out again”. The language and meaning of such profound style would be discussed.
Firstly Anita Desai’s Language can be said to be very clear and vivid she describes old Delhi and new Delhi with such great graphic images that a person who has never grasp a picture of India would surely after reading the novel their visual senses would be activated. Vivid descriptions of the koels are illustrated as they are flying around talking in their own language. Moreover a picture of the rosewalk one that is of beauty and splendor was described in the childhood days, it had numerous arrangements such as papaya trees, fig and silver oaks, mulberry, Eucalyptus and roses that lined the walkway. An image of the verandah encircling the Das family house of dwelling is as well seen. Additionally vivid mages of conflicts were included in the author’s use of language, conflicts that are internal (domestic) among the family; Tara and Bimla, Bimla and Raja, Raja and his father, as well they were external conflicts such as that among the Muslims and the Indians which split the country in half India and Pakistan. Also there is the conflict of the mind occurring with Aunty Mira Masi who was an alcoholic who turned insane because of the ill treatment that she received from her past life. There is the drowning of the cow in the well intermingle with the stagnant stench of death and grime, Baba Playing the gramophone and so on. Anita Desais scenes were clearly vivid through her use of language because it draws persons in the actual events that occur giving the reader that first person preference.
The concept of flashback was utilized in the language. This is so as to give the reader extra information about some of the character one being Aunty Mira Masi, it showed from her marriage at 12yrs widowed at 15 up until she was worn and torn from working with her family in law’s, as well the author uses strong adjectives, Pronunciation, vocabulary and great grammar in her language to reinforce and to emphasized her thoughts.
Thirdly meaning is significantly important in the novel, the New York Times stated that “it’s a wonderful novel about silence and music, about the partition of a family as well as a nation”. The meaning convey is that in life persons will have different views whether it’s in culture, tradition, norms or values. Persons are generally different and this difference can bring about massive destructions. Persons even to an extent may become violent and destroy others because of their beliefs. Another meaning is that of family love, its warmth, tenderness and its compassion. At times families need to forgive and forget in order for that unit to be a cohesive one standing the test of time. Additionally meeting siblings after long period of time can lead to immense drama, beauty, and even self understanding. As purported by the Washington post Book World “this is a wonderful book a book about where passages must be read and reread so that you savor their imagery, their language, and their wisdom.”
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Answers to Questions on King Lear
1. Who are the two nobles in the opening scene and what are they talking about?
¨ The two nobles in the opening scene are Gloucester and Kent and they were talking about King Lear and his plans to divide his kingdom as well Gloucester introduces Edmund to Kent, explaining that Edmund is his bastard child raise away from but nevertheless loves him dearly.
2. How do you think that Edmund must be feeling at this moment?
¨ I think that he was feeling touched knowing that although he is a bastard child his father still has that potency to acknowledge that he loves him dearly.
3. What does Old King Lear plan to do with his kingdom? What is the test that he proposes to the daughters?
¨ Old king Lear plans to divide his kingdom among his three daughters because he intends to give up responsibilities of government and spend his old age visiting his daughters. The test that he proposes to his daughters is that they need to say which one of them loves him the most.
4. How does each of the first two daughters answer the old man?
¨ The first one Goneril answer and said “Sir I love you more than word can wield the matter;
Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life. With grace, health, beauty, honor,
As much as child e’er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor and speech unable
While the other sister Regan went into more details about how she love him.
5. What is Cornelia’s answer and why does she answer as she does? What does her reference to "nothing" suggest about the use of this motif in the rest of the play?
¨ Her answer was that she “cannot heave her heart into her mouth
that she loves him exactly as much as a daughter should love a father and that her sisters won’t have husband if they say that they love him. She answered the way that she did because that was how honestly she felt, no more no less. It was her honest opinion about her feelings. It seems like nothing w
6. Do you think that Cordelia is being cruel in refusing to play her father's game? Why?
¨ I don’t think that she was being rude when she didn’t want to play along with her father game. She was just being honest with her thoughts unlike her two other scheming sisters.
7. How does Lear react to Cordelia's response? How does Lord Kent react to Lear's response?
¨ King Lear reacted angry and furiously to her meaningful response. He flies into a rage disowning her and divides her share of the kingdom between the 2 sisters. Lord Kent disagreed with Lear’s response to cordelia telling him that he is insane to reward the flattery of his older daughters and disown cordelia who loves him more that her sisters does.
8. How might the references to sight and blindness become important for the rest of the play?
- It’s essential to the rest of the play because it tells of what is to come, more sight and blindness. It’s metaphorical, because both characters in the play Lear and Gloucester have loyal children and disloyal ones, and they both are blinded by the truth, and both ending up banishing the loyal ones.
9. How do France and Burgundy each react to the news that Cordelia will not receive any dower and what does their reaction tell us about their characters?
· France and Burgundy reacted differently when they found out that Cordelia would not receive any dower. Burgundy withdrew his offer of marriage while France accepted her marriage, because of her true honest virtues. Burgundy actions tells us that his character is not truthful he only wants material things while France didn’t care about materials things but virtues that are wholesome and upright that represents that vigor in a woman
10. What does Cordelia mean when she says to her sisters, "I know you what you are." What do the sisters say about their father near the end of the scene?
· She means that because they are sisters they have that bond that sisterly connection and as such she knows about her sisters evil and ugly and ways. At the end of the scene the sisters plan in secrecy that they should reduce their father’s authority completely since they have power over the kingdom.
1.2
11. What are the two views of nature contrasted in the action and dialogue of this scene?
· The two views of nature contrasted in the action is that of a bastard son who wants recognition, inherit wealth and land and even to an extent be and feel love that is owed to him because of his status. And the other view is that of the other child is not illegitimate.
12. What parallels do you see between this scene and the first one?
· Parallel that can be seen in this play and the other is that both King Lear and Gloucester have children who are truly loyal to them (Cordelia and Edgar) and children who are traitors and evil ( Goneril, Regan and Edmund) . Both fathers mistake the unloving for loving banishing the loyal ones and designating the wicked ones the heirs.
1.3
13. A couple of months have now passed; what is bothering Goneril at this point and what does she instruct her servant Oswald to do about it?
· She is bothered because Lear’s knights are becoming riotous and he himself is an obnoxious guest. She instructs Oswald and the servants to behave rudely towards Lear orders and his knights making them feel unwelcome thus in the process may leave.
1.4
14. Why does Kent wish to serve Lear? What does he discern in Lear's countenance and how is this ironic?
· He wishes to serve Lear because he is a very honest hearted fellow as well he is poor as the king. Kent discern authority in Lear countenance and its ironic because it’s the same authority that Kent was being ruled under’
15. What is Kent's reaction to what Oswald's servant does to Lear?
· Kent’s reaction to what Oswald’s servant did to Lear was to defend Lear from the blunt force of their actions.
16. Why is what the knight says about the Fool's pining away "since my young lady's going into France" important?
· He said that because Cordelia was a very essential person when she was around but know she is gone to France, things are different now, no more compassion, loyalty and so on
17. What is the Fool's function in this part of the play and what are at least three examples of how he fulfills this function?
· The fools function in the play is to amuse King Lear by being funny, wearing silly costumes, make puns and jokes and offer his take on matters of sovereign providing deeper wisdom.\
3 ways that he fulfills his function are:
v He advises Lear to be way to be aware of his daughters in telling Lear that I am better than thou art now; I am a fool thou are nothing.
v He hints at the dangerous situation in which Lear has put himself.
v His ostensibly silly singing. The hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo so long that it had its head bit off by its young. Clearly warns the king that his daughters each are like traitors who plan to turn against the father than raise them.
2.1
18. How does Edmund trick his brother Edgar into fleeing?
· Edmund tricks his brother Edgar into fleeing by persuading him that there father is enraged with him.
2.2
19. How do Kent's actions with Oswald characterize him as a "plain dealer"?
· Kent’s action with Oswald characterizes him as a plain dealer because of the threats that he made as well as to beat him like a savage.
20. How might Kent's line "Nothing almost seems miracles/But misery" serve as a motto for the play?
·
2.3
21. How is Edgar's disguising himself as a bedlam beggar an example of social criticism in the play? Why is Edgar's comment, "Edgar, I nothing am" important to the meaning of the play?
· Edgar disguising himself as a bedlam beggar is an example of social criticism in the play because he is seen as a vagrant. Moreover during that time he represent the appearance of a vagabond. The comment is important to the play in that he has been so downgrade in status that he should have been a beggar. Its essential to the play because it shows us how one minute u can be glorious in life and then ure nothing at all.
2.4
22. Why is Lear so angry that his servant Kent has been put in the stocks by Regan and Cornwall?
· Lear is angry that Kent has been shackled and put in the stocks because it shows a total disrespect to him. The stocks were a punishment used on common criminals, and their use of Lears serving man can be seen to be insolence towards Lears royal status.
23. What is Regan's first response when Lear complains of his treatment at the hands of her sister?
· Regan’s first response to Lears complains of his ill treatment at the hands of her sister is to disregard his complaints and demanding that he calm his self down.
6. Do you think that Cordelia is being cruel in refusing to play her father's game? Why?
¨ I don’t think that she was being rude when she didn’t want to play along with her father game. She was just being honest with her thoughts unlike her two other scheming sisters.
7. How does Lear react to Cordelia's response? How does Lord Kent react to Lear's response?
¨ King Lear reacted angry and furiously to her meaningful response. He flies into a rage disowning her and divides her share of the kingdom between the 2 sisters. Lord Kent disagreed with Lear’s response to cordelia telling him that he is insane to reward the flattery of his older daughters and disown cordelia who loves him more that her sisters does.
8. How might the references to sight and blindness become important for the rest of the play?
- It’s essential to the rest of the play because it tells of what is to come, more sight and blindness. It’s metaphorical, because both characters in the play Lear and Gloucester have loyal children and disloyal ones, and they both are blinded by the truth, and both ending up banishing the loyal ones.
9. How do France and Burgundy each react to the news that Cordelia will not receive any dower and what does their reaction tell us about their characters?
· France and Burgundy reacted differently when they found out that Cordelia would not receive any dower. Burgundy withdrew his offer of marriage while France accepted her marriage, because of her true honest virtues. Burgundy actions tells us that his character is not truthful he only wants material things while France didn’t care about materials things but virtues that are wholesome and upright that represents that vigor in a woman
10. What does Cordelia mean when she says to her sisters, "I know you what you are." What do the sisters say about their father near the end of the scene?
· She means that because they are sisters they have that bond that sisterly connection and as such she knows about her sisters evil and ugly and ways. At the end of the scene the sisters plan in secrecy that they should reduce their father’s authority completely since they have power over the kingdom.
1.2
11. What are the two views of nature contrasted in the action and dialogue of this scene?
· The two views of nature contrasted in the action is that of a bastard son who wants recognition, inherit wealth and land and even to an extent be and feel love that is owed to him because of his status. And the other view is that of the other child is not illegitimate.
12. What parallels do you see between this scene and the first one?
· Parallel that can be seen in this play and the other is that both King Lear and Gloucester have children who are truly loyal to them (Cordelia and Edgar) and children who are traitors and evil ( Goneril, Regan and Edmund) . Both fathers mistake the unloving for loving banishing the loyal ones and designating the wicked ones the heirs.
1.3
13. A couple of months have now passed; what is bothering Goneril at this point and what does she instruct her servant Oswald to do about it?
· She is bothered because Lear’s knights are becoming riotous and he himself is an obnoxious guest. She instructs Oswald and the servants to behave rudely towards Lear orders and his knights making them feel unwelcome thus in the process may leave.
1.4
14. Why does Kent wish to serve Lear? What does he discern in Lear's countenance and how is this ironic?
· He wishes to serve Lear because he is a very honest hearted fellow as well he is poor as the king. Kent discern authority in Lear countenance and its ironic because it’s the same authority that Kent was being ruled under’
15. What is Kent's reaction to what Oswald's servant does to Lear?
· Kent’s reaction to what Oswald’s servant did to Lear was to defend Lear from the blunt force of their actions.
16. Why is what the knight says about the Fool's pining away "since my young lady's going into France" important?
· He said that because Cordelia was a very essential person when she was around but know she is gone to France, things are different now, no more compassion, loyalty and so on
17. What is the Fool's function in this part of the play and what are at least three examples of how he fulfills this function?
· The fools function in the play is to amuse King Lear by being funny, wearing silly costumes, make puns and jokes and offer his take on matters of sovereign providing deeper wisdom.\
3 ways that he fulfills his function are:
v He advises Lear to be way to be aware of his daughters in telling Lear that I am better than thou art now; I am a fool thou are nothing.
v He hints at the dangerous situation in which Lear has put himself.
v His ostensibly silly singing. The hedge sparrow fed the cuckoo so long that it had its head bit off by its young. Clearly warns the king that his daughters each are like traitors who plan to turn against the father than raise them.
2.1
18. How does Edmund trick his brother Edgar into fleeing?
· Edmund tricks his brother Edgar into fleeing by persuading him that there father is enraged with him.
2.2
19. How do Kent's actions with Oswald characterize him as a "plain dealer"?
· Kent’s action with Oswald characterizes him as a plain dealer because of the threats that he made as well as to beat him like a savage.
20. How might Kent's line "Nothing almost seems miracles/But misery" serve as a motto for the play?
·
2.3
21. How is Edgar's disguising himself as a bedlam beggar an example of social criticism in the play? Why is Edgar's comment, "Edgar, I nothing am" important to the meaning of the play?
· Edgar disguising himself as a bedlam beggar is an example of social criticism in the play because he is seen as a vagrant. Moreover during that time he represent the appearance of a vagabond. The comment is important to the play in that he has been so downgrade in status that he should have been a beggar. Its essential to the play because it shows us how one minute u can be glorious in life and then ure nothing at all.
2.4
22. Why is Lear so angry that his servant Kent has been put in the stocks by Regan and Cornwall?
· Lear is angry that Kent has been shackled and put in the stocks because it shows a total disrespect to him. The stocks were a punishment used on common criminals, and their use of Lears serving man can be seen to be insolence towards Lears royal status.
23. What is Regan's first response when Lear complains of his treatment at the hands of her sister?
· Regan’s first response to Lears complains of his ill treatment at the hands of her sister is to disregard his complaints and demanding that he calm his self down.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Life and Times of Shakespeare
Mary Aden he dramatist‘s mother was the daughter of a substantial landowner about 1557 she married John Shakespeare, a tanner, glove maker and trader in wool, grain and other farm commodities. William Shakespeare was the third child and he was the eldest son. He was born on the 23rd of April, 1564. He attended the Stratford Grammar School at age 6-13 where he received substantial training in Latin, Logic and Literature including plays by Plautus, Terrence and Sencea. Later on he worked as a butcher. Then on November 27th, 1582 he married Annie Hathaway who was eight years his senior and later on they had a daughter, Susanna in May 1583 after which in 1585 they had twins, Hamnet and Juliet. in London his career took flight as a poet, actor as well as a playwright. One of his great plays was that of hamlet in 1602. Moreover because of his fame and glory he accumulated and acquired great wealth. He later succumb to death on April 25th 1616.
Mary Aden he dramatist‘s mother was the daughter of a substantial landowner about 1557 she married John Shakespeare, a tanner, glove maker and trader in wool, grain and other farm commodities. William Shakespeare was the third child and he was the eldest son. He was born on the 23rd of April, 1564. He attended the Stratford Grammar School at age 6-13 where he received substantial training in Latin, Logic and Literature including plays by Plautus, Terrence and Sencea. Later on he worked as a butcher. Then on November 27th, 1582 he married Annie Hathaway who was eight years his senior and later on they had a daughter, Susanna in May 1583 after which in 1585 they had twins, Hamnet and Juliet. in London his career took flight as a poet, actor as well as a playwright. One of his great plays was that of hamlet in 1602. Moreover because of his fame and glory he accumulated and acquired great wealth. He later succumb to death on April 25th 1616.
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