Creative Engagement: Shakespeare Behind Bars Reviews

Throughout this entire semester, each of us have been writing ruminations, which express our own opinions and beliefs about the readings and films. Since I have read so many of your ruminations, and heard your opinions about the film, I was curious to know what the critics had to say about this documentary. Below is the link to the reviews. This page also has radio interviews to listen to. I thought it was pretty interesting, hope you do as well. :)

http://www.shakespearebehindbars.com/reviews.html

Shakespeare Behind Bars: Should We Forgive and Forget?

After watching, "Shakespeare Behind Bars", as I heard each prisoner's story, I couldn't help but wonder should they really be forgiven? Personally, I am a very forgiving person, but to a certain circumstance. From the beginning of the documentary, I adored Sammie and really enjoyed watching him act and become successful even though he was behind bars, but when he explained his story of why he was in prison, I started to wonder and even thought about changing my mind.

As you all recall, Sammie was in prison for strangling his abusive girlfriend to death. This made me wonder, how can someone who seems so kind and normal do such a horrible thing? Now, I am not a doctor or a psychologist, but I think that his childhood and past had something to do with his madness. Remember, Sammie explained that he was sexually abused, he grew up with alcoholic parents, and an older boy that he knew raped him. Obviously, Sammie had a tough life and did not grow up in, "Pleasantville", but rather a dark, unstable, and scary environment that I cannot even imagine living through. I give Sammie a lot of credit and think he is such a strong person for living through all this. Unfortunately, I think that sooner or later it all came back to him, and this was part of the reason he went mad.

As children, one way we learn is through example, and our primary role models are initially our parents. Believe it or not, most of us are our parents. We have the same beliefs, morals, and sometimes actions, because these influential people are our first teachers. In Sammie's case, these "role models" were the complete opposite. It seems as though Sammie just went through one bad incident after another and never overcame these troubles. Because he never learned to overcome these difficult times, he had more difficult times as he got older, and this lead him to insanity.

The whole purpose of the play was to have the prisoners think about forgiveness and what it means. Sammie, seemed to have understand what he does was not right at all, and seemed like a changed man, a better man. What if he did receive parole? Would he really be a different man? I would like to think so, but then again I never knew the Sammie who killed his girlfriend, the old Sammie. I think to kill another person, and to do it in a way so brutally is not something that should ever be forgotten (and it will never be forgotten), but also I believe that person should not be forgiven. I do not think that he would be a threat to society, but this is a serious case.  Sammie, cannot take back what he did, he cannot bring her back, so I think the right option is for him to live with the consequences. I really wish he could have had help early on in life; this would have prevented this madness, and he could have always been a free, successful man. What do you all think?

Creative Engagement: Come, My Celia sang by high school choir

One of my favorite poems from Volpone, was Come,My Celia. Since poetry is usually turned into music, I was wondering if this poem was ever sang. It turns out that a high school choir performed this. I personally think they do a good job at getting out the deep emotions this poem expresses. Below is the link. Enjoy! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1SLCXAknzQ

A Miserable Con Artist and A Successful Con Artist

               One has to wonder, wouldn't it be great to have millions of dollars and not have to work hard for it? Wouldn't that mean this person lives a happy life? Reality check is that this is not reality! Unless one is a successful con artist. After reading and analyzing the sly fox, main character, and protagonist known as Volpone, I thought of the movie “Catch Me If You Can” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, as the famous con artist known as Frank Abagnale  Jr.  After getting a little money, by successfully conning he becomes greedier as time progresses and loses his own identity.   Like Volpone,  the young Abagnale was indeed a master at his work. He was able to successfully con millions of dollars,  and recreated himself by playing the roles of different characters such as a pilot, doctor, attorney, and prosecutor.  Volpone, a con artist as well, hides his gold and treasures and explains in the very beginning how he did not work hard for any of it. He says, “Yet I glory more in the cunning purchase of my wealth/than in the glad possession, since I gain no common way/I use no trade, no venture.” This quotation explains how greedy he has become and all he wants is more and more, but continues to not work hard for this money, but rather be sneaky and con people. One aspect that both of these con artists are missing and seek is: love. Love is the one concept  that separates these two: love  brings more happiness and makes one man become more successful and the other even more miserable.

                For Frank Abagnale, love finally found him when he met Brenda and the two of them elope, but still Frank does not give up his mischievous ways and continues to forge checks. On the other hand, Volpone is looking for someone to fall deeply in love with and he is a character full of lust. Unlike, Abagnale, who has a family (but not yet his own), Volpone is all alone.  Volpone lusts over Cecilia and eventually, after disguising himself as being sick, and getting caught, Cecilia’s husband allows Volpone to be alone with her. Instead of getting the “love” that he expected that night from Cecilia, who is faithful to her husband and a religious Christian, he gets into much deeper trouble. Volpone, becomes so greedy and overwhelmed with lust that he says he will rape her. So with all of this in mind these two con artists, although similar in their actions and success for gaining money are both very different in the love department. Abagnale was charming and successful by winning over Brenda, and Volpone was insane and violent towards Cecilia.

                Finally, these con artists both get caught and for one his life still turns out pleasant, like he originally planned and for the other, it turns into the complete opposite of his lovely dreams. Abagnale, eventually gets caught in France for forging checks and is put into prison. Similiarly, Volpone is sent to prison for attempting to rape Cecilia. Volpone, is the one who is left with nothing, just like in the beginning of the play. He is left all alone, sad, with no money, and in a dark hole. His days of conning are done. Abagnale, somehow ends up living a far better life. He does spend a significant amount of time in prison, but in the end he works for the FBI, earns millions of dollars (not by conning), and lives happily with his wife and children. His days of conning are long gone too, but one thing is for sure about both of these characters-it took a while for both of them to be caught!

Will There Ever Be an Utopia?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that an Utopia is, "an imaginary and indefinitely remote place; often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions." Sir Thomas More's depiction of Utopian society is exactly that-pure imagination and ideal in laws, government, and social conditions." Since, writing Utopia, the world has changed so much, and there are some similarities that we share with Utopia, but will we ever be a complete an utopia? Would we benefit if everything and everyone was the same and "perfect"?

In a sense modern society, is like Utopia. For example, in Utopia, the idea that there are many religions is similar to the numerous religions we have today. (Similar in the sense that there are many, not that the religions are similar and treated the same). Unlike, in More's time, where predominantly one religion was accepted. 

Education is also something that is considered to be similar to today's society. For example, every Utopian child is given the right to receive an education, and these people valued education and thought of it to be a necessity. Today, thankfully, we think the same. Education is the most valuable aspect of life, and no one should be deprived of it. Being educated is what molds young minds, and these young minds are the future leaders of tomorrow. The people of Utopia thought of education as not just an academic aspect, but something that instills values, beliefs, and culture into people. Education is thought the same today-it is more than just math, reading, and writing.


Of course there are elements in Utopia that are very different in our modern society. For example, marriage must be done when a woman is 18 years old and a a man is 21 years old. Also premarital sex, is not allowed, and people are punished if they are caught. This is where imagination comes into play. In today's society, people are not forced to get married at a certain age, a young age, or forced to get married at all. People have the choice to marry who they want, when they want, and do whatever they want to do before marriage. If we lived in a Utopia today, so many young people would already be executed, for sexual reasons. Along with marriage, the idea of emotions and love is not included in More's "perfect society". Does he not think that love is meaningful? I understand that emotions and love can cause one to be sad and heartbroken, and in Utopia they focused on happiness, and happiness might be considered to be "perfect", but in today's society emotions is what makes up a person, and most people would not get married if they did not love someone.


I believe that we, human beings, will never have an utopia like the one More had in mind. What human being would want to give up his freedoms, rights, individuality, sex, emotions, and love? Nothing or no one in society will ever be perfect; perfection is just something that is "pure imagination" and Utopia is just a fantasy, not reality.

*What do you all think about this idea of Utopia? Could it become reality?

Rumination Three: Were These Young Men Ready to Be “Fathers”?

In Robert Filmer’s “From Patriarcha, or The Natural Power of the Kings Defended Against the Unnatural Liberty of the People”, there was one main point that stuck out to me after reading the article closely. New rulers, sons, which were given the throne and role of control over the country, had one main goal: “Honor thy Father”. These new rulers, had a lot of responsibility. Were they ready to be fathers’ of a whole country and still be able to do the same as their own fathers’ did for this country?

Filmer pointed out many similarities between the role of the king and the role of a father. For example, he wrote, “…as the father over one family, so the king, as father over many families, extends his care to preserve, feed, clothe, instruct, and defend the whole commonwealth.”  This simply means, that just like a father cares and works hard to provide and protect his own family, the king has the same responsibilities, but just a larger family.  Now, when a King dies, his eldest son becomes the new ruler, was this young man really qualified and mature enough to handle such a big responsibility?

Think about why there were so many problems in England. There were young men inheriting the throne who were not ready or capable of this responsibility. All they did was mock their own father’s actions because they did not want to disobey them and they had to keep up with the tradition. Filmer says, “ His war, his peace, his courts of justice, and all his acts of sovereignty…”. A new king had to preserve all of this, so that he kept his father’s reputation. For successful kings and their fathers this was a good idea; but what about a king who destroyed England? Should his son, follow in his footsteps? Obviously not, that is not the best idea for the good of all the people living in that country, but a new king  felt as if he HAD to continue his father’s reign, and not necessarily be his own person.  

*Side Note*: When I think about this idea of inheriting a position, I find it to be similar in a slight way today. We have all heard the expression, “It is not what you know, it is who you know.” When applying for jobs, I see this to be true most of the time. Two people can walk into an interview, for the same position, they could both have the same experiences, intelligence, and abilities, but when it comes down to who gets hired, it often is the one that has a father, sister, relative, or friend working there already. Just like, in the 1600s, things have not changed. Back then, sons were immediately inherited a position, and today, some  sons or daughters “inherit” a position too. Again, just like the role of a king, is this son or daughter hired for this job, because they are qualified and right for the position, or because “it is a family tradition”?

Changes on Main Street Letter (Wildcard)

Dear Jodi,

We have not spoken in over two weeks. Our lives are so hectic. I'm becoming a "real person" and applying for job, while you're starting a family. Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday I was a Freshman and you were dropping me off at school with Mommy and Daddy.

I am writing you this letter to inform you of all the changes that are going on at UD, specifically on Main Street. Since Freshman year, Main Street has changed so much! It seems like this year, especially, so much more has been built. We now have an IHop, Sliders, Cheeburger Cheeburger, a new woman's boutique (which I think has great clothes, but is too expensive. Who shops there when they're in college?!), Chipotle, and Barnes and Noble is coming soon. When I first visited UD I loved Main Street because it had unique and family owned businesses, like Kate's (your favorite). Now it is being transformed into "Chain Street". Don't get me wrong, I really think that it is for the best and these new places will be successful, but why all chain restaurants? Can't someone be original?

I guess I am really upset because I feel like UD will be so different after I graduate. I am sure it is so different from when you came here. What do you think about all these changes?

I can't wait to finally see you, Derek, and baby Jack in May. Leave Jack with Mom and Dad, and you and Derek can come out! Can't believe I will be a UD Alumni, like you, so soon. :( Miss you and love you so much! Talk to you soon.

Love always,

Jackie

Rumination 2: The Sun Rises, Then Falls, But Love Lasts Forever…

After reading this week’s prologue and watching the videos, I expected all of the poems to speak of death and horrible, sad thoughts. Instead, as I was reading, John Donne’s poem, “The Sun Rising” I felt a feeling of love, and not pain, as I had expected.  The poem speaks of beauty and love as a cherished thing, that is awakened and interrupted by the sunlight once morning comes. These emotions can be felt through the writer’s use of personification, metaphors, and word choice.

                The poem starts out with personification by saying, “Busy old fool, unruly sun/Why dost thou thus/Through windows and through curtains call on us?” These lines show that the sun is being compared to an old foolish person. I assume that the sun is an “old fool”, because it has been around forever. This literary use allows the reader to envision the sun gleaming through the windows in the morning. The poem continues by using metaphors to compare love to time and mentions that love does not have a time period, it is continuous, it is endless, not like the hours, days, seasons, and months.

                In the second stanza of the poem, I initially was confused by who “her” (line 14) was referring to. I was not sure if it was referring to her as the sun or her as his lover, the one who is lying with him in bed and has also been awakened by the great, strong, beams of morning light. Then, I reread these lines,  “I could eclipse and cloud them with a wink,/ But that I would not lose her sight so long.” These lines prove that the speaker is saying that he could wink, and cover the light from the sun, but he does not want to close his eyes for too long, because he does not want to take them off his lover’s.  The speaker of the poem, then continues to talk to the sun as a person and tells the sun to go away, and wake up someone else, someone who lives somewhere else, because right now they are just so happy lying in their bed together.

                The speaker of the poem continues to use metaphors say, “She is all states, and all princes I/Nothing else is.” What the speaker is saying is that no one else compares to them.  Personification returns when he says, “Thou, sun, art half as happy as we/In that the world’s contracted thus;” (lines 25-26).  These lines simply mean that the sun, even though it is shining brightly, is still not as happy as the lovers are right now, because  the world has created for them to meet and be together, in love.

                The poem ends by saying that it is the lovers ‘duty to warm the world with love, like the world has warmed them with sunlight. Now it seems, that the lovers are appreciative of the sun, but they want the sun to know that unlike the sun, which comes up in the morning, and goes down in the evening, their love does not have a time limit. Line 30 says, “This bed thy center is, these walls they sphere.” The sun shines everywhere and is in the center of the world,  just like the lovers’ bed is the center of the world, because their love is filling the world with warmth.

More information about the influences of Shakespeare's sonnets-Creative Engagement

 It is always interesting to understand what is going on in a writer's head and who the writing is thinking about when he/she writes. So, I just wrote my rumination about the young man Shakespeare addresses in many of his sonnets, but I was curious as to who this man was. After doing a quick search, I found some information and still people are not definite about who this young man was, who the dark lady was, or the rival poet. They do have some ideas though. If you follow this link below, and scroll down you can read about what people think.

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xSonnets.html

Rumination One-William Shakespeare-A Good Friend Indeed

This week, when I saw that we would be reading sonnets written by  William Shakespeare, I was interested because I immediately thought of Shakespeare's playwrights, not his poetry. After reading a few of his sonnets, I recall reading some of them in high school, such as Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") (1063). In high school, I remember analyzing each line and metaphor in these sonnets, but I never remember grasping a bigger picture or main idea. It was not until I reread these sonnets, over and over again, many for the first time, that I came to a realization about  Shakespeare, the poet, and his own life. It is evident in many of these sonnets that Shakespeare, wanted these poems to be remembered for their powerful words and true meaning, and a series of these sonnets discuss how he wants his friend to be remembered. Poetry is the only way for his friend and even himself to live on forever and that seems to have been his motive.

As mentioned earlier, when I first read Sonnet 18, I analyzed the metaphors (it is impossible not to do this with poetry-I know). The poem compares the one, possibly Shakespeare's friend to a summer's day, and it says that summer ends and the physical beauty of it dims, by the external beauty never dies. Specifically it says, "But thy eternal summer shall not fade."  I believe this line means that the spirit of the person never dies and keeps living on. After analyzing the metaphors, I paid closer attention to the couplet at the end which says, " So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee." (lines 13 and 14). This is one of the first sonnets, from this week's selections where I saw this idea of "remembrance through poetry". He wants this poem to be remembered, it will will never die;  this is how his friend will be remembered and his life relived. 

This pattern continues in the following sonnet, Sonnet 19. The main idea of this poem is that he wants his friend to be remembered for his young self, not what what will become of him after he dies. He wants his friend to live, "forever young". The couplet at the end of the sonnet again, sums it all up. The last two lines, lines13 and 14 state, "Yet do they worst, old Time: despite the wrong, my love shall in my verse live young." This sonnet was written so that all who read it, even us today, can imagine his dear friend, as a young fellow, and not a dead, decayed body.

Sonnet 55 is another exceptional example of how Shakespeare wants his friend to be remembered. He says, "But you shall shine more bright in these contents".  What he means is that even if or when the world comes to an end, his friend will still not be forgotten, because there are powerful words written about him and this will outlive the end of the world. The couplet again says at the very end, "You live in this, and dwell in lovers' eyes."  As long as this poem exists, so will the spirit of his friend.

The above examples are just a few that exemplify the meaning of these sonnets and what Shakespeare wanted the reader to remember about his friend and himself as a poet. These poems show what really was important to Shakespeare at this time. They prove that he was a good friend indeed, because not only did he want to remember his friend, but he wanted everyone to learn about and love him. The poems help us feel the emotions Shakespeare had for his friend, and centuries from now others will still feel these emotions, because Shakespeare wrote them down for this reason. I think that if his friend should be honored, because his life is still embraced and will forever be so.

John Mayer - Edge of Desire [With Lyrics]

5. John Mayer-Perfectly Lonely [lyrics on screen]

John Mayer - Heartbreak Warfare [HQ]

John Mayer's War of Love-Lyrical Sequence

John Mayer, a singer and song writer known for his popularity of breaking the hearts of various beautiful women all over Hollywood, sings about his own personal war-the war he faces with love. This war of love is expressed in his latest album Battle Studies. This album is considered to be a concept album, because it speaks of one thing over and over-love. As I listened to this album, which is all written in first person like lyrical poetry, I think about the meaning of each song. I have concluded it is obvious that Mayer is speaking of one relationship in particular. Each song is a different chapter in this story of love between him and the lover he has in mind. I would like to share the story with you.

The album begins with "the war", simply the heartbreak with the entitled song, "Heartbreak Warfare". The emotions are simple and strong. The relationship has just ended and the speaker of the song is heartbroken and feels like his whole world is crashing down. These feelings can be described when he says, "Clouds of sulfur in the air/bombs are falling everywhere/it's heartbreak warfare/once you want it to begin/no one really ever wins/in heartbreak warfare." The lines that follow these suggests that Mayer’s significant other wanted more love, that Mayer did not provide her with this, and he wonders why she never spoke up. Now he is nothing more than brokenhearted.

The second song, “All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye”, again talks about how heartbroken he is and how this relationship is one break up after another. He talks about how he finally gets this woman and the relationship off his mind and then she barges right back in. This time he does not want to let this lover back in his life because they will eventually break up again like, they always do. Why should he be left brokenhearted again, when he finally feels okay?

“Half of my Heart”, the song that follows expresses how after he has been through such a tragic break up, he now will only give half of his heart, because he does not want to be disappointed again. He knows that he loves her, but for his own sake he cannot go through that experience again. He says, “Half of my heart got a real good imagination/half of my heart’s got you/half of my heart’s got a right mind to tell you/that half of my heart won’t do.” This lines express that though he loves her, the other half wants something else, and they cannot have a relationship if he only gives half of his love.

The song that follows, “Who Says”, John’s first release off this album, continues with the love story. This “chapter” is talking about how he has no one holding him back from doing the things that he wants to do. He is starting to realize what he wants to do, and has forgotten the love that tore him about him apart. He says, “I don’t remember you looking any better/but then again I don’t remember you.” He is living his life, for himself, and on his own.

“Perfectly Lonely”, the next song on the album is the turning point. The dreary sounds from the previous songs has faded away and his spirits are uplifted and expressed with an upbeat tone. Finally, he is over the relationship, he has lived for himself, and realized that he is happy all alone. This is evident when he says, “Nothing to do, no one but me/and that’s all I ever need.” He also continues in this song to thank the lovers he has in the past because, they have helped him appreciate this love that he has for himself and the happiness he has now that he is all alone.

After a while who really is happy being all alone? Sometimes we just need someone there, a familiar face, to be with for the night for comfort and love. In this song, Mayer says, “You get in/you get done/ and then you get gone.” He is saying he runs back to his lover, for the night, does the “job” he came to do, and then he leaves in the morning, with no feelings at all (or so that was his initial intentions). He knows that in the morning she will have feelings, and that it will kill her that they are not in a relationship, but he just needs her to be around because he knows she will always be there waiting for him. He admits that the girl is an assassin too and like he stole her heart, she stole his as well and he cannot stop the emotions between them.

“Crossroads”, which is a remake of a cover by Robert Johnson, continues the story from right where it left off in the previous song. Now, he is once again torn. He does not know what to do. He forgot about his lover, and then went back to her during the night for some affection that he thought would have no meaning, but realizes there are still feelings. In this song, he asks for a plea-he needs help!

He continues to be torn during the next song, “War of my Life”. He says, “No more suffering/no more pain/never again.” He does not want to return to those sad and heartbroken times in his life, but from the previous songs, we have learned that he does have feelings for this woman. He says he will not give in and will fight until the feelings go away. Will the feelings ever go away? How will he get through this war?

The war of love continues with the battle of “Edge of Desire”. Once again confused and mixed between emotions, he is so tempted and realizes that he can easily give in and stop running away from this woman. His feelings are best expressed in this song when he says, “I want you so bad/I’ll go back on the things I believe/ there I just said it/I’m scared you’ll forget about me.” He cannot help the emotions that are going on inside, even after all the fighting he has done. He has to keep this woman around, because he does not want her to forget about him and move on. He finally confesses his true feelings, but remember he had different beliefs before and was only willing to give half of his heart. Are these feelings true or does he just not want to see her happy with someone else?

In the next song, “Do You Know Me at All?” the lovers see each other, possibly think about getting back together. Mayer comes to one conclusion he is not the same person he once was when the two of them were together-he has changed. The woman does not recognize this changed person and Mayer just wants to know, do you know me at all?

Finally, the final chapter concludes the story with “Friends, Lovers, or Nothing”. “Friends, lovers, or nothing/there can only be one/there will never be an in-between/so give it up,” is what Mayer says. It is simple, a decision has to be made, these two cannot go on with the type of relationship they have. They were once lovers, and then separated; now they are changed people. What will they will they be? Can they just be friends after all they have been through? Can they be lovers (possibly just have a sexual relationship)?  On the other hand, must they just end it all and be nothing. 

The lyrics and tones of each of these songs are so powerful that the person listening is able to feel the emotions, that Mayer is feeling. I would like to think that this is about Jen Aniston, but the only person that knows is John Mayer. I am sure that we have all experienced some type of war of love. This could be the heartbreak, like the beginning songs suggests, the self-love like the middle songs express, the feeling to need someone back for comfort,  or just a time when we have had to make a decision about a relationship. The war of love is over once you make a decision, but does anyone truly win?

I have included a few of the videos, they are on my site (I wasn't sure how to get them all below). I choose these videos in particular so that you can see each “chapter” of the story. Enjoy and I encourage you to listen to the rest of them.

John Mayer - Friends, Lovers Or Nothing

Testing

I have used blogger before, in an Educ. course, way back in Freshman year. There have been some changes already..hope I get used to them! This is such a fun way to have class! Talk to you all, when I am done with Beowulf.

Engl 205 First Blog

I hope this shows up! Hope everyone has a good weekend! :) Here we go...