Hofstra's production of Twelfth Night allowed me to have the first experience of seeing Twelfth Night on stage. What I saw surprised me, allowed me to hear the music, and experience the livelihood of interaction between the characters. The director chose to set the play in the post civil war south. The set itself was fantastic, very soft lighting that created Olivia's house stage right and the dukes room stage left. Trees stand tall in the middle of the stage allowing space for the garden. Almost all of the characters took on an accent, though it was the total downfall of the play making it even harder to understand and cognitive dissonance was broken whenever the character changed the nationality or broke the fluency, using a different accent completely.
The lead women, Olivia and Viola, were not as strong as I had hoped they would be. Olivia seemed ditsy, rather than opinionated and determined. She floated around the stage humming her lines without a care, and appeared extremely daintily clingy rather than devoted to Cesario, or any other she showed affection towards. Viola always looked scared rather than certain of her role as a man, and would have been unconvincing to me as anyone because she always had a scared look in her eye.
One character who did acclaim himself with language was Feste, the fool. Playing a guitar, accompanied by his natural singing voice, he captivated any ones attention. He was perfect for the part, playful with the other characters and his sarcasm towards the others created enjoyable entertainment because he was able to communicate with the audience, something the other characters seemed to lack. The comedy definitely took over the show because it was the most relatable aspect. Sir Andrew and Sir Toby, of course, added to the humor with farcical actions. The entire mood of the play was energized and lifted by the three male characters who reside in the heart of the play to engage chaos and humor.
My favorite part of this piece were the songs Feste sang, because it made the entire theater tranqui when playing a beautiful song, and merry with the little diddys. I believe the downfall of the play was its setting and the characters choices it then determined for the entire prouction. I could not say that I thouroughly enjoyed this production but it always interesting to see how modern directors adapt to Shakepearian themes and scripts because the scenes may take play in any variety of places in order for the audience to be more succeptable to connect.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Focused Freewrite
In Act II. iii. 179, Maria calls her scheme to manipulate and embarrass Malvolio "Sport royal..." What do you make of this?
Malvolio is the perfect person for the group to pick on. Maria knows he will be easy to fool with the right charms and he is power hungry, they want to play a game with him; mess around and make a joke for sport, or fun. Malvolio is so easily tricked by the wording of Marias letter, he becomes giddy and proclaims cupid struck love for Olivia as he rushes with a ginourmous grin in yellow stickings to her side.
Malvolio is the perfect person for the group to pick on. Maria knows he will be easy to fool with the right charms and he is power hungry, they want to play a game with him; mess around and make a joke for sport, or fun. Malvolio is so easily tricked by the wording of Marias letter, he becomes giddy and proclaims cupid struck love for Olivia as he rushes with a ginourmous grin in yellow stickings to her side.
Concordance of Disguise
1. Themetic idea disguise, trick, conceal
Act 1, Scene 2
VIOLA There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 2, Scene 2
VIOLA I left no ring with her: what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her!
She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none.
I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper-false
In women's waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we!
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? my master loves her dearly;
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him;
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master's love;
As I am woman,--now alas the day!--
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O time! thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to untie!
Act 1, Scene 3
SIR ANDREW And I think I have the back-trick simply as strong
as any man in Illyria.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 2, Scene 5
MALVOLIO M, O, A, I; this simulation is not as the former: and
yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for
every one of these letters are in my name. Soft!
here follows prose.
[Reads]
'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I
am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy Fates open
their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them;
and, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be,
cast thy humble slough and appear fresh. Be
opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; let
thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thyself into
the trick of singularity: she thus advises thee
that sighs for thee. Remember who commended thy
yellow stockings, and wished to see thee ever
cross-gartered: I say, remember. Go to, thou art
made, if thou desirest to be so; if not, let me see
thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and
not worthy to touch Fortune's fingers. Farewell.
She that would alter services with thee,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 3, Scene 4
MALVOLIO O, ho! do you come near me now? no worse man than
Sir Toby to look to me! This concurs directly with
the letter: she sends him on purpose, that I may
appear stubborn to him; for she incites me to that
in the letter. 'Cast thy humble slough,' says she;
'be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants;
let thy tongue tang with arguments of state; put
thyself into the trick of singularity;' and
consequently sets down the manner how; as, a sad
face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue, in the
habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I have
limed her; but it is Jove's doing, and Jove make me
thankful! And when she went away now, 'Let this
fellow be looked to:' fellow! not Malvolio, nor
after my degree, but fellow. Why, every thing
adheres together, that no dram of a scruple, no
scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous
or unsafe circumstance--What can be said? Nothing
that can be can come between me and the full
prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the
doer of this, and he is to be thanked.Act 1, Scene 2
VIOLA There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 4, Scene 3
OLIVIA Blame not this haste of mine. If you mean well,
Now go with me and with this holy man
Into the chantry by: there, before him,
And underneath that consecrated roof,
Plight me the full assurance of your faith;
That my most jealous and too doubtful soul
May live at peace. He shall conceal it
Whiles you are willing it shall come to note,
What time we will our celebration keep
According to my birth. What do you say?
2. This is an example of several characters using language of the same thematic strand. Viola disguises herself, therefore tricking others. Malvolia tricks his mind into thinking the letter is meant for him and is fooled when he falls for the trap. Olivia conceals herself away, as does Viola. The two have a simaler paralell plot going on.
3. Shakespeares uses differenttropes to portray certain messages that connect his characters and support the plat. He must create actual figurations for the audience to connect to themselves as they become lost in the play. We see Olivias veil and Violas dress and mustache. The root of the play starts with Violas trickery, and it progressed throughout.
Act 1, Scene 2
VIOLA There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 2, Scene 2
VIOLA I left no ring with her: what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her!
She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none.
I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper-false
In women's waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we!
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? my master loves her dearly;
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him;
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master's love;
As I am woman,--now alas the day!--
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O time! thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to untie!
Act 1, Scene 3
SIR ANDREW And I think I have the back-trick simply as strong
as any man in Illyria.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 2, Scene 5
MALVOLIO M, O, A, I; this simulation is not as the former: and
yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for
every one of these letters are in my name. Soft!
here follows prose.
[Reads]
'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I
am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy Fates open
their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them;
and, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be,
cast thy humble slough and appear fresh. Be
opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; let
thy tongue tang arguments of state; put thyself into
the trick of singularity: she thus advises thee
that sighs for thee. Remember who commended thy
yellow stockings, and wished to see thee ever
cross-gartered: I say, remember. Go to, thou art
made, if thou desirest to be so; if not, let me see
thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and
not worthy to touch Fortune's fingers. Farewell.
She that would alter services with thee,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 3, Scene 4
MALVOLIO O, ho! do you come near me now? no worse man than
Sir Toby to look to me! This concurs directly with
the letter: she sends him on purpose, that I may
appear stubborn to him; for she incites me to that
in the letter. 'Cast thy humble slough,' says she;
'be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants;
let thy tongue tang with arguments of state; put
thyself into the trick of singularity;' and
consequently sets down the manner how; as, a sad
face, a reverend carriage, a slow tongue, in the
habit of some sir of note, and so forth. I have
limed her; but it is Jove's doing, and Jove make me
thankful! And when she went away now, 'Let this
fellow be looked to:' fellow! not Malvolio, nor
after my degree, but fellow. Why, every thing
adheres together, that no dram of a scruple, no
scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous
or unsafe circumstance--What can be said? Nothing
that can be can come between me and the full
prospect of my hopes. Well, Jove, not I, is the
doer of this, and he is to be thanked.Act 1, Scene 2
VIOLA There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I will believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
What else may hap to time I will commit;
Only shape thou thy silence to my wit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act 4, Scene 3
OLIVIA Blame not this haste of mine. If you mean well,
Now go with me and with this holy man
Into the chantry by: there, before him,
And underneath that consecrated roof,
Plight me the full assurance of your faith;
That my most jealous and too doubtful soul
May live at peace. He shall conceal it
Whiles you are willing it shall come to note,
What time we will our celebration keep
According to my birth. What do you say?
2. This is an example of several characters using language of the same thematic strand. Viola disguises herself, therefore tricking others. Malvolia tricks his mind into thinking the letter is meant for him and is fooled when he falls for the trap. Olivia conceals herself away, as does Viola. The two have a simaler paralell plot going on.
3. Shakespeares uses differenttropes to portray certain messages that connect his characters and support the plat. He must create actual figurations for the audience to connect to themselves as they become lost in the play. We see Olivias veil and Violas dress and mustache. The root of the play starts with Violas trickery, and it progressed throughout.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Inkshedding Act II Sc 4
Duke: Then let thy love be younger than thyself, or thy affection cannot hold the bent; for women are as roses whose fair flower being once displayed, doth fall that very hour.
Women are fragile and Cesario has not experienced love yet. Women are delicate and can be vulnerable to love. It could mean that once women fall in love, they fall for good. Viola may be giving Orsino reasons why Olivia is not right for him becasue she is actually in love with him. he is hoping that his acts of love will be enticing to Olvia. Orsino may be saying let love blossom and rise to its fullest potential, but there is also the idea that once women are seen in that light that their appeal decreases.
Women are fragile and Cesario has not experienced love yet. Women are delicate and can be vulnerable to love. It could mean that once women fall in love, they fall for good. Viola may be giving Orsino reasons why Olivia is not right for him becasue she is actually in love with him. he is hoping that his acts of love will be enticing to Olvia. Orsino may be saying let love blossom and rise to its fullest potential, but there is also the idea that once women are seen in that light that their appeal decreases.
Small Object, Large Scale Paper Feedbak
This paper gave me ample opportunity to be creative, I enjoyed using clever wording to convey my message about Red Bull. Whats interesting about this paper was taking an everyday object that is prevalent in our society and being able to break down the components of why it is so successful. A couple days after I wrote the paper, some Red Bull girls came into my room with their redbull-can cooler backpacks. Enthusiastically, they inquired if I would like a red bull shot, red bull cola, or just a regular red bull. All options offered in both sugar free and regular. I told them I had written a paper on Red Bull, and they gave me more for free. I wondered to myself if it was a coincidence that they were here at Hofstra the same day that accepted students and their families were visiting. Red bull attracts the typical college student, as do most of the items that the class was asked to research for this paper. We dictate the market, because we are the consumer, and it is just smart to investigate what we are really getting ourselves into.
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