Macbeth Act 5
The scene opens with Lady Macbeth's assistant and a doctor discussing her strange behaviour. She enters the stage and talks to herself about a spot on her hand (or Spot the dog...) that she can't remove, symbolising her guilt. She raves in a lunatic fashion about Banquo's ghost and the Doctor appears to clock onto the fact that she has seen something unutterable and has gone loopy as a result. The scene changes to the Scottish forces that have been amassed against Macbeth, discussing his murders and the impending reinforcements from Malcolm in England. Macbeth is made aware of the oncoming forces, and the illness of his wife, but buffers it with pithy retorts, remarks about geese and a general disregard for the reality of the situation. Nonetheless, he dons his armour in preparation to fight. Malcolm's forces arrive at Birnam wood, and he instructs them each to carry a branch from it as a message to Macbeth. The forces attack. Macbeth battles Young Siward and kills him, then battles Macduff, boasting (from the witches' prophesy) that no man born of a woman can harm him. Macduff explains that he was born prematurely, which somehow cancels the spell? - and promptly kills Macbeth. There's some stuff after, but that's effectively the end.
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Macbeth Act 4
The Act opens with the witches conjuring apparitions for Macbeth to see. These visions give him warnings, not to trust Macduff and not to worry until the forests turn against his rule. Considering this, he orders the deaths of Macduff's wife and son. The murderer arrives at Castle Macduff just as Lady Macduff is pondering the injustice of the play as a whole, where foul is fair and fair is foul. Her son is murdered, but she appears to escape, although this is not made clear to the audience. Aside, Macduff and Malcolm discuss how Scotland is being destroyed by Macbeth's rule, and resolve to usurp him when possible.
The Act opens with the witches conjuring apparitions for Macbeth to see. These visions give him warnings, not to trust Macduff and not to worry until the forests turn against his rule. Considering this, he orders the deaths of Macduff's wife and son. The murderer arrives at Castle Macduff just as Lady Macduff is pondering the injustice of the play as a whole, where foul is fair and fair is foul. Her son is murdered, but she appears to escape, although this is not made clear to the audience. Aside, Macduff and Malcolm discuss how Scotland is being destroyed by Macbeth's rule, and resolve to usurp him when possible.
Friday, 31 August 2012
Macbeth Act 3
The scene opens with Banquo telling Macbeth that he will be traveling by the castle at midnight with his son Fleance, but says that he won't miss the grand feast later on. Macbeth secretly plots the death of Banquo at this point, because it would secure his lineage. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, however, are both also being ravaged by guilt, but they take solace in the upcoming feast and impending death of Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth speaks to a triumvirate of murderers, setting them the task of assassination, which they perform to half effect, killing only Banquo and letting Fleance escape. At the banquet, Macbeth recurrently sees Banquo's ghost, prompting fearful reactions, much to the bewilderment of his guests. He resolves to attend the witches for further advice as to the nature of the apparition. In the next scene, Heccat, the chief witch, scolds the other witches for not included her in their machinations, and tells them to reassure Macbeth. Aside, Lennox and another Lord discuss their suspicions that Macbeth is the murderer, and talk of Malcolm's impending arrival to force a coup, with the alliance of the English king.
The scene opens with Banquo telling Macbeth that he will be traveling by the castle at midnight with his son Fleance, but says that he won't miss the grand feast later on. Macbeth secretly plots the death of Banquo at this point, because it would secure his lineage. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, however, are both also being ravaged by guilt, but they take solace in the upcoming feast and impending death of Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth speaks to a triumvirate of murderers, setting them the task of assassination, which they perform to half effect, killing only Banquo and letting Fleance escape. At the banquet, Macbeth recurrently sees Banquo's ghost, prompting fearful reactions, much to the bewilderment of his guests. He resolves to attend the witches for further advice as to the nature of the apparition. In the next scene, Heccat, the chief witch, scolds the other witches for not included her in their machinations, and tells them to reassure Macbeth. Aside, Lennox and another Lord discuss their suspicions that Macbeth is the murderer, and talk of Malcolm's impending arrival to force a coup, with the alliance of the English king.
Macbeth Act 2
The scene opens with Macbeth and Banquo discussing the prophesy of the witches. Macbeth then discloses in soliloquy that he intends to kill Duncan. Slyly, Macbeth murders King Duncan with a dagger, to the apparent surprise of Lady Macbeth. He then places daggers in the servants' chambers, and befouls their bedclothes with blood, making them the obvious suspects. At this point, he becomes neurotic and panicked that he did not say 'amen', and worries about the consequences of his actions. His nerves have to be assuaged by Lady Macbeth, and his hands washed of the 'filthy witness'. The scene shifts to a drunken porter telling knock-knock jokes to himself (which Shakespeare coins), and the learning of Macduff, Lennox, Malcolm and Donalbain that the King is dead. Malcolm and Donalbain come to realise that they are next in line to be slain, due to their lineage and link to the throne, so vow to flee to England and Ireland respectively following the murder.
The scene opens with Macbeth and Banquo discussing the prophesy of the witches. Macbeth then discloses in soliloquy that he intends to kill Duncan. Slyly, Macbeth murders King Duncan with a dagger, to the apparent surprise of Lady Macbeth. He then places daggers in the servants' chambers, and befouls their bedclothes with blood, making them the obvious suspects. At this point, he becomes neurotic and panicked that he did not say 'amen', and worries about the consequences of his actions. His nerves have to be assuaged by Lady Macbeth, and his hands washed of the 'filthy witness'. The scene shifts to a drunken porter telling knock-knock jokes to himself (which Shakespeare coins), and the learning of Macduff, Lennox, Malcolm and Donalbain that the King is dead. Malcolm and Donalbain come to realise that they are next in line to be slain, due to their lineage and link to the throne, so vow to flee to England and Ireland respectively following the murder.
Macbeth Act 1
The play opens in a scene with the Wayward Sisters planning to visit Macbeth and bring him news. The scene shifts to Duncan and his Sons discussing the valor and bravery displayed by Macbeth and Banquo in defeating the Norwegian army, as well as lamenting the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor and deciding to award Macbeth the title in spite of aforementioned treachery. Following this, the witches predict that Macbeth will be Thane of Glamis, Cawdor and King. Macbeth is already Thane of Glamis, but he knows not about the treachery of Cawdor. The witches predict similar fortunes for Banquo - that his children will sit on thrones. The next scene involves Duncan and his Sons, as well as Macbeth and Banquo; it is where Duncan reveals that the Thane of Cawdor has been executed for treason, and that Macbeth will resume the title. At this point, Macbeth realises that the witches' prophesy is beginning to come true, and starts to contemplate kinghood. In the next few scenes, Lady Macbeth reads a letter informing her of her husband's gains, and is determined for him to be King so that she may be Queen. King Duncan is coming to their Castle in Inverness, and she attempts to persuade Macbeth to kill them at that opportunity so to claim the crown. He is initially hesitant, but following some cajoling, gives in and resolves to murder Duncan. At the end of the Act, he fully intends on it.
The play opens in a scene with the Wayward Sisters planning to visit Macbeth and bring him news. The scene shifts to Duncan and his Sons discussing the valor and bravery displayed by Macbeth and Banquo in defeating the Norwegian army, as well as lamenting the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor and deciding to award Macbeth the title in spite of aforementioned treachery. Following this, the witches predict that Macbeth will be Thane of Glamis, Cawdor and King. Macbeth is already Thane of Glamis, but he knows not about the treachery of Cawdor. The witches predict similar fortunes for Banquo - that his children will sit on thrones. The next scene involves Duncan and his Sons, as well as Macbeth and Banquo; it is where Duncan reveals that the Thane of Cawdor has been executed for treason, and that Macbeth will resume the title. At this point, Macbeth realises that the witches' prophesy is beginning to come true, and starts to contemplate kinghood. In the next few scenes, Lady Macbeth reads a letter informing her of her husband's gains, and is determined for him to be King so that she may be Queen. King Duncan is coming to their Castle in Inverness, and she attempts to persuade Macbeth to kill them at that opportunity so to claim the crown. He is initially hesitant, but following some cajoling, gives in and resolves to murder Duncan. At the end of the Act, he fully intends on it.
The rest of Frankenstein
Where did I leave of? As I'm typing this, I can't actually remember. I know it was chapter 10, but I don't remember what happened in chapter 10?
Oh wait, yes, I do. I'm going to stop verbalising my thoughts. Is it even verbalising if I'm typing it? One of the many intellectual wonders conjured by the pursuit of literature...
Frankenstein ventures into the mountains and is eventually confronted by the gigantic, ghastly and generally rather aesthetically unpleasing fiend. He is seized with fury at this point, and is determined (rather stupidly, considering the size difference) to annihilate this beast where it stands. Justifiably, Frankenstein is in an indignant rage about the death of Justine and blames the monster - accurately. The monster accepts responsibility with a seemingly heavy heart, but implores Frankenstein to hear his tale out so that he might empathise with him:
The monster relayed that it had quite the tumultuous conception, struggling to discern between its various senses. The form of the novel now changes to the monster's narration (although I do feel bad calling it a monster, because it's ever so eloquent. I'm calling it Steve now). Steve left Frankenstein's laboratory and went into the wilderness, foraging for edible foliage and fruit. He encountered a couple of villagers, but they were less than pleased to see him, and it engendered in him a profound self-loathing, compounded by the fact that his creator didn't care for him. Despite this, Steve survives nomadically, eventually settling upon the discovery of fire - an elusive and perplexing substance. Following this, Steve makes himself comfortable in a hovel overlooking a family home. The family comprises a blind man, called Mr DeLacey; a young man called Felix, another young woman (whose name eludes me) and at a later point, an arabian girl named Safie. Steve observes the family habitually over months, and helps them collect wood and clear their path of snow during the cover of darkness, inconspicuously. In his observation, Steve grasps the conventions of human behaviour and picks up a language - French - but Shelley would have you believe otherwise. Steve finds himself emotionally bonded to this family; after all, they are to thank for his newlywed knowledge of humanity. Eventually, Steve musters the courage to speak to the blind old man, because he can't see that he's a hideous beast. The blind man is responsive and considerate to the monster's plight, and Steve hints not too subtly that he wishes to join their community. It's all going surprisingly well until Felix returns home and kicks the bejesus out of Steve. Steve exercises impressive self control not rip his head off and retreats, desolate and lonely to a period of wanton destruction on the house when the family have left. He sets it alight and parties a bit, like a 16 year old raver girl who's had half a bottle of WKD and acts like she's done 3 lines of coke. Steve goes on to explain that he turned towards the community of man in his anger and in search of Frankenstein for retribution. He finds the child that's now dead and fucks it up.
Following Steve's cathartic exhortation, he pleas with Frankenstein to make him a female companion in exchange for his quitting the company of men and relocation to the South American jungles. Grudgingly, Frankenstein agrees to this demand, and sets about the creation of another monster. He returns to his native Geneva to meet his ailing father and harrowed cousin, Elizabeth, whose hand is promised in marriage to him. His father brings up the notion of marriage to quell the extreme strife and misfortune suffered by the Frankensteins. Impassioned by the prospect of marriage, Frankenstein negotiates with his father to leave for England, under the auspice of expanding his horizons, but in reality to concentrate on his project for Steve and study the latest philosophers. His father, however, arranges for him to meet with his friend, Henry Clerval at Strasburgh on his journeys. This is no major stumbling-block for Frankenstein, because he appreciates the company, but it does mean that he needs to be more secretive. They travel through England and are expected by a friend in the frozen, underdeveloped tundra of Scotland.
Frankenstein escapes the friendship of Clerval for a couple of months to continue his work on Mrs Monster (who will hereby be known as Petunia for the duration of his blog) on a secluded island. Here, Frankenstein braves the harsh environs and progresses, until he reaches an unfortunate epiphany. He rationalises that to give life to Petunia would be incredibly selfish. He is unleashing a creature of potentially greater malignity and evil than Steve unto the world - perhaps they will breed! - so that he might avoid an uncomfortable life. On balance, it's Frankenstein's happiness vs the potential extinction of the human race at the hands of Steve, Petunia and their gruesomely hypothetical progeny. Frankenstein resolves to abandon the project and destroys Petunia then and there - the brute! Steve pops by the say hello and is mortified (ba-dum-tsh) to learn of Petunia's sad passing. He flips his shit and threatens Frankenstein that he will be there on his wedding night, then buggers off (sorry, I've relapsed).
A bit shaken, Frankenstein returns to land on his boat, but is caught in mists and blown off-course. He eventually reaches land, but the land's inhabitants look a bit grumpy. In fitting with his usual fortune, he is accused of murder. Calmly, he goes to the Magistrate's office to clear his name. Three things are made apparent at this point: Frankenstein is in Ireland; Steve has killed Clerval; and the Magistrate is a decent fellow. Upon learning of his friend's death, Frankenstein has a bit of a fit and is ill for a few months. The magistrate stands in his defence at the trial and and clears him. Frankenstein's father visits him at this point and says hello. Long story short, there's a wedding between Frankenstein and Elizabeth, and Frankenstein stupidly assumes that Steve wants to kill him. While he's preoccupied with defending himself, Steve throttles her. Moral of the story, protect yo' bitches. Frankenstein's clearly not too pleased, and goes in search of Steve... in the north pole (as y'do).
Now, the narrative returns to the fellow on the boat writing to his wife. Frankenstein slowly dies, but not before issuing a warning about Steve and a heroic speech about pussying out on the adventure. When Frankenstein dies, he briefly laments his rage. Steve crops up, and laments his being a massive dick. There are a load of emotions and stuff, then it's over.
THE END.
Where did I leave of? As I'm typing this, I can't actually remember. I know it was chapter 10, but I don't remember what happened in chapter 10?
Oh wait, yes, I do. I'm going to stop verbalising my thoughts. Is it even verbalising if I'm typing it? One of the many intellectual wonders conjured by the pursuit of literature...
Frankenstein ventures into the mountains and is eventually confronted by the gigantic, ghastly and generally rather aesthetically unpleasing fiend. He is seized with fury at this point, and is determined (rather stupidly, considering the size difference) to annihilate this beast where it stands. Justifiably, Frankenstein is in an indignant rage about the death of Justine and blames the monster - accurately. The monster accepts responsibility with a seemingly heavy heart, but implores Frankenstein to hear his tale out so that he might empathise with him:
The monster relayed that it had quite the tumultuous conception, struggling to discern between its various senses. The form of the novel now changes to the monster's narration (although I do feel bad calling it a monster, because it's ever so eloquent. I'm calling it Steve now). Steve left Frankenstein's laboratory and went into the wilderness, foraging for edible foliage and fruit. He encountered a couple of villagers, but they were less than pleased to see him, and it engendered in him a profound self-loathing, compounded by the fact that his creator didn't care for him. Despite this, Steve survives nomadically, eventually settling upon the discovery of fire - an elusive and perplexing substance. Following this, Steve makes himself comfortable in a hovel overlooking a family home. The family comprises a blind man, called Mr DeLacey; a young man called Felix, another young woman (whose name eludes me) and at a later point, an arabian girl named Safie. Steve observes the family habitually over months, and helps them collect wood and clear their path of snow during the cover of darkness, inconspicuously. In his observation, Steve grasps the conventions of human behaviour and picks up a language - French - but Shelley would have you believe otherwise. Steve finds himself emotionally bonded to this family; after all, they are to thank for his newlywed knowledge of humanity. Eventually, Steve musters the courage to speak to the blind old man, because he can't see that he's a hideous beast. The blind man is responsive and considerate to the monster's plight, and Steve hints not too subtly that he wishes to join their community. It's all going surprisingly well until Felix returns home and kicks the bejesus out of Steve. Steve exercises impressive self control not rip his head off and retreats, desolate and lonely to a period of wanton destruction on the house when the family have left. He sets it alight and parties a bit, like a 16 year old raver girl who's had half a bottle of WKD and acts like she's done 3 lines of coke. Steve goes on to explain that he turned towards the community of man in his anger and in search of Frankenstein for retribution. He finds the child that's now dead and fucks it up.
Following Steve's cathartic exhortation, he pleas with Frankenstein to make him a female companion in exchange for his quitting the company of men and relocation to the South American jungles. Grudgingly, Frankenstein agrees to this demand, and sets about the creation of another monster. He returns to his native Geneva to meet his ailing father and harrowed cousin, Elizabeth, whose hand is promised in marriage to him. His father brings up the notion of marriage to quell the extreme strife and misfortune suffered by the Frankensteins. Impassioned by the prospect of marriage, Frankenstein negotiates with his father to leave for England, under the auspice of expanding his horizons, but in reality to concentrate on his project for Steve and study the latest philosophers. His father, however, arranges for him to meet with his friend, Henry Clerval at Strasburgh on his journeys. This is no major stumbling-block for Frankenstein, because he appreciates the company, but it does mean that he needs to be more secretive. They travel through England and are expected by a friend in the frozen, underdeveloped tundra of Scotland.
Frankenstein escapes the friendship of Clerval for a couple of months to continue his work on Mrs Monster (who will hereby be known as Petunia for the duration of his blog) on a secluded island. Here, Frankenstein braves the harsh environs and progresses, until he reaches an unfortunate epiphany. He rationalises that to give life to Petunia would be incredibly selfish. He is unleashing a creature of potentially greater malignity and evil than Steve unto the world - perhaps they will breed! - so that he might avoid an uncomfortable life. On balance, it's Frankenstein's happiness vs the potential extinction of the human race at the hands of Steve, Petunia and their gruesomely hypothetical progeny. Frankenstein resolves to abandon the project and destroys Petunia then and there - the brute! Steve pops by the say hello and is mortified (ba-dum-tsh) to learn of Petunia's sad passing. He flips his shit and threatens Frankenstein that he will be there on his wedding night, then buggers off (sorry, I've relapsed).
A bit shaken, Frankenstein returns to land on his boat, but is caught in mists and blown off-course. He eventually reaches land, but the land's inhabitants look a bit grumpy. In fitting with his usual fortune, he is accused of murder. Calmly, he goes to the Magistrate's office to clear his name. Three things are made apparent at this point: Frankenstein is in Ireland; Steve has killed Clerval; and the Magistrate is a decent fellow. Upon learning of his friend's death, Frankenstein has a bit of a fit and is ill for a few months. The magistrate stands in his defence at the trial and and clears him. Frankenstein's father visits him at this point and says hello. Long story short, there's a wedding between Frankenstein and Elizabeth, and Frankenstein stupidly assumes that Steve wants to kill him. While he's preoccupied with defending himself, Steve throttles her. Moral of the story, protect yo' bitches. Frankenstein's clearly not too pleased, and goes in search of Steve... in the north pole (as y'do).
Now, the narrative returns to the fellow on the boat writing to his wife. Frankenstein slowly dies, but not before issuing a warning about Steve and a heroic speech about pussying out on the adventure. When Frankenstein dies, he briefly laments his rage. Steve crops up, and laments his being a massive dick. There are a load of emotions and stuff, then it's over.
THE END.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Frankenstein up to chapter 10 (because I forgot that I had to write this evil blog post)
Really, the letter was not clear as to how much detail was required for this blog. That said, booklets were provided, but they were misplaced...
Shelley uses framed narration in her novel. The opening narrative perspective is in the form of letters from one intrepid explorer to his beloved. He embarks on a journey to the North Pole to broaden his horizons and generally be a bit of a hipster. He wants to be able to drone on about his gap yah in Boliviyah. On his travels northwards, he locates a willing crew to man his ship and sets sail for the tundra. During his travels, he sees an 8 foot demon on a dog-sled flying across the ice. Later, he discovers a man on the ice, and invites him on board. The two bond quite closely as friends (in a slightly homoerotic fashion, I add) and the stranded man tells the journeyer his tale, promising that it will explain his downcast and sullen countenance (Shelley likes this word. A lot.).
The stranded fellow goes by the name Victor Frankenstein. He was raised in a loving family of an adopted sister (or two, I don't remember) and dedicated parents. Shelley basically emphasises that his upbringing was pretty much stellar, and all the messed up shit he does later can't be justified by that. He becomes interested in natural philosophy; specifically, a couple of outdated philosophers who believed in some nonsense that I forget. The point is, he mentions this to his Dad, and his Dad waives the idea without explaining why they're a load of nonsense. Naturally, the adolescent Frankenstein is urged out of teen spirit (or something that smells like it) to disobey authority and dedicate a large portion of his time to revering these books like the gospels. The product of this is that he is firmly entrenched in anachronistic ideas about life and humanity and stuff. Eventually, he gets sent to university, but not before his mother (or perhaps after - I forget) dies. He's a bit gutted that his mam's dead, but he moves on. At university, he is ridiculed for his outdated beliefs, but is set on the path to enlightenment by one of his tutors. His thoughts develop and Shelley alludes to the creation of the monster, noting that it is made from dead bodies. Frankenstein becomes isolated and alienated from his family, and there are attempts from his sister, Elizabeth, to reconnect him. Additionally, his close school friend, Clerval, does similar. However, it is not until one of his brother's (or cousins or something. The Frankensteins reproduced like rabbits) mysteriously is murdered, that he returns to the Frankenstein abode in Geneva. It is concluded that another member of the family (SEE) killed the relation, but the evidence is incredibly tenuous, and the guilty verdict appears to be Shelley's indictment of the stupidity of humanity (or mine...). Despite the verdict, Victor Frankenstein is insistent that it was the monster that killed the boy, and seeks the monster out in the mountains.
That's as far as I've got. It's actually not that bad a read. Shelley's language is WAY less ridiculous than Carter's. Who's ever heard of the word chthonic? Really. It actually predates Jesus. What up wid dat?
Really, the letter was not clear as to how much detail was required for this blog. That said, booklets were provided, but they were misplaced...
Shelley uses framed narration in her novel. The opening narrative perspective is in the form of letters from one intrepid explorer to his beloved. He embarks on a journey to the North Pole to broaden his horizons and generally be a bit of a hipster. He wants to be able to drone on about his gap yah in Boliviyah. On his travels northwards, he locates a willing crew to man his ship and sets sail for the tundra. During his travels, he sees an 8 foot demon on a dog-sled flying across the ice. Later, he discovers a man on the ice, and invites him on board. The two bond quite closely as friends (in a slightly homoerotic fashion, I add) and the stranded man tells the journeyer his tale, promising that it will explain his downcast and sullen countenance (Shelley likes this word. A lot.).
The stranded fellow goes by the name Victor Frankenstein. He was raised in a loving family of an adopted sister (or two, I don't remember) and dedicated parents. Shelley basically emphasises that his upbringing was pretty much stellar, and all the messed up shit he does later can't be justified by that. He becomes interested in natural philosophy; specifically, a couple of outdated philosophers who believed in some nonsense that I forget. The point is, he mentions this to his Dad, and his Dad waives the idea without explaining why they're a load of nonsense. Naturally, the adolescent Frankenstein is urged out of teen spirit (or something that smells like it) to disobey authority and dedicate a large portion of his time to revering these books like the gospels. The product of this is that he is firmly entrenched in anachronistic ideas about life and humanity and stuff. Eventually, he gets sent to university, but not before his mother (or perhaps after - I forget) dies. He's a bit gutted that his mam's dead, but he moves on. At university, he is ridiculed for his outdated beliefs, but is set on the path to enlightenment by one of his tutors. His thoughts develop and Shelley alludes to the creation of the monster, noting that it is made from dead bodies. Frankenstein becomes isolated and alienated from his family, and there are attempts from his sister, Elizabeth, to reconnect him. Additionally, his close school friend, Clerval, does similar. However, it is not until one of his brother's (or cousins or something. The Frankensteins reproduced like rabbits) mysteriously is murdered, that he returns to the Frankenstein abode in Geneva. It is concluded that another member of the family (SEE) killed the relation, but the evidence is incredibly tenuous, and the guilty verdict appears to be Shelley's indictment of the stupidity of humanity (or mine...). Despite the verdict, Victor Frankenstein is insistent that it was the monster that killed the boy, and seeks the monster out in the mountains.
That's as far as I've got. It's actually not that bad a read. Shelley's language is WAY less ridiculous than Carter's. Who's ever heard of the word chthonic? Really. It actually predates Jesus. What up wid dat?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)