A Typical Tragedy

"Hamlet" by William Shakespeare is a typical Shakespearean tragedy. Although Shakespeare's style and prose seem complicated to many, a Shakespearean tragedy's plot is very simple. It consists of a protagonist, or main character, and his/her flaw. Throughout the story, Hamlet tries to avenge the murder of his father. He spends countless hours thinking of a plan to get revenge on Claudius, the murderer. Based on the reader's perspective, one could think of either Hamlet or Claudius as the "flawed" protagonist. In Hamlet's case, one could say that his flaw was the want to get revenge on Claudius, and that once he killed Polonius, it became much more easier for him to fall into a killing spree. In Claudius's case, one could argue that he was flawed from the start, when he killed old Hamlet. This caused him to go into a downward spiral from the beginning, constantly living a life of traitrous pleasure. In normal Shakespearean tragedies, the protagonist, at the end of the story, will be at his or her most diminished, destroyed state.
elements of a "mind" tragedy

What I found to be the most tragic part of the whole play was the fact that Hamlet put in so much effort and basically drove himself crazy to avenge Claudius, but he never even became king. As he tells the "wretched queen, adieu", one thinks he simply says his last goodbyes (V.ii.365). But on the inside, he is dying at the fact that he never became king. I think he knows it too, that the worst part about fighting for revenge was really getting nothing out of it. All that time and effort he spent had been thrown away in a matter of seconds. The fall of Hamlet, to me, was more important than the fall of Claudius.

To be, or not to be

I looked through YouTube for a few To be or not to be soliloquys, and these are the ones I found. In the first, Hamlet is acting his speech out, and this aides him in getting into character easier. His voice almost echoes through the air, and it goes really well with what's going through his mind at the time. In the second video, however, Hamlet is not acting. I think the emotions and facial expressions of Hamlet make up for this, though. He is expressive and clear when stating his internal thoughts, and punctual when expressing his concerns and desires. The first Hamlet really shows his struggle and his stress externally, while the second one is more internal. I prefer the second one because I appreciate how much skill it requires to do such an emotional soliloquy without physically acting.

Villain Villain

Hamlet's soliloquy at the end of act 2 scene 2 explodes of anger, hatred, and emotion. Hamlet calls Claudius a "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!" (II.ii.608-9). This quote highlights Hamlet's rage and emotion against Claudius. He committed treason drived by lust and greed, and betrayed his country all for his own benefit. He shook the well being of Denmark: an act only a villain would commit. Hamlet is correct by raging on Claudius. Hamlet has all the right to be mad. A person who I thought of who is always mad is Dr. Doofenschmirtz, the ultimate villain.

Gertrude, oh Gertrude

     In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the queen of Denmark is hastily married to Claudius, Prince Hamlet's uncle. Claudius, a smart and loyal man, seems unnaturally paired for marriage with Gertrude, the old queen and Hamlet's mother. My first impression of her was that she was clueless, ditsy, and tended to sleep around. She purposely avoids Hamlet's propositions and ideas, and seems to have no idea of what is going on regarding Denmark. Her son is in fact, worried, and she almost doesn't care at all.

     "Thou know'st `tis common; all that lives must die" (I.ii.72). Gertrude is basically telling Hamlet that his father died, so he should get over it. Hamlet is going through a sensitive time, and Gertrude appears as though she is just in the air and doing whatever everyone else is doing. She kind of reminds me of Flo, from the Progressive Insurance commercials. Somewhat clueless, different, and going with the flow.

Plastic.

     In "Barbie Doll," by Marge Piercy, one can clearly see how irony and banter are used to depict what is known as a "normal girl". Piercy begins the poem by introducing a female child character who is given dolls and toys that most girls play with at a younger age. The perfection of a barbie, the responsibility of cooking on fake stoves, and the hopes for beauty from makeup give the girl the idea that she must strive to be something that she isn't. Words get thrown around, and someone calls this girl fat and ugly. She wonders what she did wrong, and wonders if she could ever fix her faults.
     The author portrays this girl as somewhat masculine, thus explaining to the reader her insecurities. These insecurities eventually grow and grown, and in what I thought was a funny point of the text, the girl cuts off her legs and nose. Her insecurities drove her to kill herself just in exchange for perfection.
     The stereotypical girl is clearly forced unto this unique, different child. Just as in "Once Upon a Time", the maids are suspected for stealing just because they are of color. The family has no idea what is actually going on, so they make hasty generalizations about others and oftentimes base their actions on stereotypes. The separation from what's going on in the outside world only causes them to become worse with the stereotypes. This can often lead to serious problems within families, cities, and even nations.

Walking on the Road to Nowhere

     "I learn by going where I have to go," plays an important role in "The Waking," by Theodore Roethke (822). This quote plays extreme significance in my life, as a person. I, in fact, enjoy learning as I go along, and making mistakes. I find pleasure in correcting my mistakes from the past, and gaining more knowledge along the process. That is exactly what I think Roethke was trying to get across to the reader. He emphasizes sleep and awaking in his poem, but they are not meant to be interpreted literally. Sleep, i think, symbolizes mistakes and passive life. But, awaking symbolizes learning and discovering new things by going places and exploring. The main ideas in this poem play so well with the various symbols used. In fact, upon reading it so many times, I have actually grown to like this poem as well as some of my other favorites by Frost, Hughes, and Wordsworth.
     In "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas," by Ursula LeGuin, townsfolk of a "perfect" society choose to walk away from perfection-or do they? LeGuin makes the reader think that those who walk away do it because they want to, but in reality, it's their duty to not live in a city like Omelas. Those few are the ones who seek adventure, and the ones who wish to learn life the hard way. It is more important to go where we have to go than where we want to go, because we will always learn on the way.

Lost.

     I have nothing to say. "Metaphors," by Silvia Plath. Need I say more? I read this nine-lined poem at first, and I was just speechless. Not speechless from how well-written the poem is, but speechless from what to take out of it. It left me thinking, wondering, and angry. I liked it. I sat for a few minutes, and closed my eyes. I thought of nothing. I sat for a few minutes, and opened my eyes. I still thought of nothing. So I sat and stared at the poem for more than a few minutes. My pen had not touched the paper even after reading it multiple times. I honestly thought that Plath was playing a trick on me. Then I remembered the last little bit of the assignment-to research Plath's life. Then I realized! I had spent about an hour doing absolutely nothing, but it was all for a reason! Sylvia Plath had written "Metaphors" while she, herself, was actually pregnant.
     Then everything made sense. The use of the number nine in syllables per line and lines of the poem related to the "nine months" of pregnancy. Also, Plath describes a baby as "a melon strolling on two tendrils," (717). The purpose of this poem is to make the reader think, as it is clearly a riddle. Plath's riddle truly made me think. Her hidden symbols really expressed her mysterious and riddling style. My emotions went on a swooping trip during the hour or so that I spent on this poem. All I have to say is that I am amazed that I even got to the main point of the poem.

A Dig for Meaning

     In "Digging" by Seamus Heaney, one can truly see the connection present between his life as a writer and his father's life as a farmer. The symbolism of the spade that the narrator's father uses is directly related to his pen in his hand. The purpose of this poem, as I saw it, was to highlight the digging that the narrator's father was constantly doing, and then relate this to the narrator's physical writing.
     The author's use of digging both directly and metaphorically accentuates the narrator's relation to his father. The narrator describes his own way of digging as digging through paper with a pen in hand. His father, however, "could handle a spade, just like his old man," and dug for days to support his farm (Perrine 730). The indication that the narrator's grandfather was also a farmer emphasizes the importance and the stand the narrator is taking by choosing his own path. He is defying tradition, but in his own mind, is actually keeping the tradition going in its own special way.
     "Living roots awaken in [the narrator's] head," which sprout his inspiration for writing (731). This segment of the poem is one of the most intriguing to me. The relation between roots and the narrator's father is imminent, but what isn't so noticeable is the relationship between these mental roots and the narrator's thought process. The roots that his father had dug up for so many years are now what drive him to dig deeper with his writing, and what inspire him to write what he does.

This One's For the Ladies

In "To the Ladies" by Mary, Lady Chudleigh, the treatment of women by men is highlighted as downgrading and poor. The poem indicates the advantages men can take over women especially when married. It expresses the ideas of the 17th and 18th centuries towards women. "When she the word Obey has said, And man by law supreme has made..." shows the reader the respect that women were forced to give to men (Chudleigh 950). I have also just recently read the short story "Eveline" by James Joyce. A fan of Joyce, "Eveline" was among one of my favorite works of his, up there with "Ulysses" and some of the other stories found in "Dubliners". In "Eveline", a woman faces the choice to chase her loves or stay at home with an abusive family. Her wants and desires, in fact, are what drive her. But she knows that her father rules over her, so she decides to stay at home. Eveline, like the woman in "To the Ladies", stays with the comfort of her own home, and refuses to stray away from the normal. Although both are under control of a man, their only hope is to stay and hope for the best because that is what they know best. Their lack of adventure keeps them from leaving.

Here's a little wordle I threw together. Enjoy!