Time in Romeo and Juliet

Although we touched on it in discussion, the biggest confusion in Romeo and Juliet for me is the concept of time. The entire play takes place over a three-day span (possibly more, depending on how long we believe Romeo was away in Mantua). However short the time is, the characters of Romeo and Juliet develop a love that would take years to develop in reality. I wonder what Shakespeare is trying to accomplish by portraying their love in this way. When I first read the book, I thought it was the most romantic love story ever. However, this time around I think it could be something else. Either Romeo and Juliet are incredibly immature and Shakespeare wants to show his audience how naïve they are, or it is a parody on the concept of love. I can’t help but compare their love to present day Vegas weddings. Although crude, I feel that one could easily compare two people who meet in Vegas and have a shotgun wedding to Romeo and Juliet. It is spontaneous and there is not much thought that goes into the marriage. I would like to see what others think about this. Maybe I am completely out of line and “dumbing down” the romance that Shakespeare is trying to portray. Thoughts?

My OED word this week actually is quite relevant concerning Jay's post. I researched the term "spirit" in reference to the fairies. One of the dictionary entries for "spirit" was something along the lines of creatures that are unperceived by humans that meddle with their affairs. This, to me, was very applicable to the A Midsummer Night's Dream fairies. Also, the definition said that these "spirits" could make themselves visible at will, which accounts for Titania's appearance to Bottom as well as all the woodland fairies appearance to Theseus' court at his wedding in the final scene. This invisibility of the fairies didn't really dawn on me until Professor Britland showed us a couple clips from the Callista Flockhart/Michelle Pfieffer/Hollywood version. In a couple scenes from that film Oberon and Puck have multiple conversations from what seems like right in front humans (mostly the lovers). I wonder how the lovers overhear or at least see the two fairies. The possibility of the invisibility of the fairies to the humans gives me an entirely different impression of the play. If indeed the fairies are invisible, than they have a lot more control over the mortals than I originally perceived. Obviously they prove to be very controlling, as Oberon basically controls who ends up with who in the end.

One of my favorite characteristics of Bill's plays is their potential to have multiple meanings. I feel like A Midsummer Night's Dream does exceptionally well in this capacity. This comedy really surprised me; having read A Comedy of Errors I had a different expectation of what a "comedy" would be. A Comedy of Errors was a lot of blunders and physical comedy, but A Midsummer Night's Dream (despite it's ridiculousness) has quite a lot of depth, and I value that. I don't think a play has to be a hundred percent dreary and tragic to have some poignant points to it. Your thoughts?

Theseus and Hippolyta

I have not seen the 1981 version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but earlier today I did watch the 1991 “Hollywood” version (as Professor Britland puts it) with Bale and Flockhart. I know she warned us about how horrible it was, and I completely agree considering it took such a shallow analysis of the play as a whole, but I did think that this particular version had some interesting input in its interpretation. For instance, instead of Hippolyta being completely under Theseus’ control and with no ability to say what she believes, she was portrayed as the one controlling him. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of admitting that Theseus has such absolute control over her throughout the play, even though that may certainly be the case, because it is simply too frustrating. I was able to appreciate then the fact that they had Hippolyta as the person standing up to Theseus and persuading him to excuse the lovers in the end of all they were accused of (even if it was in a sort of a pathetic pouty way that got on my nerves). So really, I was just wondering if anyone else had watched the horrid Hollywood version and if so, what they thought of it. The different ending was pretty thought provoking. As well I wanted to see if anyone else had any input on Theseus and Hippolyta’s relationship, whether it be another viewpoint or just something interesting.

Fairies

When reading the play I had the feeling that the fairies weren't perceived by the humans in the play. Oberon says he is invisible and what not. The 1981 version of the movie used this interpretation as well, although in quite a creepy manner. After watching the movie, when I read Titania and Oberon accusing each other of affairs with Theseus and Hippolyta, I don't see it as a physical affair, but as more of a playful thing, for example Titania enchanting  Theseus and making him act silly and high and dancing around in the woods and just sitting talking to himself, or her, not knowing in fact what he was doing. Also did anyone notice in the movie when all the little fairy children gathered around bottom (funny he is named bottom an he turns into an ass) that there is one girl in the background just bobbing back and forth for no apparent reason? The film was obviously made on a very low budget, but I am unsure as to why the girl was bobbing. It was quite hilarious, but does anyone have any ideas?

Up and Running

Your class blog is now up and running. If you have any questions
or encounter any problems while using then, then please email
me. I've put some interesting links up, and will probably
continue adding to them over the course of the semester. Enjoy!