Blog Posts and Posters

I am on a quest. My quest is to eventually arrive at a more workable theme for this blog. I want it to be evidenced in the look and feel as well as in the content. I want it to be centered on design and Shakespeare (that may have been obvious). And I want my thoughts to be provocative, entertaining, and worth posting.

Extremism

Leontes is preposterous. His character, as has been discussed recently in our group discussions, can be rather unbelievable at times–and certainly disagreeable. However, as I have pondered our discussions and read our blog posts, I have begun to wonder about the benefits of the extremism of Leontes's character for Shakespeare.

The Winter's Tale

I must say, I am intrigued by The Winter's Tale. I have not previously read it nor even heard much about it, other than perhaps the title. I will share a few of my thoughts on it in my ignorance, or at least what comes to mind when considering a play with such a title.

Appearance is Everything

In Hamlet, appearance is everything. Throughout the play, several "shows" are put on, each unique, yet similar. One is a play, one is feigned insanity, another the crafty work of a spy–but they are all used to provoke a reaction or gain information. They are used for manipulation. Hamlet uses a modified version of a play to gauge the guilt of his uncle while his acting crazy helps keep the king and queen off his trail.

Reminiscing

My previous experiences with Shakespeare consist of the rather ordinary encounters one has with such things in grade school. I remember, in fourth grade, reading and acting (in a minor role, mind you) in A Midsummer Night's Dream. My classmates and I designed the set and our costumes. After that, I recall making a decision in my mind that I should be a playwright. Unfortunately, that thought didn't last long.