Cassius-
Cassius may be many things- but chivalric isn't one. He should be honourable, but his self-image is too strong and his wants get in the way. He must also display courage, which he doesn't because in the end of the play, he commits suicide. The play "Julius Ceasar" mostly talks about political views, so the question of chastity isn't an issue. Cassius is courteous only to several people- mostly people who share the same views as him. Loyalty also falls into the same category; only loyal to those with similar opinions.
However, even if Cassius does not display chivalry, he does posses ambition and passion, which is just equally as important if not more. Many of the time chivalric qualities hold back a person or have negative effects; Such as Brutus and his honour. If someone has too much courtesy or loyalty, their intentions may become too soft and people could take advantage of that. Such as Mark Antony did to Brutus. Courage and chastity however are a different story. How would courage be defined? Does it take courage for a terrorist to sacrifice himself? And what are the limitations of chastity?
Monday, 23 February 2009
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
C/C- King Uther
In the first story we read- "The Crowning of Arthur"- King Uther portrayed a sneaky character who- as king- could get anything he wanted. The narrator seems to have respect for Uther, but makes sure the audience knows that he was spoiled and stubborn. If he wanted someone else's wife, then he shall get someone else's wife. He fell in love with the Duke of Tintagil's wife, Lady Igraine, and therefor took her for himself. In some ways, I can see why King Arthur stories are labeled as romances, because when someone falls so deeply in love with another, you sympathize for them. Of course because of the time period differences, such acts of chivalry today would not be acceptable.
In "The Mists of Avalon" King Uther, instead of coming off powerful and respected, seems sickly and without foundation. His step-daughter, Morgaine, bitterly complained that he never payed attention to anyone besides his wife; her mother. In both stories King Uther is still madly in love with Igraine, and in this one Lady Igraine loves him back opposing the first story where she was hesitant.
In "The Mists of Avalon" King Uther, instead of coming off powerful and respected, seems sickly and without foundation. His step-daughter, Morgaine, bitterly complained that he never payed attention to anyone besides his wife; her mother. In both stories King Uther is still madly in love with Igraine, and in this one Lady Igraine loves him back opposing the first story where she was hesitant.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Suicide
There are two way of taking bad news. One way is to accept it and live on. The other way is to refuse to tolerate it and kill yourself. In the play Antigone, many characters chose the latter.
Jocasta, after realizing her husband was really her son, committed suicide. “His mother and wife at once: she twisted the cords that strangled her life.” (Antigone 1.1.40-41) She could have been overcome with grief, or embarrassment. Finding our that the man you love is against your moral cant be easy, and even harder is explaining it to everyone. But suicide is just the coward way out, no matter what your situation is.
Even killing yourself over honour is cowardly. Antigone, who was a much braver character than Jocasta, was committed of treason. She was sentenced to live in a stone chamber where she would slowly starve to death. Antigone accepted her fate- “It will not be the worst of deaths- death without honour.”- but she ended up giving into fear, and followed in her mother’s footsteps by strangling herself. (Antigone 1.1.81) Once again, fear overpowered heroism.
In Jocasta’s case, her fear was the decrease of her self-image. Antigone feared the pain of death, yet there is a more tangible aspect of fear; the fear of loss. Haemon was Antigone’s fiancé, and when his father, the King Creon, sentenced Antigone to death, Haemon threatened him with suicide. “Then she must die. But her death will cause another.” (Antigone 1.3.119) Haemon is afraid of living life without Antigone, so he chose to commit suicide with an impression of romance. Yet, call it what you want, it’s still cowardly.
Fear drives people to commit suicide, which makes them cowardly. They have no hope, or else they wouldn’t be so afraid. And they have no zest, or else they wouldn’t be such milquetoast characters. There is a saying- “look for the silver lining,” – meaning no matter how bad things are, eventually they will get better, but that’s exactly what you have to do- look.
Jocasta, after realizing her husband was really her son, committed suicide. “His mother and wife at once: she twisted the cords that strangled her life.” (Antigone 1.1.40-41) She could have been overcome with grief, or embarrassment. Finding our that the man you love is against your moral cant be easy, and even harder is explaining it to everyone. But suicide is just the coward way out, no matter what your situation is.
Even killing yourself over honour is cowardly. Antigone, who was a much braver character than Jocasta, was committed of treason. She was sentenced to live in a stone chamber where she would slowly starve to death. Antigone accepted her fate- “It will not be the worst of deaths- death without honour.”- but she ended up giving into fear, and followed in her mother’s footsteps by strangling herself. (Antigone 1.1.81) Once again, fear overpowered heroism.
In Jocasta’s case, her fear was the decrease of her self-image. Antigone feared the pain of death, yet there is a more tangible aspect of fear; the fear of loss. Haemon was Antigone’s fiancé, and when his father, the King Creon, sentenced Antigone to death, Haemon threatened him with suicide. “Then she must die. But her death will cause another.” (Antigone 1.3.119) Haemon is afraid of living life without Antigone, so he chose to commit suicide with an impression of romance. Yet, call it what you want, it’s still cowardly.
Fear drives people to commit suicide, which makes them cowardly. They have no hope, or else they wouldn’t be so afraid. And they have no zest, or else they wouldn’t be such milquetoast characters. There is a saying- “look for the silver lining,” – meaning no matter how bad things are, eventually they will get better, but that’s exactly what you have to do- look.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Role of Women
Although Antigone is a self-assertive character that follows her morals, I would not call her a feminist. I agree that her courage is magnified by comparing her attitude with her sisters’; an expected role of a Thebean woman, however, courage is all it is. Never once in the play does she refer to her female capacity.
Her sister, Ismene, mentions that is hopeless going against men- “We are only women! We cannot fight against men, Antigone!” (Antigone 1.1.46) Antigone replies by saying she will bury her brother by herself, and if she is discovered, then she will die too with ambition. She does not respond by saying women can do anything men can, or how women are misjudged and looked down upon. Antigone says nothing about how equally capable both genders are. Instead she reminds Ismene that God’s rules are more important than the King’s laws.
She has respect, and her loyalty is to God, not the King Creon. When she does take him down, creating an epiphany and guilt among the people, it has nothing to do with feminism. Just because she has a solid character, which occasionally talks back to superior classes, does not mean she is a feminist as well. Just because she has strong beliefs and lets nothing get in the way of them, does not mean she has developed women’s rights and follows them with the same amount of zeal and commitment.
Antigone, does not win the sympathy of the chorus by simply being a female. She is determined, and prepared to accept her consequences because she is not ashamed of her crime; burying her brother’s ghost. “I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths- death without honour.” (Antigone 1.1.80-81)
In some ways, Antigone has no special qualities; neither bravery, courage, nor fearlessness. It is the King Creon, and her sister Ismene who showed cowardly and stubborn behavior, with reflects Antigone in a good light. When everything you ever cared about disappears and boils down to a sacrifice, many people would do the same thing Antigone did. It’s called human righteousness.
Her sister, Ismene, mentions that is hopeless going against men- “We are only women! We cannot fight against men, Antigone!” (Antigone 1.1.46) Antigone replies by saying she will bury her brother by herself, and if she is discovered, then she will die too with ambition. She does not respond by saying women can do anything men can, or how women are misjudged and looked down upon. Antigone says nothing about how equally capable both genders are. Instead she reminds Ismene that God’s rules are more important than the King’s laws.
She has respect, and her loyalty is to God, not the King Creon. When she does take him down, creating an epiphany and guilt among the people, it has nothing to do with feminism. Just because she has a solid character, which occasionally talks back to superior classes, does not mean she is a feminist as well. Just because she has strong beliefs and lets nothing get in the way of them, does not mean she has developed women’s rights and follows them with the same amount of zeal and commitment.
Antigone, does not win the sympathy of the chorus by simply being a female. She is determined, and prepared to accept her consequences because she is not ashamed of her crime; burying her brother’s ghost. “I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, it will not be the worst of deaths- death without honour.” (Antigone 1.1.80-81)
In some ways, Antigone has no special qualities; neither bravery, courage, nor fearlessness. It is the King Creon, and her sister Ismene who showed cowardly and stubborn behavior, with reflects Antigone in a good light. When everything you ever cared about disappears and boils down to a sacrifice, many people would do the same thing Antigone did. It’s called human righteousness.
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