Open Prompt Revision (2/17)

1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.

Revision from Open Prompt (10/14)

The opening scene of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth begins with three witches standing amidst thunder and lightning as they view the battle below and discuss their next meeting place; once their meeting adjourns, they vanish.  Immediately the reader is introduced to the themes of insanity versus sanity and appearance versus reality. 

Readers question whether these witches are a figment of one’s imagination or if they exist.  These witches are associated with Macbeth as established when the third witch says, “There to meet with Macbeth” (1.1.8).  Due to their connection with Macbeth one is entitled to believe the witches are unreal because Macbeth’s mental condition is unstable.  Furthermore the only account we have of these witches is from Macbeth; however, readers do not know if he is reliable source from which information can be drawn.  As a result the witches pose the question of Macbeth’s insanity.

A surreal feeling is derived from the presence of the witches, and as a result the witches add to the theme of appearance versus reality.  The witches are merely a representation of what is to come in the drama.  By vanishing, they construct the reader’s thinking to be in line with the themes of the drama.  They prepare the mind of the reader to begin thinking about what they see is reality and if it is not, then whose imagination are they watching.

         The vanishing symbolizes a false reality because one does not vanish unless he is a figment of another’s imaginations.  This adds to the theme of insanity versus sanity, and therefore, creates a predisposition of the readers to think that what they are reading is an aberration, thus adding to the theme of insanity versus sanity.  These two themes develop as they intertwine throughout the drama as the reader determines Macbeth’s sanity and whether or not what is seen is actually true.

Responses to Course Material (2/10)

We finished watching the different movies on Hamlet.  I enjoyed watching these films because I was able to compare the different interpretations of Hamlet.  For instance in one of the movies Gertrude is portrayed as accepting her sinful act, marrying her late husband’s brother, whereas in the other films Gertrude’s character is questionable and we do not know if she remorseful. 

                  The performances for final exams also helped me see how different interpretations of a single character or a scene can change other parts of the play.  As an example one of the groups did the scene where Ophelia is returning Hamlet’s letters.  In this scene Hamlet could love Ophelia who is either innocent or a whore.  If Ophelia is a whore then Hamlet most likely doesn’t love her so fulfilling his task, killing Claudius, would be that much easier because he doesn’t have to worry about hurting her.  However, if she is innocent and Hamlet does love her, then it gives insight into Hamlet’s character because we see that Hamlet values his dead father’s wishes more than his own happiness.  In this case Hamlet shows a tremendous amount of loyalty.

                  We have also been working on multiple-choice questions, which is good because I need a lot of practice, and then we just started reading Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  I am anxious to see what connections there are between the two plays and how my view of Hamlet will change, if at all.