Hamlet: Keeping up With the Kardashians

In my version of Hamlet, I would turn Hamlet's life into a reality T.V. show called "Hanging with Hamlet." Old Hamlet would be Robert Kardashian, Gertrude would be Kris Kardashian, Hamlet would be Rob Kardashian, and Claudius would be a meaner version of Bruce Jenner. I would actually have Horatio and Marcellus be played by Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and be girls (Horatia and Marcella). Both Hamlet and "Keeping up with the Kardashians" are similar in some ways because both families come from a lot of wealth, and Rob Kardashian dealt with the death of his father just like Hamlet.

For Act 1, Scene 2, I would have Claudius first start off with his own interview talking about how he is excited to bring together the family, act as the new father figure, and try to relieve some of the pressure by taking over Dash (the family clothing store). Then the camera would go to a dramatic scene where Hamlet is death staring Claudius and Gertrude as they cuddle on the couch. The camera would zoom on Hamlet's face, and then switch to his own interview where he talks about how unfair his life is. He would explain how Claudius's best friend's son is hosting this crazy party, and Claudius won't let Hamlet go. Hamlet is facing a new time low.

Then, while Claudius and Gertrude are shopping with Hamlet, they get mad how he is only picking out black clothes, and scold him in front of the entire store (how embarrassing!). In the interview, Claudius and Gertrude would just say they were being good parents, but in Hamlet's interview, he thinks his life is over. Hamlet would drive away in his Bentley while Gertrude and Claudius kept shopping.

When Hamlet gets back from home, Hortatia and Marcella are standing by the door with some crazy news about Old Hamlet.

The Famous Question: To Be or Not to Be?

I found it quite interesting to watch how different directors portrayed the "to be or not to be" scene. In both clips, Hamlet appears in deep thought, and almost at war with himself. However, in the first clip, Hamlet comes off as quizzical, and quiet, since his voice is softer, and he is talking to his reflection in the mirror. It almost seems like he is plotting something, and I couldn't really figure out what his emotions were. Also, I found it interesting how the director had Ophelia, Claudius, and Polonius all listening into the conversation. In the second clip, Hamlet really comes off as frustrated. I feel like the director had him focusing on life in general since he was walking around a tomb like area (I'm guessing his father's grave). Hamlet conversation is more private than in the first clip, and therefore, I feel like he better portrays his emotions. Overall, I liked the second clip better.

Improving Short Work Essay Paragraph

Original:

Heaney then uses this feeling of guilt to enhance feelings of admiration the speaker has towards his father and grandfather and to explain how important digging is in the family. As the speaker reflects on his grandfather and father, he mentions proudly how “[his] grandfather cut more turf in a day/Than any other man on Toner's bog" (17-18). Heaney uses this sentence to show how proud the speaker is of his grandfather. This sense of pride also causes an internal conflict, though, because the speaker cannot carry out this pride by digging. Then, the speaker shows how digging is a family tradition by saying, "By God, old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man" (15-16). Not only does this sentence still show admiration, it also depicts how digging is a family tradition, and not taken lightly. Digging is a source of pride in this family, which causes more pressure to the speaker to carry out this family tradition. Heaney has the speakers admiration of his father and grandfather also show the pressure he faces, and how he cannot live up to he expectations laid upon him.

In my original paragraph, you mentioned how you did not like how I used conclusion sentences a the end of all my paragraphs. To fix that, I just simply deleted them. I also had some extra words that were unnecessary, so I just deleted them too. Finally, I was vague on whether the expectations to dig set upon the speaker were self or externally imposed. To fix that, I added a sentence to explain that more.

Fixed:

Heaney then uses this feeling of guilt to enhance feelings of admiration the speaker has towards his father and grandfather and to explain how important the family views digging. As the speaker reflects on his grandfather and father, he mentions proudly how “[his] grandfather cut more turf in a day/Than any other man on Toner's bog" (17-18). This sense of pride also causes an internal conflict, though, because the speaker cannot carry out this pride by digging. Then, the speaker says, "By God, old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man" (15-16) to infer that digging is a family tradition. Not only does this sentence still show admiration, it also depicts how a sense of respect comes with digging. As a family tradition, the speaker wants to carry out digging. The speaker almost inflicts his own internal pressure to continue digging, since he wants to show respect to his grandfather and father. The speaker puts Heaney has the speakers admiration of his father and grandfather also show the pressure he faces, and how he cannot live up to he expectations laid upon him.

Ophelia vs Laertes: Witty, Innocent, or Submissive?

After watching two actresses portraying Ophelia and reading act 1 scene 3, I can concur that Ophelia is depicted in many different ways while talking to her brother Laertes . 

In Hamlet, I feel that Shakespeare had Ophelia come off as silent, yet witty in act 1 scene 3. While her brother lectures her about having feelings towards Hamlet, Ophelia just listens, barely inserting any commentary. It is almost like Ophelia is pretending to listen, and isn't really taking in what information her brother is trying to tell her. After Laertes's long speech, Ophelia says, "But, good my brother,/ Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,/ Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,/Whiles, (like) a puffed and reckless libertine,/Himself the primrose path of dalliance threads/And recks not his own rede" (1.3 50-55). This shows Ophelia as witty as she calls out her brother for pretty much being a hypocrite, since he is living a life of lust and party in France. This interaction with her brother shows that Ophelia sticks with her own opinions, and set a confident tone for the rest of the act. It also shows that her personality is different from the dimwitted Gertrude, which could explain why Hamlet is so attracted to her.

However, in the first clip, the director portrays Ophelia as innocent. The actress casually smiles at her brother for most of the conversation as he tries to lecture her, almost as though she feels it is a joke. Though during the other parts of the conversation, her expression does come off as a bit worried. This shows that even though Ophelia is pretending not to care about what her brother is saying, it still is affecting her. I think this kind of takes away from her witty personality that was shown in Hamlet, and instead sets a sarcastic tone for the act as Ophelia tries to cover up her worries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI8T5DPxY5Y&feature=player_embedded#at=65

In the second clip, the director has Ophelia come off as submissive. During the entire conversation wither her brother, I don't think I heard the actress say one word! This completely takes away the witty tone Shakespeare set in act 1 scene 3. Ophelia completely gives in to her brother in this scene, and doesn't even have any remark to come back with. She just simply listens in silence with a worried face. This sets a worried tone for the rest of the act as Ophelia believes everything her brother says. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JyxfJo-iiA&feature=player_embedded#at=71

Claudius: Something up his Sleeve?

After reading Act 1 Scene 1 and 2 of Hamlet, I could instantly tell that Claudius was up to no good.

As a king, Claudius seems kind and caring in the eyes of the public. For example, when Laertes asks a "favor to return to France" (1.2 53), Claudius allows him to go, and do as he pleases. However, Claudius marries his dead brother's, who also happens to be the king, wife Gertrude after only two months after the king's death! Incest much? As a king to his family, Claudius's first impression is suspicious and greedy. After marrying Gertrude as quickly as he did, it makes me think that Claudius had something to do with the king's death.

Claudius ins't much better as a father figure and an uncle to Hamlet. Although Claudius does tell Hamlet he has "no less nobility of love/Than that which dearest father bears his son/[Does] [he] impact towards [him]" (1.2 114-116), and wants Hamlet to be the number-one member of his court, Claudius tells Hamlet to stop grieving over his father! Claudius asks Hamlet "why should we in our peevish opposition/Take it to heart" (1.2 104-105)? Instead of mourning over the king's death with Hamlet, Claudius wants everyone to forget about it. That seems pretty suspicious to me...

Digging Essay

Characterization in “Digging” by Seamus Heaney

In "Digging" by Seamus Heaney, the author characterizes his speaker as someone who is unable to follow his family’s legacy, and needs to find his own way to carry out the tradition. Heaney introduces the speaker as conflicted as he watches, instead of helps, his father digging, demonstrating the lack of interest in digging. However, by the end of the poem, the speaker puts aside the fact that he views himself as an outcast in his own family, and does his own "digging" by writing. Heaney characterizes the speaker to deal with expectations we cannot meet, and that there is always an alternative answer to a problem.

            In the beginning of "Digging," Heaney characterizes the speaker as conflicted, and troubled by the fact he can only watch his father dig. As the speaker sits in his room, he hears “…a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/[His] father, digging. [He] look[s] down" (Heaney 3-5). Heaney has his speaker looking down to have the question of why he isn’t helping his dad dig raised. However, Heaney has the speaker notice his father digging, which shows his interest. Then, the speaker describes how his father digging and “…his straining rump among the flowerbeds/Bends low, comes up twenty years away” (6-7). Having the speaker’s father doing hard work while the speaker is up in his room makes the speaker appear guilty and conflicted. The speaker watches his father labor in the fields, while he sits comfortably in his room. Heaney has conflict build up in the speaker as he watches his father doing hard work while digging.

            Heaney then uses this feeling of guilt to enhance feelings of admiration the speaker has towards his father and grandfather to explain how important digging is in the family. As the speaker reflects on his grandfather and father, he mentions how “[his] grandfather cut more turf in a day/Than any other man on Toner's bog" (17-18). Heaney uses this sentence to show how proud the speaker is of his grandfather. This sense of pride also causes an internal conflict though because the speaker cannot carry out this pride out by digging. Then, the speaker shows how digging is a family tradition by saying, "By God, old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man" (15-16). Not only does this sentence still show admiration, it also depicts how digging is a family tradition, and not taken lightly. Digging is also a sense of pride, which causes more pressure to the speaker to carry out this family tradition. Heaney has the speakers admiration of his father and grandfather also show the pressure he faces, and how he cannot live up to he expectations laid upon him.

Finally, Heaney uses the speaker's decision to write instead of carrying on the family tradition of digging to show that we sometimes cannot live up to the expectations set upon us. The speaker realizes “[he] [has] no spade to follow men like them" (28) and has no interest in digging. Heaney has the speaker realize this to show how sometimes we cannot fulfill what others want us to do. Even though the speaker knows that digging is a family tradition, he must follow his own path because he doesn’t have the same passion for digging as his father and grandfather have. However, "between [his] finger and [his] thumb/The squat pen rests./[he] will dig with it" (30-32). The speaker choses to carry out a form of digging by using his pen to dig while he writes. Heaney has his speaker be an example of how to follow your own path.

Heaney uses his speaker to convey how we sometimes cannot meet the expectations people set for us. When we cannot meet those expectations, some people create alternate solutions, while others simply give up. Heaney has the speaker find his own way and come up with his own solution, encouraging us to not give up under pressure.

Digging Intro and Outline

Outline:

I. In the beginning of "Digging," Heaney depicts the speaker as conflicted, and troubled by the fact he can only watch his father dig.
a. "Under my window, a clean rasping sound/When the spade sinks into gravelly ground:/My father, digging. I look down"
b. "Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds/Bends low, comes up twenty years away"
II. Heaney then uses this feeling of guilt to enhance feelings of admiration the speaker has towards his father and grandfather.
a."My grandfather cut more turf in a day/Than any other man on Toner's bog."
b. "By God, old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man."
III. Finally, Heaney uses the speaker's decision to write instead of carrying on the family tradition of digging to show that we sometimes cannot live up to the expectations set upon us.
a. "Through living roots awaken in my head./ But I've no spade to follow men like them."
b. "Between my finger and my thumb/The squat pen rests./I'll dig with it."

Intro Paragraph:

In "Digging" by Seamus Heaney, the author uses characterization to provide the reader with an example of how sometimes we cannot follow what others want us to do. Heaney introduces the speaker as conflicted as he watches, instead of helps, his father digging. However, by the end of the poem, the speaker puts aside the fact that he views himself as an outcast in his own family, and does his own "digging" by writing. Heaney develops the speaker throughout the poem to portray how to deal with expectations we cannot meet, and that there is always an alternative answer to a problem.

Digging for Words

In "Digging," Seamus Heaney depicts the speaker of the poem to be different from the other male members of his family to show the internal conflict he feels.
At the beginning of the poem, the speaker looks at his father digging through his window. Already, the speaker has a "squat pen rest[ing] between [his] finger and [his] thumb" while he watches his father do manual work outside. The speaker watches his father work rather then helping him.
Then towards the middle of the poem, the speaker mentions how "the old man could handle a spade./ Just like his old man." This shows that digging for potatoes is a family tradition that comes with respect.  So by not helping his father dig, the speaker is breaking a family tradition.
Finally, towards at the end of the poem, the speaker has "no spade to follow men like them" but "between [his] finger and [his] thumb/ The squat pen rests./ [He'll] dig with it." He is accepting he won't be able to carry on the tradition of digging because it is just not what he wants to do. Instead, the speaker will do his own digging by writing with his pen. This solves his internal conflict.

Stuck in the Past

We all have those days where we wish we could close our eyes and just disappear. However, Miniver Cheevy takes this to a whole new level. Usually our bad days pass, and we move on with our lives, but Cheevy "[weeps] that he was ever born"

Cheevy represents someone who is stuck not only in the past, but in his own allusions that the past is so much better than the present. He "sigh[s] for what is not" and "love[s] the days of old when swords were bright and steeds were prancing." Instead of enjoying the life he is currently living, Cheevy is confined to the idea that he doesn't belong in the century he was born in. He cures his misery by just ordering another drink.

Robinson is showing us that in order to be happy, you have to embrace the life you were given, and be grateful. No one wants to feel disenfranchised on a day to day basis. Robinson also wants us to enjoy life to the fullest, and not just waste away while life passes by. 

Fairytales Don't Always Have a Happy Ending

Nadine Gordimer uses situational irony in "Once Upon a Time"to show how people's paranoias cause them to consider the extreme, and how that sometimes backfires in unexpected ways.
The citizens in the town are so worried about the outsiders breaking in to their houses that they try and take huge safety measures to prevent this from happening. However, they are basing all their fears off rumors. This creates some very ironic moments. For example, all the houses put up alarms that are constantly set off by animals in the neighborhood. This happens so much that "that everyone soon became accustomed to" the "shrills and bleats and wails." The people in the town became accustomed to the thing they thought would keep them from harm.
Also, one of the safety measures ends up by killing a family's son. They were so worried about protecting themselves, the mother and father actually harmed the child they were trying to keep safe. And who tried to help the boy? The gardener who they were so afraid of who "tore his hands trying to get at the little boy."

Plastic

I am a high school student who currently enjoys horseback riding, the beach, and reading. Throughout my blog, I will be focusing on the connections I share with various characters in the assignments I read. My favorite text from the summer is "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy. I could really relate to the pressure the main character feels from society to be the "perfect" girl. It really shows how the comments people make really do affect someone, so I wasn't too surprised when the girl killed herself at the end. However, I was angered when at her funeral everyone said, "doesn't she look pretty?" The irony was quite upsetting. No one thought she was pretty while she was alive, or even valued her good qualities. All they saw was "a fat nose on thick legs." Lots of girls face the fear of being judged, and always find something wrong with their appearance instead of embracing all the wonderful qualities they possess. Like the girl in "Barbie Doll," all girls face the pressure to want to be considered beautiful, and be accepted by the people around them.