There Are Those Who Think and There Are Those Who Act

So which am I?

I am a thinker.
Or, in more poetic terms, I am an intellectual. I do not wish to change. I am happy with this truth. I am pleased with the way I am and I will tell you why. My brain is constantly
cognitive. There is seldom a moment my brain is not considering a thousand things at once. All the while that I am contemplating the innumerable possibilities in my mind, I am also interpreting my surroundings into a way that suits me. I am a firm believer that reality is only what you believe in. Reality is only what you perceive. Reality is what you accept it to be. Reality is what you make it. I look at what i see around me and then I put on a sort of opaque haze in front of it that shows things the way I want to see them. Some call this madness and they may be right. People ask me what I think my best feature is, expecting  a response about my hair, eyes, teeth, eyebrows or something of the like.  I always, always answer my imagination. I swear by the value of a good imagination. The ability to change the world around you is not one to be taken lightly. The talent to train your mind to control your dreams should be coveted. The inspiration to muse scribblings and splatters onto a paper and form complete thoughts is what I posses and I would not want it any other way.

          This statement, I realize, has been rather vague. To use a specific example, I will use a topic I have given a lot of thought to; love. In the style of a true hopeless romantic I will rant about the differences between my thoughts and my actions and comparing the weight of both to prove why I am an intellectual, on the matter of love.

          I think  about love all the time. Not as a present thing or even for me. I think about it as an idea. As a common thought throughout the human race. As a gift of us for us. I honestly am hopelessly devoted to a being that will never feel the same way and this development has made me come to realize a great many things about love. Love is a very individual thing. There are very few blanket terms. this all reverts back to the fact that every human being is different. So love is different to all of us. However there are general ideas that are common threads in many happy healthy relationships. Love is very personal, as it should be. Most of my rants and raves are very annoying and wistful so I'll stick to my above all definition of love. Love is being yourself with someone else. 

         Most of my time is used daydreaming imagining how things will be and this is all fine and good. As I mentioned before I love having this ability. When the most fun happens is when I don't think and I just act. This is also very potentially dangerous and stupid but that is what growing up is all about. We are young, after all. Having the passion in your life to stir you to be spontaneous and make reckless decisions is part of human existence. A very stupid, entertaining, and treacherously fun part, but a necessary part, nonetheless. 

So in short, I am a thinker but I am also an actor.

Revenge: The Beast Within

Revenge in 'Real' Life

          Vengeance is a very,very,very,very,very common theme in all of Shakespeare's writings, excluding perhaps, some of his sonnets. It has often puzzled scholar's minds as to why he would incorporate such a dangerous terrifying aspect of human capability. I believe it is because of those very reasons. Revenge is exciting and unpredictable. crowds love it. I also highly believe Shakespeare chose to write about revenge because it is such a common part of everyday life. William's plays have always reflected some view of human life in some exaggerated way. Instead of creating new alien concept why not take a piece of the already characterful human life. In his tragedies he shows revenge as a dangerous, consequential act that leads to an overall morbid tone that shows how very terrible it can be. In the comedies he exaggerated vengeance in a light that shows how completely absurd these tainted actions are.
   
          Surprising as it might be, a lot of things human being's nature hasn't changed since the Elizabethan Era. Revenge is still a very potent presence in our society. What's worse is our culture has desensitized the public the the terrible truth in the ending of a life. Many people don't understand the pure value of life. revenge now acts as a symbol of honor in our lives. If something terrible is even presented as possibly happening the general public finds it their duty to 'right' that wrong. They feel as though it is their place to take it upon themselves to get compensation for any loss. 9/11 is a perfect example of the act of revenge in this society. Our country was affected by the government of another nation so our president decided to kill and innumerable amount of innocent people after they resisted our government invading and changing their entire way of life. As it was when Shakespeare wrote about it, so it is true now; seeking vengeance is dangerous and in the end no one really wins. To give a more specific example, I saw revenge destroy one of the strongest friendships I have ever seen. Two of my friends were both in relationships. Different lengths of time, different levels of emotion. (PTI: It may get very confusing for a bit but the names are remaining anonymous and aren't all that important so bear with me) One girl broke up with her boyfriend for very legitimate reasons. The other girl's boyfriend then broke up with the other girl to date the now single girl. In order to try to get back at the 'mantheif', as the forcibly single woman put it, she dated the boy who originally broke up with the first girl. A very long dramatic story short, both girls ended up hating each other and all four of the people involved were then very alone. So, that example was a bit wordy but it goes to show how the right combination of stupidity,hurt and revenge can create a disaster. These two girls lost their friendships over boys, BOYS!!! HIGH SCHOOL BOYS, no less. They may have been able to recover if not for their uncontrollable desire for vengeance. Something as trivial as this was made all the worse by adding revenge to the mix.

          Revenge is a vile, angry, unkempt, vicious beast. Mangled, unhappy and disfigured. It it a parasitic,  carnivorous monster that lurks in the shadows and waits.  It crouches unseen in the darkness, waiting, waiting, waiting for a weakened soul to attack. To latch it's own horrific mass of flesh and fur into. Once someone is hurt and they are wanting, wanting desperately for something, anything. Then as soon as the chance arises it leaps. It pounces upon it's all to unsuspecting prey and sinks it's teeth into it's new victim. It's horrible dripping oozing venomous drool pours into the wound and gives the host a false sense of rationalization. It finds exactly what that person is wanting oh so badly, and then promises it to them. It's grip is so secure, there are few who are able to resist it and be rid of it before it has had it's fill. It clenches it's heinous fangs right onto the very nape of your neck and sinks its blackened teeth further and further into your flesh. Once it's task has been completed it may hop off and wait again for it's next victim. But, it might not. It may have loved your nectar so well it decides to indulge a bit longer. If it does so decide to release it's victim it won't be very long until the next poor helpless prey comes along. revenge bring more revenge and trouble loves company. Revenge is a miserable despicable creature. It's only slight joy is found in seeing other beings in more misery than he.

       

Polonius and Laertes: From a Father to a Son

Leaving the Nest

           Many parents positively dread the day to come when their child leaves home and goes off to seek whatever they think they are trying to find. Often, there is a farewell speech about very trivial things, like wearing your coat and keeping up with your schoolwork, and calling them everyday. However, there is also, in at least the slightest of ways, some very meaningful truth in it. Some ever so important piece of advice. Some particular jewel of wisdom in all of the necessary emotional foolishness. Whether it be a couple lines from a Chinese proverb or advice from their parents or something they wish they had known, there is usually some great knowledge found in goodbyes. It is true that farewells are often very hard and emotional, and sometimes just plain awkward but the words exchanged reveal a great deal about both parties.

           In the case of Polonius and Laertes, it is very clear that they were fairly close. His father begins with the generic, 'don't be late, don't be late!'. This is a typical tool of parents used to cope with the frightening idea of their child being gone. Then Polonious goes into a lengthy piece of advice to his attentive son. He begins by saying don't say everything you think of, and don't give your dirty thoughts any active response. Pretty basic good advice. Be nice but not overzealous. Make sure the friends you make are good friends and once you know they are keep them close. Don't get caught up in trying to top all the fun you and your friends have. Try not to get in fights but if you do you sure as hell had better win. Listen to people, don't talk a lot. Listen to advice, but try not give it as much. Buy nice stuff, but don't over-do it. Don't borrow money, don't lend money. This is all good advice and yeah it's a little trivial,a little tedious. Most of us would roll our eyes and shake our heads, vocalizing  dismissive interjections here and there. Then he finally mentions something worthwhile " This above all: to thine own self be true,..." (Act I, scene iii, line 82). Now, this little tidbit sounds really nice, because that is just how Shakespeare writes. However, the actual counsel itself is pretty basic: be yourself. The fact that Polonius says it makes it a bit less important to me. But, that is a very good tip. Many people underrate the value of being true to yourself. It really solves so many problems that you may not even know exist. The fact that he said it wasn't so astounding, it's just general good advice. What's astounding is the actual idea of being true to who you are. It is very good direction for anyone really and is highly discounted for it's importance.

          I myself however would consider most of this to be decently helpful instruction. Personally I most likely will not follow a lot of that. I really should but it is very unlikely. Anytime there is some piece of genuine advice written by the great William I feel like he is speaking it directly to me and so that I should listen to what he has to say. He is also probably right. However, I have never been one to what is wise. Nearly everything he mentions are quite excellent suggestions. As afore mentioned I believe staying true to you who are can solve a lot of problems. During the college years many people are still trying to figure out who they are and they are still becoming who they will be, so this becomes a bit harder. The only advice I probably won't be able to follow in my natural life, will be staying calm and not being overzealous. That is just part of who I am. However, this would probably help me out a ton. It would probably also help our generation to follow that advice too. However, more of the young people today might benefit from being more passionate and more sympathetic and actually caring. There are too many indifferent people, to many apathetic young adults in our culture. The whole reason we are humans is that we are able to communicate with each other and the world around us our emotions. Other things have emotions; animals, rocks,insects and trees, but we are special because we have language and passion and we lack the use of energy directed for surviving we can turn that energy to more productive beautiful useless things. Not saying everything you think is  huge lack of discipline in our society. Our society has created a culture that puts so much information out that everyone is desensitized to when they find something actually important. But, like I said before most of his advice is generally good input for having good social skills and manners and things of that like. I definitely believe our culture could stand some refining.

          After giving Laertes all of this direction and lacing all of his trust in him, Polonious then goes to send spies to follow him and make sure he is doing alright. So, basically he is being hypocritical in all of the things he told his son. In Act II scene i lines 4&5 he sums up what the hired Reynaldo is to do, "...to make inquire of his behavior." He then goes on to explain this plan to his hired spy. This is one of, if not the first definite action of spying. As the play goes on he reveals himself to be a noisy intrusive old man. Most of the time Polonius is just being a jerk. When it comes to his son though, i believe he is legitimately just concerned for how he is keeping up and doesn't want to be a nag. A lot of parents do that in our own time period for their high school students. As their legal guardian or as a loving parent Spying is allowed and sometimes reasonable. It is not very common to have invasive college student parents. For example, it is much harder for a mom to check their son's phone when he is two states away. It is also very unnecessary for college student parents to be as demanding. There reasoning might be sound. The dangers of cell phones and social media is a problem. A lot of parents see it as a way to stay in touch and sometimes that's true. Other times the adult is having problems dissolving the physical and emotional attachments to their child. It is only justifiable to spy on your college student when you have been given legitimate reason to believe they are in serious. However, most parents need only the smallest excuse to go through your dressers and computers and phones. Parents and students need to know when to say when.

Macbeth:The Scottish Play

As I afore mentioned, Macbeth was the first Shakespearean play I ever read. It being such I have a special connection with this play. I love the pure evil and the paranoia and just all of the brutal gorey violence of the play itself. I also love all of the superstition that comes with many of Shakespeare's plays. This particular play has a 'curse' passed down for generations from actors to actors. In early presentations of Macbeth the actors who were supposed to be 'killed' onstage were actually killed a few times. So now, I believe, the curse is as follows: no one is to say the word Macbeth inside the theater, hence it doubly being referred to as The Scottish Play. Things like this curse and all the superstition around Shakespeare himself are some of the best things about reading. While absorbing the basic,wonderful plot in itself, there are also the many layers of metaphor, symbolism and historic reference to enjoy.  Even while trying to comprehend all of that there is still wondering why he wrote what he did and what he was thinking of and all of the possible mysteries involved with he name William Shakespeare.There are so many things I love about this play, but if I had to choose a favorite aspect it would be the weird sisters and the possibility of supernatural occurrences. I myself am very interested in the supernatural and I love the haunting, hallowed rhymes of the witches. They have stood the test of time and I believe for good reason. As all Shakespeare, this play and its characters are remembered for their brilliance. Macbeth is a well known play because it appeals to most everyone. The plot is straight forward and quickly moving, so it appeals to the general public as it is. There are also a lot of undertones and historical references that satisfy the mpre devoted reader. I myself have read this and many other Shakespearian plays simply for the love of the language and the appreciation for the vague storyline I did understand. I did not think I could I love the work of William any more. Now that I am learning more and more I have come to love and appreciate The Tragedy of Macbeth for all that it is.


The play begins with the witches, so it only makes sense that I begin with the talk of these weird sisters. I am aware that they are never actually called 'witches' in the play but forgive me for assuming they were. the fact that they were never called such does bring up a very good point. However, I shall mention that topic later. The weird sisters nearly always speak in rhyme, or in some poetic manner. This is important for three reasons. One: this rhyming makes the witches lines morememorable. Everything they say does matter and should be paid great attention to. Two: this constant rhyme allowed William to really play with language, as he is famous for. Three: it stays true with common witchcraft beliefs. In this time period using the beliefs of the people would have been keen in pleasing them. If the audience believed that witches spoke in ambiguos rhymes, then he had to make the sisters speak so. The sisters were definitely ambiguos, that is also an important point. While keeping up with his iambic rhyme scheme, Shakespeare may have seen many oppurtunities to plant little seeds of mysteries. Instead of wasting his time finding a rhyme that spells out exactly what the characters are trying to convey, he makes the language beautiful, and fluid and leaves it as is. I also believe Shakespeare was just a clever devil and a true artist with words and would have known what would sound best. The open ended language the women use also refelcts their open ended identities. Are they witches? Or are they simply odd, outcast women who wish to stir up trouble. The very nature of Macbeth is the constant questioning. It is no accident that Macbeth questions their actions, and questions his own actions. Banquo questions them, not just to verify appearance, but to get the audience questioning. Us as the readers have a responsibility to also question these weird sisters. To question everything, honestly. The premise of Macbeth is not knowing, wondering and being unsure, and with this knowledge trying to distinct everything for what it is. The play is an enormous cloud, if you so choose, your own interpretations reveal what is behind that ambiguos, mysterious cloud.

Once Macbeth and Banquo meet these witchy women, they are instantly intrigued, if not only for sport. It is blatant human curiosity that presses them to listen closer and more carefully to what they have to say. It is the word of the sisters that really gets Macbeth going. As most of Shakespeare, the plot picks up pace right here near the beginning. This pattern is one of my favorite aspects of the Shakespearean writing style. Banquo and Macbeth are definite foils of one another. While Macbeth is demanding and instantly deeply intrigued by the prophecy, Banquo lets it go from his mind as easily as it came. This thematic element arises many times in the play. Directly upon hearing what the weird women have to say Banquo insists Macbeth to let it go. He does and at this point Macbeth still has a conscience. Then the first part of the foretold becomes reality; he is named Thane of Cawdor. Upon this action he is wrestling with himself what and how he should feel. Then he writes a letter to his wife. So, he begins his plotting.

Macbeth is obviously not the only one plotting. The instant Lady Macbeth (hereafter called Lady) reads the letter she begins contemplating the possibilities. It is also rather obvious this is not the first time this has been talked of. It is my interpretation that they both were power seeking figureheads and have been waiting for the right chance to put their scheming to action. Needing only the slightest encouragement, these loaded guns are ready to fire at any moment. The witches loaded and cocked and did all but pull the trigger of Macbeth and Lady. Their ambition was the straw that broke the camels back. Lady seems to have a considerable less amount of ambition in total but appears to have her fill of it near the beginning. I believe it was his wife's ambition and persuasion that really led to the first murder.
Lady is so evil just pure evil. At least that is how she seems. Again we see the deceptive element of the play. She seems just so vile and ruthless and we come to find out later she's all talk. She wants the power but does not want to be involved in the deeds done to obtain that power. I believe she also overestimates herself and her own boundaries. She is so caught up in her husband seeing her as apathetic and strong that she fools herself into believing she can handle the guilt of murder. She eventually just loses it. Once the first murder is done she is rather satisfied. But, Macbeth, no, Macbeth is not satisfied, he is never satisfied. He became so paranoid that he turned into a merciless tyrant. Lady's initial ambition is greater than his, but Macbeth's undying hunger for power is so strong it is truly that of legend.

The first murder really gets things rolling. More and more murder takes place and soon it spins just out of control. So then he returns to the sisters. This time they give him a potion (or a hallucinogenic, whichever you prefer to call it) and lead him to heavily believe he is safe. His heinous acts have not gone unnoticed however and the rest of the Scottish noblemen are busy at work assuring the death of the terrible king. Once the troops come to the Castle Dunsinane, he is very sure he will not fail. However, the ambiguity of the witches then strikes again and Macbeth sees each small part of their prophecy coming true in an unexpected way. Knowing he is to be defeated he fights in a raging fury until he is beheaded and hence is finally dead.

There is a reason everyone knows the name Macbeth. It is truly an unforgettably haunting tale. The brilliant plot line and use of language aside, there are so many layers to nearly every stanza of his writing that people are still delving deeper and deeper into his writings. Scholars find new clues everyday and new interpretations are created every time the play is read. Macbeth has made a lasting impression on me.