Volpone

One of the most profound and disturbing scenes in Volpone is that attemted seduction/rape scene with Celia after Volpone sings her that really creepy song and tries to buy her off with teasures. Around this time, in scene 3.7 lines 133-138, Celia cries out about how shameful it is that a man could trade and use his wife for greed. This scene shows that love which is usually argued to be the most important thing in the world is now worth less than money and therefore now it has made the men in this play dishonorable. This is of course after the scene where Corvino threatens Celia to do what he says or he will "grow violent" and she still refuses him. So this is when the reader feels very much sympathy towards poor Celia because she is threatened by two different men in as little as two pages.

Vol-pwn-ed

Volpone, by Ben Jonson, is a comedy about a Venetian gentleman who pwns the crap out of Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino, the seekers of his fortune. He's all like "BOOM HEADSHOT!" and Voltore and Co. are all like "wtf n00b hax0rz," since Volpone makes them believe that each one is named in his will while getting Corbaccio to disinherit his son in favor of Volpone. Volpone's 1337 skillz lead him to disguising himself in order to see Celia, the very beautiful wife of Corvino. Mosca, Volpone's assistant guy dude man, tells Corvino that Volpone needs to pwn Celia in order to revive himself, and Corvino, for some reason, agrees. "Why, yes you may have foreign relations with my wife, pip pip, what?" he says. Volpone tries to seduce Celia with flowery rhetoric and the promise of luxury, but when she knocks him back, Volpone tries to rape her. Heavy stuff for a comedy, right? This is interesting as it shows that Volpone, for all his supposed cunning, has no real power over others other than money. But, as he finds out, not everyone can be easily bought off. Volpone is accused of attempted rape by Bonario, who was lurking in the shadows watching Volpone, and who stops Volpone from pwning Celia. Volpone and Mosca, however, get off at least initially, and are only brought down when they turn on each other and begin team-killing, which makes Volpone rage quit from the play. The interesting thing about the conclusion is that there is no real sense of justice. Bonario gets and inheritence that he doesnt want, Corvino is sentenced to public humiliation, Celia is sent back as a tainted object to her father...the suffering is almost equal on all sides. But I suppose this is more based in reality than not. Fairy tale endings dont always happen in real life, and many times justice is not served as it is supposed to.

Johnson's Volpone

I think one of my favorite things about Volpone was the fact that almost none of the characters were likable. There was no happy ending in the traditional sense and everyone was out to screw everybody else. I thought that although Johnson was probably trying to make a point about society and people, his rotten losers made the play so outrageous that it was hilarious. I loved that after suspending disbelief, we could watch Volpone and Mosca yank everyone into his schemes, make enormous fools of everybody, and then drop the whole pile of garbage upon themselves in a splendid shower. I liked that the play did not really try to play with my emotions and make me feel self-conscious, unlike some of the articles that I read said of Twelfth Night. The kind of comedy that just stands on its own and makes the audience without getting itself involved in little old me is nice. That is not to say that there is no value in having attention drawn to oneself, but this play both offered a bold message and a huge laugh at the same time, thus having little need for me but to watch.

Volpone

The character Volpone raises interesting questions about greed and arrogance. He and Mosca deceive the other characters in the play into giving him lavish gifts and sweet talking him. Though they get great entertainment out of it, it is alarming just how ridiculous Volpone loves every moment of it, and it no doubt sharpens his ego. His pride and his greed become more and more excessive with every person he tricks. It actually raises the question of how aggressive and demanding Volpone would have been while trying to seduce Celia, had his ego not been enlarged. The scene where he is almost raping Celia proves how pathetic a man Volpone actually is, ironically though the play's namesake, he is one of the weakest more despicable characters in the play.

Volpone

When reading this play, it is hard not to question Ben Johnsons’s motives. What on earth was he thinking before creating this? Don’t get me wrong; the overall idea surrounding the play is utterly hilarious. I found Johnson to be extremely clever with each character resembling an animal. Each animal encompasses what the characters motives and position in the play. Volpone and Mosca have a somewhat sick relationship consisting of greed and disloyalty. This is apparent just from the mere fact that Mosca’s animal character is a fly. I didn’t find the ending to be shocking at all, it was very obvious that Mosca and Volpone’s secret ponzi scheme would have to meet it’s demise. Of course not without one of them thinking their master plan had worked. Towards the end Mosca had the keys in his possession and all the money. He essentially stole everything right from under Volpone. The play obviously can’t end this way. Therefore, Bonario to the rescue! Bonario is in turn given the inheritance, which doesn’t mean a whole lot to him and Volpone is sent away to a syphilis hospital while Mosca is put in the galleys.

Volpone - Well, this one is just filled with rainbows and sunshine!

I like Jonson. He appeals to my cynical tendencies. Volpone is one of those works where everybody just gets screwed over. Mosca's condemned to life as a galley slave, Volpone is sent to prison, Voltore is disbarred, Corbaccio's property is seized, Corvino is publically humiliated, and Celia...well, good luck, Hon. I like this because it's honest. Volpone is a friendly little reminder that reality does not entail a hero's happy ending, a villain's comeuppance, or a lesson learned. It is human nature to be selfish, to be greedy, to look after one's self. It's humanity's base, primitive origin. Only a nearly negligible percentage of individuals have sought to adopt pristine motives in life and they are almost always abused/taken advantage of by the less than pristine crowd. Jonson knows we know this; thus, he's not going to bullsh*t us with a happy ending. I appreciate honesty, even in the literature I read...especially in the literature I read.

As far as my opinion of the individual characters, I found myself favoring Volpone, not because he is of any higher moral standing than any of the other characters, but because of the way he played with the other characters. Not that I condone that type of behavior, but I believe that between immoral and cunning or immoral and thick, immoral and cunning is the lesser of the two evils. Besides, if you're going to abandon logic for the sake of money, then you deserve whatever comes your way. While I do commend his toying with greedy fools, I feel I must stress my disdain for Volpone. He is, no doubt, a weasel. It becomes unmistakably clear just how sniveling a coward he is in the scene between him and Celia. Had Bonario not burst out from behind the curtain to save her, I still seriously doubt Volpone would have had it in him to rape Celia. He spends so much time trying to convince her to sleep with him because he knows that he has a much higher chance of manipulating her mentally than he does of manipulating her physically.

And just a side note: that song was one of the creepiest passages I have ever read! I pictured the whole thing and it was so disturbing and pathetic and lecherous all at once. That's all I have to say about that.

Volpone

For this play I don't see how anyone could sympathize with any of the characters. At first I just thought that Mosca and Volpone were the only ones to blame since they were the ones doing all of the conning but looking back at it, everyone deserves a little bit of the blame. All of the possibly heirs are only in it for the money so they deserve everything they got, especially Corvino. It is disgusting how he would just put forth his wife against her wishes just for the money even though it would mean that Volpone lives. The only way he would have even gotten the money is if Volpone died. 

I do feel as though Volpone wasn't as good as Mosca was at conning people. Volpone seemed to be the one coming up with the initial cons, but Mosca made sure that they went according to plan. Volpone would be the one sitting in bed pretending to be sick while Mosca was the on running around telling all of the lies. Without Mosca, Volpone would have nothing. I think in the end, Mosca realizes this so cons Volpone into giving him the house.

The only person in this whole play that you can somewhat sympathize with is Bonario. He truly gets duped by Mosca into believing that his father is going to take away his inheritance. This could be something believable except for the fact that Mosca tells Bonario that he tells lies all the time. Bonario tries to be the savior and saves Celia and then in the end winds up being accused of being her lover and lying about the whole thing. In the end though, the truth does come out. This play shows just about everything that people will do for greed and money. 

Donne

I have to say Donne turned out to be one of the poets I liked better. Although he can be a bit simple and too "sing-song", his poems are a nice breather after some of the more complicated authos we have been reading. Donne often has what I call the "awwww" factor. Some of his works can be very romantic so that after you read a particular line it makes the reader go "awwww". I also foudn Donneto be more genuine than the other poets, especially Shakespeare who sometimes I am not sure if he is mocking what he is writing about or not. I also found his fascination with souls both endearing and entertaining. He can go in one of his poems, for example "The Ecstasy", from talking about soul mates and how him and the women he is writing about are the only ones for each other, to souls combining or what I guess you would call "soul sex" to finally in the second to last stanza to finally lets have sex physically. I guess I find this amusing because slowly to find out where Donnes mind has really been all along. Even though some of Donne's poems can get a little raunchy they are still fun to read because it reminds me that people in the 16th century were amused just as much as we are by these types of poems.

John Donne-zo

There comes a time during every week, usually in the wee saturday hours when i stumble up to bed after a night of drunken debauchery, where I pause, blink stupidly, and think to myself "Oh crap, I forgot to do my blog post again." And then i pass out. I was getting pretty good at forgetting to do them, a professional forgetter I daresay. Thats why tonight is one for the ages, folks. I actually remembered. I even wrote BLOG in big letters on my hand so I wouldnt forget. Thats dedication right there. Unfortunately, I drove all the way home only to realize I dont have my english book. *Insert explative here* While my actions make me want to harm small, furry woodland creatures, its nothing compared to poetry, which makes me want to harm small, furry woodland John Donnes. Donne was a master of metaphysical poetry, but infused his poetry with intellect and wit, weaving paradoxes, puns and analogies into often ironic pieces on human nature and on holy proceedings. His style remains remarkably consistent - while his subject matter may change from his earlier works to his later works, his keen literary sense and passion do not. He also seems to be very genuine in his works, speaking from the heart that is different from many of his contemporaries. I have different levels of dislike for poetry, kinda like the 9 circles of Hell in Dante's "Inferno," except for poets. I definately do not dislike Donne as much as, say, those weepy teenage girls Surrey and Wyatt. Those whiny bastards deserve to be in the lowest circles of literary Hell. Their poems are malicious crimes against humanity, and i better stop talking or else i might make an irrational decision and punch my computer. Although that might be a good thing since the computer at my house has the top-of-the-line Windows 98 currently installed. Whatever, Donne gets a pass in my book as being pretty good...for a poet.

Not Done with Donne

Okay, I apologize for the cheesy pun. But then again in "A Hymn to God the Father," Donne supposedly makes puns on his own name and that of wife, so I suppose a bit of it here and there can be healthy. In any case, I can't help myself after reading Donne's work; I think he is my favorite writer that we have read thus far. I really liked the nearness his earlier works had to the later ones, despite the fact that they seem shockingly contrasting at first read. The love poetry has the mirth of youth, but has the same breed of passion as the holy work. I feel like Donne is someone that I would have liked to meet to see the person behind this whirlpool of bizarre and lovely images and these bursts of frantic wit and humanity. I guess that's the one letdown of liking this cast of authors - everyone is dead.
Donne's work makes me look forward to reading his contemporaries. I already looked ahead to a couple of them and like what I see. I am also excited to see the authors in a larger scheme once I have finished this class, because I saw a continuity in the way the 16th Century played out in literature, and if Donne is an example of what is to come then I think I will have a lot of fun with it.

John Donne, Love Sonnets

I found the love sonnets to be more interesting than the holy sonnets, mostly because some of the sexual innuendos were slightly comical. He comes across as a hopeless Romantic longing for love. For example in the sonnet title " Song", he says, " O how feeble is man's power, that if good fortune fall, Cannot add another hour, Nor a lost hour recall!" ( pg. 1269). Donne speaks of his longing for more time with his love. In the beginning of this sonnet he also says that he does not want to go for "weariness of thee". In " Air and Angels", he compares the woman who is his love to be the angel, and himself to be the air. The air being slightly less pure than the angel.

Week 8 (I think?): Donne

What I found most interesting about Donne was the vast difference between his early poetry and later poetry. The early poems focus on attaining a pure, true love (lust included) while the later focus on his relationship with God. Although these two subjects seem to be very separate, I think the progression of them and the way Donne writes them connects these two periods very well. His style of writing doesn't change, just the topic he is writing about. In fact, I think that his unique way of looking at a subject is what marks Donne as such a great poet.

I think that it is very telling that Donne first writes about sex and romance, but in a spiritual way then his writing progresses to religion and God. His private writings are all self deprecating, almost as if these writings are a direct response to his younger writings. In this way they are connected.

I really liked Donne's poetry more so than any of the other poets we've read so far. He is funny, clever, and actually genuine in his writing it seems. I don't think he was writing just for the sake of writing a love sonnet or because that was what was "cool" at the time, or even writing about God because he wanted to preach. I got a sense that he was really writing from his heart. That gains him a lot of respect as a poet in my opinion. Go Donne!

Donne

The difference between Donne's meditations and his sonnets is very great. The sonnets mostly encapsulate love and sweet, aesthetic images while the meditations talk of death and sickness, and God as well. While Donne is a beautiful poet who created rich sonnets, I feel that it is a strong point for a poet to also be able to write other literary works and to touch on other subjects and themes. Donne does this and proves he is capable of an array of genres and thematics. These kinds of preaching works indicate that Donne was probably very elegant in his sermons, as his words are crafted with care. It is always refreshing to catch a glimpse of all the areas that a writer was talented in.

Donne's Poetry

John Donne has a very unique writing style in a sense that he went from writing poems about love, sex, and women to writing very serious religious poems and speeches. He speaks highly of the soul and loving someone not for their beauty but for their mind. This was something different than most of the poets we have read. Normally they are going on and on about the physical attributes of women but Donne, talks about them in a metaphorical sense which allowed him to put in subtle sexual undertones to his first set of poetry. 

Donne goes from these very distinct love poems to very serious religious poems in which he compares himself to god. I feel like most of these poems were written after his wife died and that he became very serious after this. Maybe he blames himself for his wife's death considering she died during childbirth and he is trying to repent his sins with god within his poems. 

I really like the analogies that he used in Meditation 17. He showed that life isn't all about one person, but that each person is part of a whole and when something happens to that one person everyone is affected. He compares this by saying things like, "no man is an island, every man is a piece of the continent." Its like saying there is no "I" in "Team" and you have to work together in an effort to get what you want. 

twelfth night

In this play there is the very interesting topic of gender and identity confusion. Both by the characters disguising there gender, like Viola and those who think they are falling in love with people that they think are someone else like Orisono and Olivia. I like how Shakespeare used this intersting plot twist for a comical reason. Like Orisino who falls in and out of love so fast he dosent even really know the true gender of the person he is infatuated with is, he also just seems to care about being in love not whom he is love with. Also Shakespeare could have easily made Viola get a job as a ladys maid of another profession that would not require her to cross dress. But thankfully Shakerspeare is able to create a comedic play out of this situations.

End of Twelfth Night

The end of Twelfth Night ends with not only the main characters all marrying and being happy and peaceful in the end, but it ends on such a note that Shakespeare himself is sending a message of thanks and gratitude to his audience, with Feste's song/speech. The last verse of it reads: "But that's all one, our play is done, / And we'll strive to please you every day" (5.1.403-404). It is almost as if Shakespeare himself is coming forth in the stage, pleading with the audience to acknowledge that he has made this play and ending for their pleasure. It appears almost as an advertisement tactic so that audiences of the time would come back to see his other plays - since he strives to please them every day. This ending always strikes me because it just proves that even back then writers and playwrights kept money and success in mind, knowing that their works would be performed or read by large audiences at some point. Also, with the end of everybody being happy, Shakespeare adds that aforementioned verse, and it kind of serves as a way of telling the audience that he shaped that ending for everyone to be happy, but this kind of happiness and peace does not come at the end of most things. It is almost like he is mocking perpetual happiness, and declaring that the only happiness you can find like that is in fiction.

On the Twelfth Night of Tomfoolery

Although all of the characters in Twelfth Night were rich, the one I was most intrigued by was Feste. I felt like I wanted to read more of Shakespeare (since I have had limited experience with his drama) because as Sarah noted in class, the man alone is a figure to watch. I also loved that although many of the others in the play were highly intellegent (Maria, Viola), Feste seemed to me to be the most witty and cunning. I loved the scene where he kept insisting that Olivia was the fool and that she was the one that ought to be taken away. His sense of humor was cynical but jovial and I loved the coupling. I also liked that he had an allegiance to nobody but himself and in that way could be the most honest character.
Because I liked Feste the most, I really wanted to write my second paper around criticism on his role, but interestingly enough there was very little written about him. I couldn't help but wonder why, but it made me want to write a paper about him myself. I guess to many people his character wasn't interesting beyond foolery and perhaps they read little depth into his role. I cannot say why for sure, but I personally thought he was very significant in driving the play forward (not to mention his dualistic creepy/hilarious role as Sir Topas) and deserved more attention.

Edward II

Shakespeare’s dislike towards Puritans becomes frighteningly apparent during the Malvolio tower seen near the end. Malvolio is locked in a dark chamber and Feste comes to see him. Feste masks himself as Sir Topas and tricks Malvolio. Malvolio is a Puritan and is being treated questionably throughout this last scene. The reason for this is because the Puritan’s were against the theater and everything it stood for. Mavolio’s character states his plans for revenge against the “whole pack of you” at the ending of the play. At the same time Feste is given the last word. It was a song deliberately favoring the theatre and the appeal to the audience, making sure they were pleased with the show. I found this to be a very interesting way to end a play especially this one. The fact that Feste is a clown reinstates this idea of the theatre and what it means to Shakespeare.

12th Night

This was actually the third time I have had to read 12^th Night, but I actually didn’t mind it. I find it to be better than having to read Romeo and Juliet year after year. The comedy aspect of it is decent. I love the way Shakespeare makes it seem so easy that all of the characters fall for his tricks. I love how immediately Olivia falls in love with Cesario, and no one has a clue until Sebastian walks in that Cesario is really Viola. Was Viola that convincing as a man?

            Sebastian has the best life throughout this whole play. He basically does nothing and receives everything in return. First, his ship is wrecked. His sister is forced into cross-dressing and has to play a servant, while he tends to just bump into Antonio who magically falls in love with him. Antonio not only risks his life to bring Sebastian to Orsino’s court but even hands out money to him. Must be nice for Sebastian considering he just met the guy. Then, he basically wins the lotto when Olivia immediately marries him after he meets her for the first time. I feel as though Shakespeare may have given men preferential treatment while writing this play. Viola is a woman so she has to dress as a man to be safe in a new place, while her brother just has to wash up on shore. The comedy is farfetched, but it definitely drew audiences. 

Week 6 Sonnet

The Anti-Sonnet

Tonight I really loathe writing sonnets
While all my friends are out I'm stuck here.
I can't think of what to write upon it.
But if only the words would just appear.

This sonnet is so anti-creative.
It is an abomination of art.
It makes anyone feel vegitative.
It should have remained an act of the heart.

This process is totally purposeless.
I can't seem to get it perfectly right.
I really don't care if it's hit or miss.
Why can't I go out on this Friday night?

Yet I had a lot of fun doing this.
It really became a work of sheer bliss.



*Note to readers: I never claimed to be a writer. - G.O *

Assignment 6: The Sonnet

So this is the sonnet for the assignment for week 6.

To Thee I Sing A Song Of Utmost Praise
Flower Who Blossoms So Purely In Red
Each Day You Rise With Mornings Strong Bright Rays
Your Thorns of Green Protect Your Sacred Bed

I Walk Along Garden Pathways of Green
The Nest In Which Your Crimson Flower Blooms
Your Smell Is Fragrant of Oceans Marine
It Reminds Me of seaside cottage rooms

But to your sweet beauty I must confess
Despite how the prince truly holds your heart
How it is I am put into distress
When in my company you don’t take part

Rose I Dote Upon Thee With Bated Breath
Here I Will Remain Until My Cold DEATH

The Best Poem in the World

I will begin with a smaller poem that shows my impeccable sense of rhyme and structure

Roses are red
Violets are blue
This line doesnt rhyme
And neither does this one.

Dont hate on me because I have a gift. But in all seriousness, poetry for me is about as much fun as a root canal, although it does have fewer dentists. Hmm...dentists...

As I sit there waiting in the chair
My heart does skip with every moment pas't
A voice calls out affirming my despair
"Dr. Rauch will see you now at last."

I trudge into a room so white and clean
A single tear runs slowly down my face
For I do know the horror yet unseen
My teeth the doctor wishes to efface.

His weapon is of cold and heartless steel
A grinding whir, a vicious tug and yank
A pain flows through me that is quite surreal
My mind doth crumble, leaving it most blank.

As I wake I slowly start to grasp
The doc forgot to give me laughing gas.

Week 6 - The Sonnet

As I read the instructions for this task

I mourn my fate for lyrics are my bane

There is one thing which I know I must ask

Sarah, have you gone completely insane?

I have no knowledge of pace or structure

I cannot write and, no, I cannot rhyme

Do I have drive and little luck? Sure

But what I am doing must be a crime

There is good news for all the readers though

I'm almost done with this disgusting chore

I can't wait till it ends and I can go

And be rid of this sonnet I abhor

This is the end I will tell you no lies

Mimicking famous poets I despise

See and Thee

In finger concerned conceivèd me loove
And smoothèd starched crust to pearl’d orchid thighs
‘So fail’d not to make beastès of those eyes
Hunting good prey’r ‘round whom men long revoolve
May dew bring nigh blush, cour’zing proove rejoove
Shy idle peek, ‘til lips speak smarting sighs
Though quies’ I ‘main, ‘nough to induce cries
And verbage in tides, retrain me to moove

Yet there thee to lips mine e’er ‘yond à ‘proach
Skins règard to fuse; though ne’er ‘fuse of the shore
Lick of the sands and don white veil once more
Swirl in the cerul’, ‘til the silk peaks we broach
For again and again plunge we to the core
Through par’llels rove we, void of ‘sire to poach

Week 6 - Cereal Sonnet

My inspiration for this sonnet is obvious. After a night of rollicking tom-foolery, all I want, all ANYBODY wants is to go home and get a huge bowl of delicious sugary cereal with 1% milk. But no, you can't do that because the whole damn house is asleep and cereal packaging at 4 in the morning can be heard down the block. My Ode to midnight munchies...My Cereal Sonnet:

I could have Cocoa Puffs or Pops or Kix

or those apple cinnamon cherrios!

I could have Froot Loops or Chocos or Trix

or those uber epic Oreo O's!

You've got the munchies, cereal's the cure

The perfect combo of sugar and crunch.

It will satisfy your craving for sure

When four in the morning's your cue to munch.

You stumble home, everyone has turned in.

You tip toe through the kitchen, bowl in hand.

You unroll the plastic and oh the din!

"Cease that infernal racket!" they demand

Sound waves, why must your rob me of such joys?!

Cereal packaging makes so much noise!

Lazy Hazy College Days

I hear the thunder and know it's time
To get out of bed and start my day
But I remember I can't leave without the sonnet rhyme
I roll over to ignore but I hear my roommate say

Bring a coat outside it's raining like crazy
How badly I wanted to sleep in
I thought to myself, I mustn't be lazy
I must attend class, or else it would be a sin

Geology can sometimes be a bore
We watch videos on volcanoes and rocks
We learn about the earth and its core
I try to keep my eyes off the clocks

It posses to be an impossible task
The boy sitting next to me is wearing his weekend mask

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night has always been my favorite of all Shakespeare's plays. I love the comedy and the romance intertwined to create entertaining confusion. Though a comedy in many ways, it is the subtle romance embedded in the play that won me over when I first read it. The idea that Viola is dressed up as a man, in love with the Count, whom believes her to be a man, is very comedic and entertaining, but at the same time the reader can actually feel sorry for her that she needs to hide behind this costume and not be able to admit her true feelings. My favorite scene is in Act 2, Scene 5 when she and Orsino are going back and forth talking about the "lady" that Cesario was in love with, though she describes Orsino's features. Viola is trying so hard to get the message across that it is Orsino whom she adores. She talks about a sister of hers that was in love with a man, a love as true as ever. "She pined in thought, / And with a green and yellow melancholy / She sat like patience on a monument, / Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?" (112-115) - this quote has always made me relate most to Viola's character, in how her situation is someone comical but at the same time, she has true and deep emotions that the Count is too blind to see.

Sonnet

I got inspired to write this sonnet based on some midnight procrastination between me and my roommates.

Mario Kart

It's way after midnight and we decided to play a game

On the screen pops up, PRESS START

In another good old game of Mario Kart.

I got a turtle and I go take aim,

It's time for DK to get all the fame.

I weave in and out of racer's like it's some sort of art

I make music with my driving like I'm some sort of Mozart.

Peach blows past me, that devilish dame.

No fear, I hit a question mark.

Next thing I know, I have a lightning in tow.

I press the Z-button and the screen goes dark.

My tricky ways have hit an all time low]

I'm on a mission to win the race.

Next thing I know, I'm in first place.

Week 6 - Specific blog assignment

For this week's blog, I would like you to do something specific. The instructions are simple: I'd like you to try your hand at writing a sonnet. It can be either Petrarchan (a la Mary Wroth) or Shakespearean. You may write on any topic.

Due Friday night of this week, as usual.

End of Edward II

One thing that struck me throughout the entire play was the lack of female characters. The only female we meet in the play is the Queen, whom Marlowe portrays as naive and dumb-minded. She truly believes that her getting Gaveston to return from exile will win back Edward's love for her; this is a completely ignorant thought, extremely nonsensical. With the background we were given on Marlowe and his supposed homosexual preference, this kind of portrayal of the ONLY woman in the play may cause the reader to wonder how little Marlowe valued women, as a writer and as a person. If his sexual preference was for men, it is possible that his all around preference was for men, and given the time period, women did not play a large role in society, and maybe that is simply all he's reflecting. This issue is highly debatable. In the end, the queen manipulates her son and continues to be cast as a negative character in the play. However, many of the characters are cast as pretty negative; though for me, I really could not stand the queen's character, and I wonder if that was Marlowe's intention - whether he crafted this character to be thus despised.

Edward 2-Omar Felder

I really wished this play would have ended with vengeance on the Kings behalf. He was so emotional and heart driven that it would have been a great deception piece to turn the tables later on in the play (or at the end of the play).

Gaveston and Co.

I wasn't entirely sure what to make of Gaveston's character in Edward II. On one hand he stood for the ways in which royalty and politicians are easily led away from their duty to run a country and in that way he seemed like an evil. But I also was not sure whether Gaveston was a scoundrel plotter or whether he was just the king's simpleton playtoy/ lover/ lapdog. I felt sorry for the Queen in that Gaveston dominated her husband's love and attention, but I could not make up my mind as to whether the King was abusive for this or not. After all, she herself became fond of Mortimer so I wondered if they had reached some sad state of equality.
Either way, I felt sadness when both Gaveston and the King were executed. Actually, I suppose I just found the play extremely saddening. The impression it gave me of rulership and power filled me with despair for the whole lot of characters, even those plotting to kill the King. I do not know what I would have done to remedy the situtation, but it just seemed to me that everyone was in the wrong place and in the wrong state of mind. The fact that Edward III became the bold king at the very end was not very assuring to me either. I felt like whether or not he ruled the country well, he would probably find some sort of end like that of his father.
Despite the tone of the play, I liked Marlowe's style very much and I would be delighted to be able to see Edward II in performance. I agree that the words were effective, but that to witness such action would be much better. I wonder if anywhere nearby will ever put it on.

Edward II

Throughout the entire play we have this general sense of pity for King Edward. He is not considered a sufficient King in any manner however, you just can't help to feel sorry for him. Perhaps it is because for most of the play everyone around him is plotting against him. Whether it be his wife who leaves for France, or Mortimer who uses his position in his favor. We tend to look at this King as this weak character who can't seem to show any authority but at the same time he is still King. He can easily relinquish any power given to his noblemen. Mortimer seems to always have this idea fresh in his mind. I found Edward III's character to be shockingly authoritative. When first introduced to this young character I immediately thought he would succumb to his mother's wishes. The moment he realized that his mother could have been apart of his father's murder, he sent her to the Tower. It was as if the moment he was put into office, he instantly gained maturity. In class we contrasted this to Queen Elizabeth and her introduction to the thrown. Overall, I enjoyed the play, it was comprehendable but at the same time needed a bit of extra attention to fully grasp what Marlowe was saying.