"Twelfth Night" was a fun read and much easier to comprehend than "Fairy Queen." I found all of the "gender-bending" very interesting and relevant to what we see today. Transexuality, cross-dressing, homosexuality, etc. apparently have been around for a long time. Shakespeare though, handles all these topics in a somewhat light-hearted, comedic way. It lacks the graphic realism that we see today in stories with these themes, which is a good thing, (the lack thereof, that is). I would love to see this play enacted sometime, (or view the movie).
"Twelfth Night" reminds me of a movie from the 1980's, "Tootsie" with Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange. Dustin Hoffman's character is an unemployed actor who dresses up as woman to land a job on a soap opera. He falls in love with Jessica Lange's character, (also an actress on the show), and she finds herself falling in love with a "woman", causing her a great deal of distress. Olivia in Twelfth Night does not seem to be the least bit distressed that she was in love with a woman. I guess this is because she always thought Cesario was a man and then she moved right on over to Sebastian.
Anyway, "Tootsie" is also a very funny comedy, full of engaging characters and sub-plots; including some serious moments. I think William Shakespeare would have enjoyed this film; heck, he probably would have written it. Rent it sometime, it will make you laugh.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Topic and Bibliography
I have decided to do my research on St. Thomas More. As I said earlier while we were reading "Utopia", I have always been interested in Thomas More and his role in the history of the Catholic Church.
1. Stevens, Clifford. The One Year Book of Saints. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1989.
This is one of the first biographies that I read about Thomas More and is a very brief summing up of his life.
His feast day, (the day he died), is June 22nd. The Catholic Church canonized him in 1935, 400 years after his death.
He was born in 1477 and as a young boy, was recognized as having a great intellect and being of fine character.
2. Bausch, William. The Pilgrim Church. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1989.
In 1534, Henry VIII transferred all rights from the pope to himself and made Parliament pass the "Act of Supremacy", which declared him the supreme head of the Church in England. Thomas More refused to submit to this act and so was beheaded.
3. "Thomas More. "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_More
St. Thomas More shares his feast day, (June 22nd), with St. John Fisher, the Catholic Bishop who was beheaded the same day. Fisher was the only bishop to remain loyal to the Pope at that time. "More coined the word 'utopia' a name he gave to an ideal, imaginary island nation whose political system he described in a book published in 1516."
More was a good father, devoted to his children and felt that his three daughters should receive an education equal to his son; "declaring women were just as intelligent as men." This was not the typical way of thinking for the day.
4. Utopia (book). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(book)
This website has everything I need to know about "Utopia"; plot, discourse, and the meaning. As well as how it was received at the time it was written and how we can interpret the work today.
5. Ince, Elizabeth M. St. Thomas More of London. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2003.
The year was 1490, and Thomas More left his school, St. Anthony's at the age of 12 to study under the Archbishop of Canterbury. His father, Sir John More was a highly respected lawyer at the time. Thomas had a younger brother and 2 younger sisters, his mother died when he was younger. A woman named, Mother Maude took care of the More children and they dearly loved her.
1. Stevens, Clifford. The One Year Book of Saints. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 1989.
This is one of the first biographies that I read about Thomas More and is a very brief summing up of his life.
His feast day, (the day he died), is June 22nd. The Catholic Church canonized him in 1935, 400 years after his death.
He was born in 1477 and as a young boy, was recognized as having a great intellect and being of fine character.
2. Bausch, William. The Pilgrim Church. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1989.
In 1534, Henry VIII transferred all rights from the pope to himself and made Parliament pass the "Act of Supremacy", which declared him the supreme head of the Church in England. Thomas More refused to submit to this act and so was beheaded.
3. "Thomas More. "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_More
St. Thomas More shares his feast day, (June 22nd), with St. John Fisher, the Catholic Bishop who was beheaded the same day. Fisher was the only bishop to remain loyal to the Pope at that time. "More coined the word 'utopia' a name he gave to an ideal, imaginary island nation whose political system he described in a book published in 1516."
More was a good father, devoted to his children and felt that his three daughters should receive an education equal to his son; "declaring women were just as intelligent as men." This was not the typical way of thinking for the day.
4. Utopia (book). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(book)
This website has everything I need to know about "Utopia"; plot, discourse, and the meaning. As well as how it was received at the time it was written and how we can interpret the work today.
5. Ince, Elizabeth M. St. Thomas More of London. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2003.
The year was 1490, and Thomas More left his school, St. Anthony's at the age of 12 to study under the Archbishop of Canterbury. His father, Sir John More was a highly respected lawyer at the time. Thomas had a younger brother and 2 younger sisters, his mother died when he was younger. A woman named, Mother Maude took care of the More children and they dearly loved her.
Friday, March 7, 2008
More on the Fairy Queen
On my last blog, I cited a Catholic website that interpreted scripture to prove that the Catholic Church is not the "Whore". I'm not going to discuss it anymore, except to say: ".. .Revelation 18:20 and 18:24 prove that the Whore had to be a creature of the first century, which, in the Fundamentalist view, the Catholic Church was not. Thus, on their own view, their identification of the Catholic Church with the Whore is completely impossible! Only ancient, pagan Rome or apostate Jerusalem could possibly be the Whore." "http://www.catholic.com/library/Whore_of_Babylon.asp
I realize the writers are referring to the Fundamentalist Christian interpretation and not the Anglican Church of Renaissance England. However, it is still worthy of note. If you, the reader, are interested in reading the entire text of the article, access the aforementioned website.
I'm trying to think of some positive things to say about this piece of literature and I am having a
a difficult time because every Fairy Tale I ever loved somehow seems tainted. Thank goodness for C.S. Lewis.
Anyway, Edmund Spenser was an extremely talented writer and tells a heck of a fascinating story. Enough about FQ.
I realize the writers are referring to the Fundamentalist Christian interpretation and not the Anglican Church of Renaissance England. However, it is still worthy of note. If you, the reader, are interested in reading the entire text of the article, access the aforementioned website.
I'm trying to think of some positive things to say about this piece of literature and I am having a
a difficult time because every Fairy Tale I ever loved somehow seems tainted. Thank goodness for C.S. Lewis.
Anyway, Edmund Spenser was an extremely talented writer and tells a heck of a fascinating story. Enough about FQ.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Fairy Queen
When I began reading this story I enjoyed it, in fact I was reading it to my children. I soon realized that the Fairy Queen was not your typical "fairy tale". This was not a story to be read to children, and now that I know the purpose of this allegory, I would prefer not to read it. But alas, I have to.
One just doesn't realize how much the English hated, (hates?) the Catholic Church until you take an English Literature class, (it's really bad). Key phrase; "Edmund Spenser was an avid Nationalist", (Which really means "Catholic Hater").
Maybe this is too simplistic and I'm sure I have said it before; but how can the Catholic Church be the villain in any sense other than She would not allow Henry VIII to divorce? Essentially, the entire core of the Church of England is about a nutty, (an understatement), monarch who threw a major "hissy" fit because he could not get what he wanted, and the Catholic Church has been vilified ever since, (in England at least), for this reason.
Queen Mary was for Mommy and Queen Elizabeth was for Daddy, and Daddy/Elizabeth won. In my opinion, this is not something to be proud of, this history of religion in England. The Reformation according to Martin Luther is another story altogether.
Two things are particularly disturbing to me: Spenser's symbolic references to everything in the story that is evil, being the Catholic Church, i.e., Error's vomiting the "papers" containing the doctrines and dogma of the Church. The second being his belief that the "Whore of Babylon" is also the Catholic Church.
The Whore of Babylon is NOT the Catholic Church. Suffice it to say , the Catholic Church is the one true Church, the Bride of Christ. "So why is the Bride maligned as the Whore? Jesus himself answered the question: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household" (Matt. 10:25). "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world . . . the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (John 15:18–20). http://www.catholic.com/library/whore_of_babylon.asp
"There is irrefutable evidence in Revelation 17–18 (the chapters Fundamentalists love to quote against the Catholic Church) that proves that it is impossible for the Catholic Church to be the Whore." http://www.catholic.com/library/whore_of_babylon.asp
More about this in my next blog.
One just doesn't realize how much the English hated, (hates?) the Catholic Church until you take an English Literature class, (it's really bad). Key phrase; "Edmund Spenser was an avid Nationalist", (Which really means "Catholic Hater").
Maybe this is too simplistic and I'm sure I have said it before; but how can the Catholic Church be the villain in any sense other than She would not allow Henry VIII to divorce? Essentially, the entire core of the Church of England is about a nutty, (an understatement), monarch who threw a major "hissy" fit because he could not get what he wanted, and the Catholic Church has been vilified ever since, (in England at least), for this reason.
Queen Mary was for Mommy and Queen Elizabeth was for Daddy, and Daddy/Elizabeth won. In my opinion, this is not something to be proud of, this history of religion in England. The Reformation according to Martin Luther is another story altogether.
Two things are particularly disturbing to me: Spenser's symbolic references to everything in the story that is evil, being the Catholic Church, i.e., Error's vomiting the "papers" containing the doctrines and dogma of the Church. The second being his belief that the "Whore of Babylon" is also the Catholic Church.
The Whore of Babylon is NOT the Catholic Church. Suffice it to say , the Catholic Church is the one true Church, the Bride of Christ. "So why is the Bride maligned as the Whore? Jesus himself answered the question: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household" (Matt. 10:25). "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world . . . the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (John 15:18–20). http://www.catholic.com/library/whore_of_babylon.asp
"There is irrefutable evidence in Revelation 17–18 (the chapters Fundamentalists love to quote against the Catholic Church) that proves that it is impossible for the Catholic Church to be the Whore." http://www.catholic.com/library/whore_of_babylon.asp
More about this in my next blog.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
On Henry and Anne...
In reading Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn, my first impression was that he is obsessed with her. It is difficult to know how she really felt about him because we cannot read the letters that she had written; what was he responding to, what was she saying to him? In every letter, he refers to her as his mistress, declares his undying love, and tells her he cannot wait to be with her.
An interesting note; a person learned in English history recently told me that the depictions of Anne Boleyn as a beautiful and sexy woman are completely false. Apparently, she was exceedingly ugly.
I do detect some insecurity and anxiety in his words. For example, "...for by absence we are kept a distance from one another, and yet it retains its fervour, at least on my side; I hope the like on yours..." and then, "...but for the firm hope I have of your unchangeable affection for me." Henry was obviously unsure. He then sends her a picture of himself "set in bracelets".
I think that there is a good chance that she really did not want him as much as her wanted her, at least at first. He was not one to be trusted as he was married, and rumor has it that her sister had just recently given birth to his son, Henry. It is terribly ironic that the first woman to give him a son, (Mary Boleyn), was not his wife and all those women had to have their heads chopped and be replaced by the next woman so that he could sire an heir.
In his second letter Henry writes, "I am sure that I have since never done anything to offend you, and it seems a very poor return for the great love which I bear you to keep me at a distance." I think she later was keeping him at a distance because she was waiting for him to obtain an annulment. That process took seven years and completely changed the world of Christianity; it caused the "irrevocable breach" of England from the Catholic Church.
The second thing that struck me was that after reading the love letters, it is hard to imagine that he would have her executed. The story is a very sad one and I found the following very interesting:
"This account of Anne Boleyn's speech at her execution. The execution took place on 19 May 1536 at 8 o'clock in the morning. It was the first public execution of an English queen.
I find the whole thing very creepy.
An interesting note; a person learned in English history recently told me that the depictions of Anne Boleyn as a beautiful and sexy woman are completely false. Apparently, she was exceedingly ugly.
I do detect some insecurity and anxiety in his words. For example, "...for by absence we are kept a distance from one another, and yet it retains its fervour, at least on my side; I hope the like on yours..." and then, "...but for the firm hope I have of your unchangeable affection for me." Henry was obviously unsure. He then sends her a picture of himself "set in bracelets".
I think that there is a good chance that she really did not want him as much as her wanted her, at least at first. He was not one to be trusted as he was married, and rumor has it that her sister had just recently given birth to his son, Henry. It is terribly ironic that the first woman to give him a son, (Mary Boleyn), was not his wife and all those women had to have their heads chopped and be replaced by the next woman so that he could sire an heir.
In his second letter Henry writes, "I am sure that I have since never done anything to offend you, and it seems a very poor return for the great love which I bear you to keep me at a distance." I think she later was keeping him at a distance because she was waiting for him to obtain an annulment. That process took seven years and completely changed the world of Christianity; it caused the "irrevocable breach" of England from the Catholic Church.
The second thing that struck me was that after reading the love letters, it is hard to imagine that he would have her executed. The story is a very sad one and I found the following very interesting:
"This account of Anne Boleyn's speech at her execution. The execution took place on 19 May 1536 at 8 o'clock in the morning. It was the first public execution of an English queen.
'Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul.'
After being blindfolded and kneeling at the block, she repeated several times:
'To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.' "1
I find the whole thing very creepy.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A Sonnet
I don't think I have written a sonnet since high school and I really didn't think I could, but once I started writing, the words were flowing. So here goes:
How a Child Doth Break His Mother’s Heart
Oh how a child doth break his mother’s heart,
I pray if he could only be aware,
That the thoughtless words that flow from thee art,
The cruelest kind that bring pain to bear.
My Mother, says he, of you we have no need,
From love you do not act nor give of self,
But of your judgment you only pay heed;
As over concerned you are with our health.
Lo, we were very well before you came
No better or worse because you are here
My son, your words they sting, Have you no shame?
I bless your children and hold them so dear.
How can I express this heartbreaking pain?
To do so I can predict of no gain.
How a Child Doth Break His Mother’s Heart
Oh how a child doth break his mother’s heart,
I pray if he could only be aware,
That the thoughtless words that flow from thee art,
The cruelest kind that bring pain to bear.
My Mother, says he, of you we have no need,
From love you do not act nor give of self,
But of your judgment you only pay heed;
As over concerned you are with our health.
Lo, we were very well before you came
No better or worse because you are here
My son, your words they sting, Have you no shame?
I bless your children and hold them so dear.
How can I express this heartbreaking pain?
To do so I can predict of no gain.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Courtier continued...
I really don't have anything else to say about The Book of the Courtier. I had written several paragraphs and somehow lost them, so I think I will move onto Henry's letters to Anne Boleyn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
