Aaliyah

Taming of the Shrew MOR part 3 Let’s be honest, Bianca has absolutely no character.  She’s pretty, and that’s pretty much all she’s got going for her.  She’s eye candy.  She has some kind of a brain, as  we see her take lessons, but still, she seems way more preoccupied with the people teaching her than her studies.  We see her very focused on Lucentio, as opposed to her reading homework.   LUCENTIO (as CAMBIO) Now, mistress, profit you in what you read? BIANCA What, master, read you? First resolve me that. LUCENTIO (as CAMBIO) I read that I profess, The Art to Love. BIANCA And may you prove, sir, master of your art. LUCENTIO (as CAMBIO) While you, sweet dear, prove mistress of my heart! HORTENSIO (as LITIO) Quick  proceeders , marry! Now, tell me, I pray, You that durst swear that your mistress Bianca Loved none in the world so well as Lucentio. Bianca could also just be totally stoned without a care in the world, but ...

Taming of the Shrew MOR part 2 I guess Disney has really been stealing from other people for a long time.  Beauty and the Beast much?  I think it would definitely be a lot easier to watch the play then to read it, it would probably make keeping all the characters names’ straight a lot easier.   I think that Katherine is just scared, and lashes out in fear as a byproduct of that.  She’s found one way to keep her father from selling her off to some random man, and boy howdy is she sticking to it.  I think she resents Bianca because she represents all that Katherine is actively trying to avoid.  She doesn’t have a problem being sold off, and Katherine can’t wrap her head around this.  If it weren’t for Bianca being pretty and very willing to wed, there would be no pressure on Katherine to marry, and I think all of her resentment and fear have been channeled towards Bianca, because she is a daily reminder of everything Katherine has to lose.  She...

Taming of the Shrew MOR: Part 1 What do you think is Shakespeare’s point in writing this whole play?  Also, it seems awfully suspicious that this noble man was perfectly willing to not only house this drunkard, but also give him the opportunity to ruin all of his nice things.  Could they really not find a lady willing to play the part of the wife?  (I really don’t blame her, but still).  Great save by the page here though, when Sly said “'Tis much. —Servants, leave me and her alone. / Madam, undress you and come now to bed” (Introduction, Scene 2, Lines 99-100).  That would have been one really quick way to end their little joke.  Dude tries anything and finds out that his wife isn’t exactly a woman.  How awkward must that have been while they were watching the play, trying to keep that facade up in hope the drunk doesn’t notice.  Alternatively, they could have just let him freeze to death.  T...

Ajax, part 4, in response to Riess part 4 Is Tecmessa breaking the fourth wall here? TECMESSA 'Tis thine to surmise, mine to feel, too surely. I think that Odysseus is trying to break out of the stigma here, everyone thinks he is going to be a jerk to the dead.  I think that Odysseus has seen enough gods/goddesses that he’s  super  superstitious about these kinds of things.  Odysseus seems to like to play it safe, and I really don’t blame him.   So why was Ajax’s plan for his son to go to his parents’ house?  Teucer seems convinced that they will reject him.  Or is he talking about himself here?  It’s hard to tell. What will he keep back? What taunt not hurl forth  Against the bastard of a spear-won slave,  Him who through craven cowardice betrayed  Thee, beloved Ajax-or by guile, that so  I might inherit thy kingdom and thy house.  So will he speak, a passionate...

Ajax MOR part 3 in response to Riess part 3 I think that Ajax just annoyed Athena and she wanted to stay in the place of the hero.  If she can fix the problem and protect her people, then who cares if it was her that caused it in the first place?  Either way, Athena gets to look like the hero and be revered more.  I think that the army itself will be a bit of a loose cannon, and they might want to kill him (even though he’s already dead).  I think that the leaders of the army will see him in a more forgiving light, however. They already seem to be willing to work with Ajax, and really don’t want him to kill himself just yet at least.  They seem to be concerned about his wellbeing, not just the wellbeing of those around him.  Do you think Tecmessa will also kill herself as she promised to earlier?  Will Ajax give her crap in the underworld if she does?  If she doesn’t?   Ajax: And fa...

Ajax MOR part 2 in response to Riess I think that right now Tecmessa is just trying to get the best out of the situation.  She realizes that she has no protection for her or her son apart from Ajax and knows that very bad things could happened to them both. Tecmessa: Doom me not to the cruel taunts of those Who hate thee, left a bond-slave in strange hands. For shouldst thou perish and forsake me in death, That very day assuredly I to Shall be seized by the Argives, with thy son To endure henceforth the portion of a slave. Then one of my new masters with barbed words Shall wound me scoffing: "See the concubine Of Ajax, who was mightiest of the host, What servile tasks are hers who lived so daintily!" Thus will men speak, embittering my hard lot, But words of shame for thee and for thy race. Nay, piety forbid thee to forsake Thy father in his drear old age-thy mother With her sad weight of years, who many a time Prays to the gods that thou come home alive. ...

Ajax, in response to Riess, part 1 I certainly agree that it has started out very eventfully.  I think that Tecmessa is just terrified of Ajax, and it makes sense.  She didn’t exactly get to choose whether or not she wanted to marry him, she’s a prisoner.  I think she has every reason to avoid telling Ajax, and I don’t think he has a good reason to be mad at her.  I think that Athena was just trying to protect Odysseus and his army.  I wonder how far into the future Athena can see.  Does she know for a fact that Ajax won’t hurt Odysseus?  And why does Ajax think that Athena would support him in this endeavor?  He does know that Odysseus is like her favorite person ever, so why doesn’t the sudden switch trigger some alarm bells?  I think that Athena sort of sees Odysseus as her pet, a favorite servant if you will.  Like a gladiator and his patron.  She really likes his wit, ...