Not a Fan

The brother sister relationship in this play is so strange, neither sibling is willing to sacrifice for the other, understandably, and the shifting of opinions and actions is a little bit unbelievable. Claudio in particular seems to shift his feelings and opinions often. Also I find the the general sexual nature of this play a little boring, it's the entire force behind the plot. I forget Shakespeare was a crude guy when reading Hamlet or MacBeth but this play proves it. I want to talk about Isabella's character a bit in this blog post. Against the sexual overtone of the entire play she is a stark contrast clinging to her virginity and her virtue. The play tries to cast her as rigid and prude because she will not give up her virginity to save her brother, which is a very strange and uncomfortable position to be put in. I find that in most of Shakespeare's tragedies the main female characters are either cast as villains or victims. His female characters in his comedies seem to have less rigid boundaries, however Isabella is still written as a very one dimensional character with very limited choice in her own life.

Angelo is obviously the most despicable character in the play, but I wish Shakespeare had given him more reason to be how he is. I know it is a play so we cannot have pages of character development but I think he would be a better character if we were given more definite motives for his actions. Why does he want to have sex with Isabella in particular? This might have a lot to do with the trope of men wanting to take virgin girls virginity because they are threatened by their control over their own bodies. I think Angelo is probably feeling threatened by Isabella’s conviction in what she believes in.

There is a lot of debate on if Isabella’s decision not to save her brother is justified. I believe it is totally justified, she does not owe anyone anything, especially not something so personal and sacred to her own identity. Also it is not as if she would sacrifice for her brother, she actually states that she would give her life to save him if possible, just not her virginity. Which is understandable. It would be a violation of her own body while giving her life would be her choice. Also Claudio seemed pretty comfortable with dying for a while, what happened to that? The solution the characters come up with seems like a good idea. However I do feel bad for Mariana who has to marry Angelo. Ugh I am not a fan of Shakespeare's comedies.  

Book One Utopia

So I really enjoyed Book One of Utopia, honestly I think I'm just happy not to be reading Middle English. It is amazing how contemporary these issues discussed in book One sill are. I agree with much of what Hythloday and Raphael say to the cardinal. The way the veterans are treated in is the same way veterans today are treated. Its really telling. So far book one of Utopia is a little bit marxist, and I’m really into that. Everything I’m reading in class right now and talking about with my peers is how alienating labor under capitalism is and how depressed and empty we feel having to find a role in society. This book also seems to play upon those themes. I don’t agree with Raphael’s system of punishment either. Why not just create a world in which people don’t have to steal? I’m really sick of hearing that that's “idealistic” and “goes against human nature” because we are a product of our environments. “Human Nature” has nothing to do with it. I’m curious about what everyone else’s idea of Utopia is? One of my favorite books in the world is called Woman on the Edge of Time and it's about a Utopia in which there is no private property, humans value the environment, it's genderless (there is no gender binary), and most people are polyamorous.

Also in this book the family unit has been abolished and everyone has three moms. That is my idea of Utopia. It is a society based on love and respect for humans, animals, and the environment. That probably sounds extremist and scary to many of you but that's my actual idea of Utopia. I want to know what yours are so put them in the comments!

Does Thomas More rub anyone else the wrong way? I don’t know what it is about him. Maybe he is an author who will slowly grow on me. I’m excited to start book two and actually really get into what Utopia is all about.

Analysis of The Wife of Bath

I knew I would be fascinated with the wife of bath before I even read the reading. I am very interested in how men depict female characters in their work and the way Chaucer characterizes the wife of bath is strange for a man of his time. She is sexually independent and finds confidence in her sexual power over men. I feel like this would be very threatening to most men of the time. She disputes the men's interpretation of the bible and the belief that women should remain "virgins" by stating that some old testament figures had many wives. I wonder if her feelings on sexual power and control are based on the experience of being married at 12 (when she married her first husband). Her first husband was probably far older than she was and her father most likely forced her into the union. Perhaps her views on sexual power in her adulthood are a result of the trauma she experienced as a child. Did Chaucer actually think about women that much?

While Chaucer gives her the depth and humanity of having opinions that differ from the men’s and her own sexual freedom he also demonizes her for it. She is characterized as an abusive wife who manipulates her husbands into giving her money by holding out on them sexually. In this time period I doubt that women were allowed to have much of their own money so I personally see her as intelligent for doing this. She is written as manipulative and cunning. This is a view of women many men adopt when they are threatened by them. When women are not submissive they are portrayed as “cruel manipulators of men”.

The Wife of Bath seems to be a foil to the Prioress who is characterized as compassionate and dainty.I am interested in how these characters will interact and develop as the story continues. My general thoughts on the Canterbury Tales thus far are: I’m really bad at reading middle english. I hope this gets easier as the readings continue, but I have found I am very reliant on the translations. Does anyone have any tips they could comment? How are you all enjoying the reading so far? Do you have a favorite character yet? Mine is definitely the Wife of Bath. I did not think I would see such a sexually powerful women character! I remember when we read Canterbury Tales in highschool we skipped the part that described her (I went to a very small catholic high school and any mention of virginity not being necessary was not allowed, even in english class.)