King Lear's Fool

In Act 1, scene 5 of King Lear, Shakespeare's Regan states that "Jesters do oft prove prophets."

In the year two thousand and two, Marshall Mathers boldly proclaimed, "I joke when I say I'm the best in the booth, but a lot of truth is said in jest." So there must be something to this!

Among the most entertaining, and also most puzzling, of the characters in the play is King Lear's Fool.  Whenever present in this drama, the Fool - ironically and paradoxically - says some pretty wise things.  Based on his commentary and dialogue in this Act I, scene 5, analyze the apparent insight and intelligence of the Fool.

Please write your answer in the form of a proper, 8 sentence paragraph.  If at all possible, please post by 8pm.  It is required that you post by midnight.  

The Porter

The Porter scene you have read is widely discussed among literary critics.  Some say it is meant for comic relief, some say a stage-filler giving the actors playing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth time to wash and change clothes, some say a startling dramatic contrast to the scene of horror that we have just lived through. Coleridge and some other critics have felt that this babbling, ribald speech cannot be by Shakespeare. One writer calls it "strangely out of place amidst the horrors which surround it." The late Professor J. W. Hales and others fairly demonstrated both its fitness and its Shakespearean quality. The powerful incident of the knocking at the gate is inseparably bound up with it; and its bitter irony is intense. 

Closely read the Porter scene (pg 61-62) again, and write a well thought out, though informal paragraph about your impressions.  At least in preparation, you should notice the imagery, detail, wordplay, motifs, characterization, etc.  Questions you may want to address are as follows:  Is it an example of Shakespeare clumsily filling time?  A convention of the actors' need to change clothes?  Does it achieve something specific and/or meaningful?  Does the differing tone affect the play as a whole? 

You MUST post tonight (by 11:59pm), but I would prefer earlier :)  

Come to class tomorrow prepared to discuss both your thoughts and the thoughts of one other response you found interesting.  

Lady Macbeth

Based on what you have read, what are your impressions of Lady Macbeth?  

What is her relationship to Macbeth (aside from being his wife)?  What can you tell about her characterization?  Are there any connections you can make between her and conditions or people in our world?  

(Due Monday, Dec. 1)

Shakespeare Introduction

Introduction to Shakespeare & Macbeth

Hi Class - 

This is where you will come periodically, at least once per act to discuss what we are reading.  The expectation is that you post before the day it is "due", and come to class having read everyone else's post and ready to discuss.  

Posts should be 7-9 sentences and created using the "comments" function.  Replying to the posts of others is optional.