Shakespeare Closely Read

Cleopatra is distraught to hear of Antony's marriage to Octavia.  Sextus Pompey makes peace with the Triumverate.

Antony leaves Egypt and Cleopatra to meet Octavian and Lepidus to meet the threat of Pompey.  Agrippa arranges a marriage between Antony and Octavia, Octavian's sister.

Anthony is neglecting his duty while dalying with Cleopatra.  He receives news that his wife, Fulvia, has died.

I read and analyze T.S Eliot's Christmas poem, "The Journey of the Magi."  I include a reading of Lancelot Andrewe's Christmas Homily that Eliot stole, err relied heavily upon in this poem. The image of the Christmas card sent with Eliot's poem is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_of_the_Magi#/media/File:T_S_Eliot_1927_The_Journey_of_the_Magi_No_8_Ariel_Poems_Faber.jpg A recording of Eliot reading the poem is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCVnuEWXQcg

Anthony, in misfortune, was most nearly a virtuous man.

We read Plutarch and see how much Shakespeare stole.  Rather a lot, really.

His life was gentle and the elements So mixed in him that nature might stand up And say to all the world “This was a man.”

Great Caesar's Ghost!  And the Battle of Philippi begins.

Anthony and Octavius join forces against the conspirators.  We see Brutus and Cassius quarreling. 

Antony's famous funeral oration.

Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war

The conspirators come together at Brutus' house.  Caesar's wife begs him not to go to the Capitol.

Led by Cassius, the conspiracy against Caesar comes together, but Brutus has not joined yet. This episode we hear Caesar's famous "lean and hungry" short speech as follows: "Let me have men about me that are fat, Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep a-nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous." We also hear, "But for mine own part, it was Greek to me."

Beware the Ides of March! Movie version of the play is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrA5w1i3M0

Plutarch concludes.  Although Plutarch found much admirable in Coriolanus' character, his pride was a fatal flaw.

We conclude the reading of Plutarch's life of Coriolanus.  The women of Rome, led by his mother and wife, persuade Coriolanus to give up his siege of Rome. His Volscian enemy engineers his death.

Coriolanus successfully wages war on Rome on behalf of the Volscians and rebuffs Roman attempts to recall him to the city.

We continue reading Plutarch's account of the life of Coriolanus.  He is exiled from Rome and offers his assistance to the Volscians in waging war on Rome.

Marcius is, almost alone, victorious over the Volscians, and receives the new name of Coriolanus.  He is very virtuous in his behavior, but apparently begins to crave political advancement.

We continue our study of what ancient historians said about Coriolanus.

In this episode we look at the history behind Shakespeare's play by reading some Livy.

The Romans are greatly relieved that Coriolanus relented, but the Volscians, provoked by Aufidius, turn on Coriolanus and kill him.

Coriolanus rebuffs his old friend Meneius, but is finally moved by the entreaties of his family to give up his attack on Rome.

Coriolanus leads the Volscians to victory against Rome and threatens the city itself.  The people regret banishing Coriolanus, but Aufidius grows envious of Coriolanus.

Coriolanus is banished from Rome and immediately seeks the Volscians, Rome's worst enemies, and his old nemesis, Aufridius. 

Coriolanus' mother pleads with him to humble himself before the Plebians.  She thinks he can still become Consul.  After pledging to be calm, Coriolanus explodes on the first mention of "treason" and he is banished from Rome.  He predicts dire consequences for Rome.

Coriolanus appears to humble himself and ask the Plebians to consent to him becoming Consul.  But he is not sincere.  Some of the people see that and the Tribunes goad the people on to withdraw their consent. When confronted by the Tribunes, Coriolanus erupts in anger, insults the people and a riot ensues.  The Tribunes try to have Coriolanus arrested and executed.

Coriolanus returns to Rome and great honor.  The Senate wants to make him Consul, the highest office in Rome.  But the people must consent, and their Tribunes want to use this opportunity to wreck Coriolanus' political career.

Martius receives credit for capturing Corioles, and also receives the name of Coriolanus.

Martius' mother and wife wait for him in Rome, while the battle rages in and around Corioles

We begin Cariolanus, and meet Martius, a proud Roman patrician, who later becomes Cariolanus.  He confronts a band of rebellious plebians and expresses his contempt for them.  The civil strife is apparently interrupted by pending war with the Volscians, whose leader is a frenemy of Martius. He goes to war, but the new tribunes stay behind and begin a plot against Martius.

The Duke reveals his true identity and that he set up the test of Angelo.  Mariana enlists Isabel in her cause and the Duke agrees to pardon Angelo.  Everyone is sentenced to be married. What’s mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.

The Duke returns and Isabella cries out for Justice!

The Duke's plot to substitute Marianna for Isabella seems to work, but will Angelo fulfill his part of the bargain and pardon Claudio?

Claudio appears resigned to his death, but then urges Isabella to give in to Angelo to save himself. She refuses.  The Duke convinces Isabella to appear to give in but actually substitute Angelo's former finacee.

Isabella pleads for her brother's life, but Angelo will only pardon him if Isabella agrees to sleep with him.  Isabella has some good speeches on how the law can act like a tyrant, contrasting that with mercy.

Lucio pleads with Isabella, about to become a nun, that she plead with Angelo for her brother Claudio's life.

The Duke of Vienna appears to depart leaving Angelo with power to enforce law.  Claudio is arrested for getting his fiancee with child.

Happy ending with Claudio and Hero marrying as well as Benedick and Beatrice.

Hero's father, uncle, and Benedict challenge Claudio and the Prince for causing Hero's death.  Don John flees and his men confess the trick they played on Hero.

Claudio and his friends, falling for Don John's deception, accuse Hero of infidelity.  Hero faints, and supposing her to be dead her accusers depart.  The friar advises Hero's family and friends to let out that she is dead. Benedict and Beatrice declare their love for each other, and Beatrice has Benedict challenge Claudio to avenge Hero.

Don John's plot to slander Hero and break up her impending marriage appears successful, but the night Watch overhears a confession by Don John's henchman.

Benedict and Beatrice's friends contrive to bring them together by pretending to know that they secretly love each other.

Claudio believes that the Prince has betrayed him by wooing Hero for himself, but it is all straightened out; the marriage of Claudio and Hero is set.  The company then determines to have Benedick and Beatrice fall in love with each other - a seemingly impossible task. There is, however, a hint that the two were lovers in the past: "I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one. Marry, once before he won it of me with false dice."

We start the delightful Much Ado About Nothing. While the Kenneth Branagh version is highly recommended, a free production (by a Texas Shakespeare company) can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgTsb2GGtjA

Burnam Wood came to Dunsinane, but Macbeth still holds hope of prevailing since he cannot be killed by anyone of woman born.  Until he meets Macduff, from his mother's womb untimely ripped.  The end.  Of Macbeth.

The Macbeth's descend into madness.  Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, delivers her "Out damn spot" speech, and commits suicide.  Macbeth depends wholly on the witches' prophecies.  Learning of Lady Macbeth's death, he gives the "out brief candle" speech on the shortness and futility of life.  "It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." Macbeth is now the epitome of nihilism.

Some memorable lines from the Weird Sisters: "Eye of newt and toe of frog," "Something wicked this way comes." "for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth." "Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him."

Macbeth has Banquo murdered, but Banquo's son, Fleance, escapes.  Banquo's ghost appears! Hecate chides the Weird Sisters.

With Lady Macbeth urging him on, Macbeth kills King Duncan and they frame two servants.  When the king's body is discovered, Macbeth kills the two servants, supposedly in a rage at what they had done.  Duncan's sons flee, rightly suspecting Macbeth.  Macbeth turns his attention to Banquo.