Dracula!!

Ok, I think we were supposed to blog whilst reading, so I shall......

  My first thoughts when I started the book were, to be honest, ones of apprehension...
  Seeing as I watched Nosferatu, and therefore pretty much know the story from beginning to end, I thought it might be a little boring to read the full story as I already knew what would happen. However, I was immediately pleasantly surprised by the style of writing, in the form of letters/newspapers/diary entries. I've never read anything written like that before and I thought it made the book really interesting- I really felt drawn into the plot by all the different opinions and findings of each different narrator.
         Half way through, I realised that the word vampires hadn't actually been mentioned until page 167! I thought that was really interesting for some reason- I wonder why Stoker decided not to include it until later? Maybe he wanted the word to be a sort of taboo in the reader's mind....
    I really enjoyed this example of scary Gothic description of setting (page 233):
'Never did tombs look so ghastly white; never did cypress, yew or juniper so seem the embodiment of funereal doom; never did tree or grass wave or rustle so ominously; never did bough creak so mysteriously; and never did the far-away howling of dogs send such a woeful presage through the night.'
     Anyway, I'm now about four fifths of the way through and looking forward to the rest of it :)

Marly-babes

It seems to be a new craze that everyone writes a brief biography on Marlowe? So I'll join in :)

Christopher Marlowe was an English dramatist and poet born in 1564 (no one know exactly when but it is guessed to be February as he was baptised on the 26^th February). He was a famous Elizabethan Tragedian, like Shakespeare. His father was a shoemaker and his mother a clergyman’s daughter. He was educated at King's School in his native Canterbury and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he achieved both a B.A. in 1584 and M.A. in 1587. During studying for his M.A, Marlowe was employed by the government to carry out a job that required someone ‘orderly and discreet’. This work as a confidential agent for the government continued for the rest of his life- not a long time, because he died on 30^th May 1593.           Meanwhile Marlowe became known as an outstanding dramatist in London, in association with the Admiral's Company of players. Many details of his life were a source of scandal to some of his contemporaries, and there is still much mystery of his life.

Marlowe’s first play was called Tamburlaine, which attracted attention in 1588, as many thought of the play as "atheist Tamburlaine". Marlowe is said to have consulted a number of historical accounts of the East for his material, and even contemporary geographical works for some of his references to distant places. In this first play Marlowe developed his "mighty line," as the playwright Ben Jonson called it, and made it a ‘fit instrument for the intense and passionate characters created by him’.

In May 1593, Thomas Kyd, a fellow playwright, was found in possession of a document that was considered atheistic. He declared the document to be Marlowe's, left with Kyd when he was in the service of a noble lord for whose players Marlowe was writing. Testimony as to blasphemous conversations on Marlowe's part was also produced. Before the Privy Council took definite action about the charges, Marlowe was killed. Records discovered by Hotson show that he was stabbed in a tavern in Deptford by Friser, one of three companions who also were, or had been, in the service of the government.

Doctor Faustus was written sometime between 1588 and 1592. The earliest known edition was not published until 1604, and it contains some material which bears evidence of composition after Marlowe's death. Some scholars trace Dekker's hand in this version. Apparently the serious parts of the play have been cut, with an enlargement of the spectacular and comic scenes of conjuring and dancing, the sort of thing ‘always loved’ by the London populace. The play is said to represent Marlowe at his best, in spite of the imperfections of the surviving texts.

NOSFERATU

So I finally watched it!

The first thing that became apparent to me was the beginning was quite similar to the start of Frankenstein- the main character is introduced as young, seemingly successful, happy, and in love. This could be a common theme in Gothic texts because it magnifies the impact when everything goes wrong and horrible. The love between Harker and Nina is also very innocent to begin with, but becomes corrupted by their experiences, and leads to events such as Nina breaking her promise and reading The Book of Vampires. This is a good example of corruption of innocence.

Also, Gothic texts seem to make a point of the action of one character leaving their lover- it is suggested that wherever they are going, bad things will happen to them and they won't be the same upon return.

There is a large amount of dramatic irony in the film, for example everyone apart from Harker knows to be afraid of Nosferatu, we know that Nosferatu is onboard the ship, and we know that the 'plague' is actually Nosferatu biting people.

The Gothic setting was iconic; spooky castle with no one in it apart from Nosferatu- he says the 'servants have gone to bed' but I don't think servants are ever actually seen? Also the setting of the castle, far from any other civilisation and across dangerous terrain, makes the atmosphere tense even as Harker tries to leave- he is still in the 'Phantom lands' even when he is far away from the castle.

The characters were all pretty typical of a Gothic story- innocent woman, innocent but too ambitious man, scary evil villain and a few more weird people to pad out the cast.

Overall I thought the film was a good example of a Gothic story, but not necessarily a good production- the music was no where near as good at creating a tense atmosphere as in other films we've watched have done.
A theme in Nosferatu in particular seems to be the ignorance of Harker as everyone who hears of his plan tries to dissuade him.

Setting in Gothic Texts

Examples of Gothic setting in The Castle of Otranto:

 Gothic Architecture
-castle
-several intricate cloisters
-subterraneous cavern
-rusty hinges
-labyrinth of darkness -tense atmosphere as everything is dark
-a trapdoor- word used here adds to tension as it reminds us she is probably 'trapped' for good
-steps descending into a vault totally dark - scary

Opinions of characters
-'so dismal a place' - characters themseleves notice the eerie feeling of the place- they are affected by the setting, so the reader is too

Weather
-blasts of wind that shook the doors - even the weather is against her- suggestions of the supernatural
-sudden gust of wind... extinguished her lamp - same as above

Time of day
-an imperfect ray of clouded moonshine - night time- connotations include death, danger, evil etc.
-'moonshine streaming through a cranny of the ruin above' - same as above

Examples of Gothic setting in Vathek:

Gothic Architecture
-'vaulted ceiling, was so spacious and lofty' - reminds the reader of a church, and the goings-on inside it, e.g 'shrieking with agony, ran furiously about' therefore show that the plot involves corruption of religion
-'the grandeur of surrounding objects'
-'rows of columns and arcades'
-'immense hall'
 

Homework from lesson 16/9- thinking up ideas for 3 new scenes...

1) A new scene for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern- set in 'the lobby up the stairs' where they have been sent to find Polonius' body. They find Polonius and have a discussion about what will happen to Hamlet now that he's killed somebody. They are suspicious that Claudius will send Hamlet and themselves to England to face their death, but decide they will still go because they are so devoted to their friend.
     Reasons for this scene would be to show the true loyalty of the friends, because there is evidence for and against their loyalty throughout the play, and I feel it is necessary to show proof the they really do love Hamlet. Evidence for loyalty includes the queen's opinion, 'two men there are not living to whom he more adheres', and the genuine confusion and hurt that they face when Hamlet questions their loyalty, 'my lord, you once did love me', 'take you me for a sponge, my lord?'. The scene would show their devotion, love and sacrifice, and the audience would sypathise with the characters, as they have become tragic victims.

2) A new scene for Polonius- A scene between Polonius and Laertes, before Laertes departs in the first act. Polonius warns Laertes about how he encountered the Ghost, which told him Claudius killed Hamlet's father. He tells Laertes not to return, and that he will send Ophelia away too if he does not think Hamlet will marry her. This explains a) Polonius' obsession with Hamlet's love for Ophelia (as he doesn't want to send her away and believes she will be safe if she marries Hamlet), 'I have a daughter- have while she is mine', 'he, repelled.... fell into sadness... into the madness'. b) The haste Polonius has for Laertes' departure, as he fears fot the safety of his children in a nation lead by a murderer 'Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard for shame!'. c) Polonius' devotion to Denmark, as he risks his safety to stay and try to amend the disorder, for example when he hides in the closet scene, he maybe hopes to overhear something to make sure that Hamlet was not involved in his father's death. Also, Polonius puts up with all of Hamlet's insults, 'old men... have a plentiful lack of wit', 'these tedious old fools', because Polonius is against Claudius and therefore cares for Hamlet as he is the rightful king who will restore order in society.

3) A new scene for Ophelia- Set just after the scene where she is singing after she's gone mad. She meets Hamlet on the bank of the river. He is extremely upset to see the condition she is in, and to know that it is his fault. He tries to explain how Polonius' death came about, how it was a genuine mistake, but she cannot cope with what he says and eventually makes him leave. There is a blackout as she falls forward into the river. The conversation would reveal a) Hamlet does love Ophelia- although in the text he says 'I never gave you aught', he also says 'I did love you once', and never suggests that he stopped loving her. b) Ophelia is pregnant (she discloses this to Hamlet in the scene, and although at first shocked, he treats her well and shows his excitement at being a father, as an attempt to calm her down and return her to sanity). Evidence for this includes Ophelia saying 'let in the maid that out a maid/Never departed more'. The 'never departed more' could mean that when Ophelia slept will Hamlet, she not only lost her virginity, but also became pregant, so she is effectively saying 'no one ever parted with their virtue so extremely as I did, because I became pregnant too'.

Homework from lesson 9/2- extra scene involving Gertrude

ACT ONE

1.1  (The grave of the dead KING HAMLET can be seen spotlighted downstage right. GERTRUDE enters alone, carrying a shoe box and flowers. She wears black shoes)

    GERTRUDE: Today was the worst day Hamlet, Hamlet my dear. No woman should have to see the death of her husband. I know we argued. I know we did not really love each other. I know that for several years, neither of us has felt we had anything in common. But we had Hamlet, and we had Denmark, two things we both loved, two things that together we helped to develop. We were a good team, you and I. The lack of love between us just meant a lack of arguments. And we were both happy. But now you are gone. (Places the flowers on the grave. Kneels.)
    Claudius spoke at the service today. He is devastated, my dear. He loved you almost as much as Hamlet did. And as for Hamlet, our wonderful son… It was tragic to see how he cried. The night you died, we held each other for hours, and it seemed his tears would drown the whole country. I wept with him, not out of love for you, but for the pain I could see in our son, the pain I could do nothing to resolve. Save one thing. Whilst our dear boy sobbed in my arms, I realised such a young and grieving boy could never lead Denmark out of its grief. He’s just never been an optimistic face, and I knew it would not be kind to force him so quickly out of his sorrows in order to restore order to society. So I made a decision… to remain Queen. To marry Claudius. I believe this is the only way to keep the kingdom in as good a state as you and I made it. It is a hard time for everybody, and the threat of Fortinbras is terribly foreboding. Denmark must remain strong or it may cease to exist. 
    My marriage to Claudius will be similar to my marriage to yours- we will sleep in separate beds, and we will touch and smile together only in public, to keep up appearances. But he can never be as great a King as you. I do not think he quite sees monarchy as you did- we shared the throne, we discussed everything, we decided things together. I don’t think Claudius has quite so modern a feeling towards women. 
    When he offered his hand after the service yesterday, and I accepted, we agreed that we would not be a couple, but only seem to be a couple. I said ‘Denmark will know nothing. They will see a happy King and Queen, and in turn we will maintain a happy kingdom’. He smiled- he looked a lot like you- and then he hit me. Across the face. And he said ‘Denmark will know nothing’. (Opens the shoe box at her feet, takes out white wedding shoes, and swaps them with the black funeral shoes. She stands)
    (Almost in tears, but with strength in her voice) I never loved you Hamlet. You never loved me. But I shall miss you every single day, friend.

The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway

This is the book I've just finished reading which I'd like to tell everybody to read because it was fantastic :)
It's only about 100 pages long, and critics have called it the best short story of all time- Hemingway got the Nobel Prize for Literature for it. It's about a very old fisherman who hasn't caught a fish for 85 days... And then something happens... The main theme is endurance, as he is incredibly strong and resilient and is wonderful :) my favourite line is when he talks to himself, urging himself to keep fighting, and he says 'a man can be destroyed, but not defeated'. It's really worth a read  :)