Shakespeare Interactive Series #1: The WinterÂ’s Tale
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One interesting observation is regarding jealousy. It seems to me when one is feeing jealous, any actions or words from the allege couple seem to be evidences to the accuser.
It can be a simple touch, an innocent smile and the accuser will go ‘There! There! That is the proof that they are having an affair behind my back!’
LEONTES
Is whispering nothing?
Is leaning cheek to cheek? is meeting noses?
Kissing with inside lip? stopping the career
Of laughing with a sigh?--a note infallible
Of breaking honesty--horsing foot on foot?
Skulking in corners? wishing clocks more swift?
Hours, minutes? noon, midnight? and all eyes
Blind with the pin and web but theirs, theirs only,
That would unseen be wicked? is this nothing?
Why, then the world and all that's in't is nothing;
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this be nothing.
Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 334 - 346 -
well ppl choose what they wanna hear and believe.... even when wat they believe as fact ain't true at all.... sad but true... so true...
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Let us proceed to Camillo. He tries in vain to change LeontesÂ’s mind to poison Polixenes. So he pretends to go along with Leontes and volunteers for the job but on one condition i.e. Leontes must not sully HermioneÂ’s honor.
Camillo is a far-sighted man. He is well aware that if he should carry out the task to poison Polixenes, war may break out between the two countries. You donÂ’t poison your guest, especially if he is your friend and get away with it.
My question is, ‘Is Camillo a traitor?’
He betrays his kingÂ’s trust in him; he let his kingÂ’s enemy escapes, and even flees with and serves under the kingÂ’s enemy.
Let me remind you, Camillo is Leontes most trusted advisor and friend. His action have dire consequences, ironically, it is his beloved Queen, the person he is trying to protect that will have to pay dearly for his actions.
Since Camillo did keep his promise, Leontes will not have to keep his.
Put yourself in CamilloÂ’s shoes, will you carry out the order to poison Polixenes? Remember you promise the king.
Do you think he should escape with Polixenes or stay behind to face the punishments honourably? -
Originally posted by DeadPoet:
in the 1st plc i won't even promise the king of such request. No matter how 'loyal' i am. "jun zhi you shuo wei, you shuo bu wei" there's something you should nvr do mah...
Put yourself in CamilloÂ’s shoes, will you carry out the order to poison Polixenes? Remember you promise the king.
Do you think he should escape with Polixenes or stay behind to face the punishments honourably?
but becos of loyalty, i would stay and face the consequences. if u stand up for something of truth and value to u, then stand to the end. -
Heehee. My wife said exactly the same thing too.Originally posted by tare:in the 1st plc i won't even promise the king of such request. No matter how 'loyal' i am. "jun zhi you shuo wei, you shuo bu wei" there's something you should nvr do mah...
but becos of loyalty, i would stay and face the consequences. if u stand up for something of truth and value to u, then stand to the end.
~I am trying to teach my wife Shakespeare lah~ -
Now letÂ’s talk about Polixenes. In Act 1, he is portrayed as a victim. Maybe even a good king, although in my opinion he is not. But let us now try to put ourselves in his shoes.
Imagine your best friend is suspecting you are seeing his/her boy/girl friend behind his/her back. Then someone come along and tell you that your best friend is on the way to beat you up, what will you do?
Okay what about if you are Polixenes, will you choose to flee? Or try explaining to your best friend? Do you think he (Polixenes) is a coward?
By the way the name ‘Hermione’ in Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling borrowed the name from this play. -
well i'll stay and explain to him... i never do wat.... if i flee then it's like i quilty like dat.... if he refused to listen to my explaination then he's 1) not very reasonable 2) doesn't trust me as a friend... then LL lor....