Okay, let's move ahead into Act 1, scenes 3 and 4. I will be out of town this weekend so I'm going to push the conversation date to next Tuesday, Sept. 25.
Here's your assignment: Choose one speech from either scene and respond to it in the voice of someone who is not a character in this play. You could choose another existing literary character or actual human being; you could invent your own character; you could respond as yourself. Whatever your choice, focus on how that character responds to these particular remarks of the Shakepearean one. For instance, how would Huck Finn talk back to Anne? How would Anita Hill talk back to Hastings? How would Emma Goldman talk back to Gloucester? How would you talk back to Gloucester? You do not have to write in verse, though you can if that seems appropriate for your character. Just try to construct at least 5 lines or sentences.
1 comment:
Queen Margaret’s Lady’s Maid Speaks
(Richard III, 1.3, after Q. Margaret’s exit)
Madame soon plays the harpy, too much aggriev’d,
Your litany of wrongs is not by most believed.
Though not without some cause. But you and I know, lady,
Pointy truth is often blent with prickled mischief shady.
Too often shrewish, my lady’s message, loud and shrill
is not fairly heard. They paint you (as they often will)
a fishwife--rough chapp’d, red-faced, a blowsy scold:
Your harsher words, unvarnished, seem too bold.
Enough! If you would speak fair, then fairly heard you’d be!
This clanging clamour does not suit you: such as we
Cannot hope to make our suitors listen to cold reason.
A honeyed sauce is better than much pepper in its season.
New-widowed Lady Anne and randy Gloucester—mark them well:
Before too long, one, or both, are hot-riding straight to hell.
Post a Comment