We started the class by watching Act 2 Scene 2 of the movie “Macbeth”.
We then discussed a few of the differences between the movie and the play itself.
Some differences were
The literal death of King was not shown during the play because King James was in the audience, and also because it would have been a gruesome scene.
Macbeth never took the daggers of the guard to kill Duncan.
King Duncan did not wake up right before his assassination
Aim: How is the play simultaneously lightened and darkened through Shakespeare’s implementation of “comic relief”?
Do Now: TEAMWORK
Work with your teams to construct a list of Famous US Conspiracy Theories you know.
My group and I came up with two conspiracy theories. The first is that Hitler is still alive, and the second is that Michael Jackson is still alive. When the discussion was opened to the whole class, group one talked about ships disappearing in the Bermuda triangle and the existence of aliens in Area 51. Another group said that birds worked for the bourgeoisie. Many other students gave examples that are as follows: 9/11 was an inside job, Jeffrey did not actually suicide, and artists dying at the age of 27. After this Ms. Peterson gave us more examples such as the moon landings, Bigfoot sightings in the state of Washington, JFK and Martin Luther King Junior’s assassinations, and secrets in the chambersof Mt. Rushmore.
Next, we took a look at the Gunpowder plot of 1605. This was true story about a group of Catholics that decided to blow up Parliament the day that it opened. It started when King James the First did not allow the Catholics to practice the religion and even killed Catholic priests. Robert Catesby, the brains of this plot, and Guy Fawkes, an explosives expert, along with others, plotted to hide gunpowder and use it to blow up Parliament. After trying to build a tunnel to smuggle the gunpowder, they finally had the gunpowder hid in a cellar. Just before the plan could be executed, the king was warned through a letter of possible danger. When cellars were searched, Fawkes was found with the gunpowder. He was brought before the king, but refused to reveal the names of the other plotters. Unfortunately after much torture, he finaly gave in. A few plotters were shot, but the rest were hung( hanging someone until they are about lose consciousness and doing this process again), drawn(cutting open and taking out all your organs, the last being the heart), and quartered(cut the body in four pieces and sticking the head on a pole), The plot was a failure, but November fifth is celebrated in Fawkes honor.
Comic Relief –(N):A humorous scene or speech in a serious drama which is meant to provide relief from emotional intensity and, by contrast, to heighten the seriousness of the story.
Shakespeare understood that the audience had just been through the heavy topic of a king dying, so he used comic relief as a way to lighten the mood. This not only made people feel lighter, but also magnified the scene that occurred before.
Then, we read Act 2 Scene 3. This is the “Porter Scene”.
Porter: Was responsible for a Castle Entrance and for the guardrooms. They also ensured no one entered or left without permission.
Knocking: Was eerie because of the Bubonic Plague; i.e. Knocking for the dead!
Shakespeare created the first “knock knock” joke as a result of this scene.
After this, we were asked to fill out a chart that explained what the porter said. He was like the devil at the gate of hell, letting people in. He discussed three professions, a tailor, a farmer, and an equivocator. We were to discuss the joke, state what sin they committed, and in the next class, Ms. Peterson will tell us the allusion.
Reflection: Today I learned the use of comic relief. If Shakespeare was not careful to include these, the audience would be strained to enjoy the entire play. I also learned that to truly enjoy Shakespeare's works, I must break it down to its tiniest details. The author is very careful with everything from word choice to literary devices; it is the job of the reader to read carefully and thoroughly. I also learned that the gunpowder plot was a failure, but today it is recognized and celebrated. A failure is only a failure if you don’t try.
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