ACT I ESSAY

Family was extremely important in the time of Shakespeare. In Hamlet, Gertrude marries her husband’s brother, Claudius, within weeks of his death. Hamlet is obviously enraged with such behavior, however, keeps to himself. 

Because the kingdom of Denmark was at a very vulnerable time, due to King Hamlet’s death, any uproar within the kingdom itself would allow neighboring enemies to plan attack on the kingdom. King hamlet had worked far too hard to let enemies repossess his land. Hamlet and his father had a deep connection. Hamlet probably knows that causing a fight between him and his new stepfather would ruin the reputation of the kingdom. 

A bad reputation on the kingdom would cause citizens to fee insecure. If there is no order within the kingdom, how should Denmark rule effectively? 

Going back to the relationship with hamlet and his father, when Hamlet was talking to the ghost of King hamlet, he gave him advice. The ghost said, “...nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother...” (Act I. Scene II). The ghost did not want Hamlet to disrespect his mother in any way. 

Though Hamlet was eligible for the throne, he didn’t fight his uncle. Either it was to maintain order in the kingdom or may be to plot revenge. Hamlet is enraged by the information he has learned regarding the murder by Claudius. Hamlet may be trying to keep on the down low so that no suspicion arises. 

BATHROOM FACE

BATHROOM FACE 

By: Zahra Syed

I thought it would be just a regular morning. Same routine, every single day. Wake up at 6:30, brush my teeth, wash my face, straighten my hair...but not this morning. As I walked to the bathroom and turned on the light, I turn to look at myself in the mirror. What do I find? BRITNEY SPEARS! What, I was SO confused. It was REALLY her. The blond hair (that I guess grew back after she shaved it all off!), and the skimpy tight shirt. The funny thing was that whatever facial expressions I would make, she would make. I opened my mouth and stuck my tongue out, so did Britney! 

This was astonishing. I started freaking out. I ran to my room. Looking at my dresser, I walk to it’s mirror. I’m myself in my room mirror! There’s no Britney! I run downstairs to my mom’s mirror...again, no Britney. I drink a glass of cold T.G Lee chocolate milk, I calm down. Walking slowly upstairs, I go to my bathroom. The lights are off because Aeliya was in there after I left. I ask her, “hey, anything interesting happen so far?” and all Ael does is look at me so weirdly. Confidently, I go back inside. After turning on the light, I look up and into the mirror. “AHHHHHHHHH”, I scream! She’s back. She’s looking at me right in the eye. I left my right hand up, so does she. I continuously blink, so does she. I try talking to it. “Hey there, Britney”, I say nervously. But all that happens is she makes the same mouth movements but no sound comes out. 

After talking to her about how weird this is, I bring my hair straightener into the bathroom. Thinking that I might outsmart Britney, I start doing my hair. How was she going to straighten her hair if I have the straightener? But I was proved wrong. As I reached down to get my straightener, so did she. I look up and the same exact black Chi hair straightener that I have...is in HER hands too! OH MY GOD, I am so confused but intrigued at the same time! 

I take my bottle of Twilight Woods body spray from Bath and Body Works and spray myself. SO DOES BRITNEY. “How is this possible?!” I think to myself. Like an idiot, I smell the mirror to see if it smells like my scent, but it doesn’t. I heard my mom calling me from downstairs, “ZAHRA, WHAT IS TAKING YOU SO LONG, THE KIDS ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL!!!!”. I slightly ignore her because I obviously have bigger things to worry about. Anyways, I quickly go into my room to change. Looking at my room mirror, I see no one but myself! 

Now, I’m really running out of time. I go downstairs to grab a bagel. I bring it to the bathroom. As I walk in, there Britney is already, with an everything bagel! I take a small nibble and look up. The same size bite I took, Britney took. Now I’m really mad. All this confusion is very aggravating! I start singing her classic song, Oops!..I Did It Again!. “Oops, I...did it again to your heart! Got lost! In this game...” I start singing like a maniac. When I stopped...THE MOST ASTONISHING THING HAPPENED. Britney started to sing! SHE WAS SINGING. She was doing everything based off her control and not mine. “Oops you, think I was sent from above, but I’m not that innocent!” Britney just sang to me, in my mirror. That was the only way I could provoke her to do her own actions, I guess. I am to sing a little of her song and let her finish it. Then I begin singing “ohh baby, baby, how was I suppose to know...” “THAT SOMETHING WASN’T RIGHT HERE!” Britney responded.

The sound of her voice is just like the way her CDs are composed! Voice of an angel! All this singing as just made me realize that I got some of that body spray in my mouth. YUCK. Anyways, I try to touch the mirror and see if I can go into the mirror, but I cant. She’s just trapped inside the mirror. I don’t understand how this is possible. After spending way too much time provoking Britney to talk to me, I go to school. Anxious for school to finish, I finally come home after my Student Government meeting. The first thing I do is that I run to my bathroom! She’s not there. She’s gone. Britney has disappeared. I’m not sure whether to be sad or relived. I suppose I was a little disappointed. I go and eat dinner. I walk into my room and go to my dresser so that I can brush my hair. I look up and..BRITNEY IS THERE!!!

“RING RING RING RING” dumb iPhone alarm comes on and I wake up. IT WAS A DREAM. Oh my god. 

Whoso List to Hunt

WHOSO LIST TO HUNT 

As we all know, must women impossible to pursue. From the very beginning of time, men have been chasing women like crazy. Unfortunately for Sir Thomas Wyatt, this was the case for him as well. Many legends have explained a relationship between Wyatt and Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England. The two definitely shared a romantic relationship while Wyatt was married unhappily. He was imprisoned for committing adultery but was released a year later. During that year, Anne Boleyn was executed for committing the same sin. Therefore, in Wyatt’s poem, Whoso list to Hunt, he conceals facts about his relationship with Boleyn which, in the end, left him unsuccessful in marrying her. 

“...I know where is an hind !” (Wyatt lines 1-2). A hind is referred to as a female deer. This is a reference to Anne Boleyn because the poem’s title is translated to, “Whoever Wishes to Hunt”. Boleyn was said to have many suitors besides Wyatt who were chasing her. Therefore, Boleyn is described as a deer who men wish to hunt. 

Thomas Wyatt states, “Since in a net I seek to hold the wind.” (Wyatt 9). Not only does this mean the he is trying to pursue a woman, but it also means that running after a woman is similar unsuccessfully catching wind, both actions, according to Wyatt, are completely impossible. The deer was  “...graven with diamonds in letters plain, There is written, her fair neck round about...” (Wyatt lines 12-13). The engraved necklace has a warning, “Noli me tangere”. Though in Latin, when translated to English, clearly states, “touch me not”. The poem goes on to say, “...for Caesar’s I am...” (Wyatt line 14). Caesar is referred to King Henry VIII, the husband of Anne Boleyn. 

Though Whoso list to Hunt is a short poem, it shares a great deal about the endearment Wyatt had towards Boleyn. The entire poem is dedicated to the estranged relationship the two had for each other. There is no doubt that Anne Boleyn is the “hind” (Wyatt line 2) that Wyatt refers to in the beginning of this poem and that the inscription on the necklace the hind was wearing was a warning. However, most importantly, Anne Boleyn is the sole reason and central metaphor for this love poem of Wyatt’s. 

WORKS CITED

May, John W. Whoso List to Hunt: A Wyatt Sonnet. N.p., 16 June 2009. Web. 20 Jan. 2012. <http://myopicpoets.blogspot.com/2009/06/whoso-list-to-hunt-sonnet-to-queen-anne.html>.

Wyatt, Thomas. Whoso list to Hunt. N.p.: Richard Harrier, 1815. Print.

Varium Et Mutabile

VARIUM ET MUTABILE 

The story of Sir Thomas Wyatt and Anne Boleyn is indeed an incredible one. She was married to the King of England, Henry VII while he was also unhappily married. The two were caught up in an estranged affair which lead to the imprisonment of Wyatt and the execution of Boleyn. It is said that Wyatt then wrote many poems on this event of his life. Though Varium et Mutabile does not directly refer to Boleyn, there are many references to Wyatt’s thoughts on women. When a reader who knows about Wyatt and Boleyn’s affair reads this poem, he or she may sympathize with the hatred that Wyatt has portrayed against women. Otherwise, without any prior knowledge on the history of Wyatt, it is most difficult to sympathize with him. 

The first section of this poem describes “a debate” as being “So sharp, so sore, and of such rate...” (Wyatt lines 2-3). An intense analysis of the meaning of such a statement will bring one to the conclusion that what Wyatt is explaining is the most obvious, women win every argument. Though this is a very modern ideal, Wyatt, in the 1500s is stating this! Usually, a man who has been in love or is currently in love will make such a statement. Knowing Wyatt’s love history would allow readers to refer back to his affair with Boleyn. 

“From love to hate, and thence for to relent?” (Wyatt 9). The second section of Varium et Mutabile explains to us how Wyatt feels about women’s emotions. He describes them as being “cruel”. Only a man suffering from heartbreak would describe women with such a word. The would cruel refers to Wyatt’s heartbreak over Boleyn. Knowing Boleyn’s background, she was executed due to committing the sin of adultery with five men. Kanye West couldn’t have said it better, “..how could you be so heartless?”.  Readers who do not know the story of this couple would come across the line “...one heart so diverse a mind...” (Wyatt line 13) and be confused as to what Wyatt means. Since I am aware of the history, we realize that Wyatt is speaking of Boleyn’s affair with five other men and how she was able to switch her feelings on and off for men as quickly as how weather changes. 

Most women can be described as being manipulative. Manipulation brings with it, much deceit. A man who has been manipulated will often take his anger out on all other women and feel a form of hatred for such behavior. Wyatt describes such manipulation “..as chance on die?” (Wyatt line 18). The “die” refers to a pair of dice. As we know, a pair of dice often has to do with a game of chance. A game of chance is manipulative because you may think you will receive the number of dots that you want, however, you usually don’t, hence, manipulation. The poem goes on to say “Trust therefore first, and after preve...” (Wyatt line 28). Women manipulate their men into thinking that they are able to trust them and in return, are tricked into the exact opposite. Just as Anne Boleyn played with Wyatt’s emotions, making him feel like he was so special to her, she still affairs with a numerous amount of men. Wyatt clearly states why he believes women are so deceiving. 

The heartbreak that Wyatt suffered due to the actions of Anne Boleyn clearly impacts the tone and meaning of Varium et Mutabile. Wyatt states very hateful aspects of the nature of women. Clearly, he was acting based off of the woman he fell in love with and was hurt by. One needs to have knowledge about the tragedy Wyatt went through because of Boleyn to understand the true impact this poem has. This poem is a direct reflection of how Thomas Wyatt felt about women. 

WORKS CITED 

Wyatt, Thomas. Whoso list to Hunt. N.p.: Richard Harrier, 1815. Print.

ACT 1 SCENE 2 SCRIPT

ACT I SCENE II

by

Zahra Syed, Mike Clarke, Kazu Namiki, Imran Jivraj, Jordan Sihle, Adam Cunningham 

Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, HAMLET, LAERTES, POLONIOUS 

King

Hamlet’s death was pretty sad, but that’s all in the past now, so forget about it. Here in the great state of Alabama, roll tide, I have decided to marry my sister-in-law. We legally deported them illegals, but now they want to come back. We must strike a deal with our brothas in the South. 

Enter LAERTES 

What’s up, Laertes? 

LAERTES

I’ve done my duty and now I want to go back to New York. 

POLONIUS 

He has my permission. 

KING

Fine, you can go. 

Hamlet, my son! 

Hamlet

[Aside] Just because you’re my dad’s brother, doesn’t mean I like you. 

KING

You mad, bro?

QUEEN

Stop your crying and get over it. 

Hamlet 

You’re right. 

king

It’s good that your grieving, but you’re being stubborn. Please don’t go back to college. We need you! 

hamlet

Fine, I’ll stay. 

KING

This calls for a celebration! 

Exeunt all but HAMLET 

Hamlet

God, I wish I could kill myself. I can’t believe my mother can betray my father like this. He was such a good man to her. She is so weak. A dog would mourn longer for it’s owner. 

Enter HORATIO 

HORATIO

Whaddup, bro? 

HAMLET

I’m glad to see you. What brought you back to Denmark?  

horatio

To see your dad’s funeral and your mom’s wedding. 

hamlet

I think I can still my father, bro. 

Horatio 

Yo, you crazy? Where? 

Hamlet

In my mind. 

Horatio

Oh my god. I think I saw him last night. 

hamlet

Are you sure? 

horatio

The last two nights I saw him at midnight. He paces back and forth, slowly. I recognized him and that’s why I’m coming to you. 

hamlet

Where? Did you speak to him!

horatio

He was by the wall. When I went to talk to him, my iPhone’s alarm went off to let me know that it’s sunrise. He disappeared!  

hamlet

What did he look like? 

horatio

He was in military clothes and his face was as pale as snow, man. His beard was highlighted with silver. 

hamlet

DUDE, I’m gonna come look out for him tonight, I gotta talk to him. Keep your mouth shut about this. I’ll see you tonight! 

Exit 

CANTO 32

CANTO 32 

By: Zahra Syed

SUMMARY: 

Still in the Ninth Circle, Dante finds himself unable to express the horror this circle shows. As Dante and Virgil continue to walk, below the giant’s feet, Dante hears someone say, “Watch how you step!...” (Dante 499). Dante sees the frozen lake which looked like glass. He also notices that the sinners are frozen with their heads down but their teeth are chattering from the cold while they curse the icy water. Dante compares this sight to a frog sitting and croaking. When Dante approaches two sinners to question them of their sin, they must bend their necks back to look up at Dante. However, they have been crying and their mouths have been frozen shut. A nearby sinner identifies the twins as the Bisenzio brothers who killed each other over politics. As Dante and Virgil proceed, Dante accidentally kicked a sinner who turned out to be Bocca delgi Abati, an Italian traitor. Because Bocca was not identifying himself to Dante, Dante rips his hair off. As Dante and Vigil leave and enter the Second Ring, Antenora, which contains those who betrayed their homeland or party, Dante sees two sinners so close together that one’s head rears over the others, chewing it. Dante tells the soul he will bring word of him back to the real world if he he tells him why he is chewing on another person. 

SIN: 

First Ring of the Ninth Circle is called Caina (Cain killed his brother Abel)

Traitors to their kin reside here 

Sinners are frozen in a lake with their mouths shut 

They are constantly butting their heads against each other in rage 

CHARACTERS: 

The frozen lake can be compared to the River Cocytus which was the “river of wailing” according to Greek mythology. It flows in the underworld. 

Bisenzio Brothers- Napoleone and Alessandro fought over their inheritance and killed each other 

Arthur- killed his nephew who was actually his son by his sister Morgan le Fay; he betraed Arthur by attempting a strike while Arthur was in France 

Focaccia-said to have murdered his father or uncle 

Sassol Mascheroni- murdered his cousin to gain inheritance. He was punished by being rolled through the city in a barrel full of nails, and then was beheaded

Camiscion de’ Pazzi- famous Ghibelline who killed his kinsman for his castles

Bocca delgli Abati- Florentine nobleman who betrayed the Guelfs during the Battle of Montraperti by  cutting off the hand of the standard-bearer

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

Why was Dante so abusive towards Bocca without actually realizing who he was at first? 

How has going through the different Circles changed Dante, emotionally? 

CANTO 29

CANTO 29 

By: Zahra Syed

SUMMARY: 

As Virgil and Dante leave the Ninth Pouch, Virgil realizes that Dante continues to stare at the sinners. Virgil then condemns him for doing so because there is not enough time and still much left to see. Dante believes that he saw an ancestor of his crying because of his guilt, “...I think a spirit of my blood is weeping for the guilt that costs so much down there.” (Dante 451). As Virgil and Dante carry on, they are struck by arrows “...whose iron heads were made of pity...” (Dante 453).  A strong stench that smelled like “...rotting limbs.” (Dante 453) came from the upcoming Tenth Pouch. This stench is compared to the hospitals of Valdichiana, Maremma, and Sardinia which were made for  malaria victims in these cities. They learn that the Tenth Pouch has four zones for the different types of Falsifiers ( alchemists, impostors, counterfeiters, and liars). The sinners were piled on top of each other and covered from head to toe with scabs. They are forced to stay awake, scratching the itchy scabs which have no cure, “...their nails tore off the scabs like knives...” (Dante 455). Dante then speaks to two Italians, Griffolino and Capocchio. Griffolino was burned at the stake for committing heresy but was in the Tenth Pouch because of his practice of the art of Alchemy. Capocchio was in this Pouch because he “...falsified metals with alchemy...” (Dante 457. 

SIN: 

Falsifiers-attempted to alter things through lies

Alchemy- the claim that holy objects possessed powers including the ability to turn base metals into noble metals like gold or silver. Also known as the ancestor of chemistry (effort to discover the substance common to all metals and change them to make base metals into gold). 

CHARACTERS: 

Geri del Bello- Dante’s father cousin. Known to instigate violence. He was killed by a member of the Sacchetti family 

Griffolino da Arezzo- burned at stake in Siena for heresy. He obtained money from Albero of Siena by pretending he could teach him to fly. “I did not make him Daedalus” (Dante 457). 

Capocchio- a Florentine well-known for being able to mimic others and nature. He and Dante studied natural science together. Capocchio was burned at the stake in Siena in 1293. 

Caccianemico, Brtolommeo, Nicholas- “Except for Stricca...Nicholas...Caccia...” (Dante 457) were rich men from Siena who put their fortunes into one fund and spent it all in twenty months by partying 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 

How does the metaphor, “I did not make him Daedalus” (Dante 457), relate to the sin Griffolino committed? 

Why do you think Dante’s own family member was giving him threatening gestures such as a stabbing motion?