1 Henry IV Act 1, Scene 3

182.

hey there, people! i have to say, this play is shaping up to be a good'n. i've only just finished act 1 and i am dying to find out what happens in act 2. that's a good thing considering i need to make up for that lost time in June. perhaps i will read a little extraaa tomorrow! (look at me go!) if you haven't read this one, i'm telling you, pick it up. so good. check it out...

act 1, scene 3

King Henry tells Northumberland, Hotspur, etc. that he has been too soft, but he will not be any longer. he wants the hostages Hotspur took, and he wants them now. Hotspur explains what supposedly happened, claiming that the message Henry received was a lot more harsh than he intended it to be. he claims he was down and out in the battlefield with bodies lying all around him when some hoity toity noble pranced up to him demanding the hostages. he was just tired and impatient when he said no so rudely to him. King Henry isn't taking the bait. he points out that Hotspur is still not giving over the hostages, and is demanding the release of Mortimer from the Scots. he feels that Mortimer isn't worthy of being ransomed. Hotspur stands up for Mortimer saying that he fought hand to hand with Glendower (the Scottish guy who captured him) before he was captured. Henry doesn't believe that for a second. he demands the hostages, warning Northumberland to keep his son in check. Henry leaves, and as soon as he does, Hotspur starts talking crap about him. (see quote below.) Worcester comes in, and Hotspur tells him that he vows to help Mortimer, who just happens to be his brother-in-law. Worcester comments that they can't blame Henry for not wanting Mortimer around. Mortimer was, after all, proclaimed by Richard to be the rightful heir to the throne. Hotspur is outraged and he goes on and on about it. Worcester is trying to tell him something, but Hotspur won't shut up long enough to hear it. when he finally does settle down, Worcester lets him in on his plan to overthrow Henry. Hotspur and Northumberland will get the Archbishop (whose brother died because of Henry), the Scots, and Mortimer all rallied together. they will all meet up and overthrow Henry.

Hotspur needs to shut. up. his mouth is going to be the death of him, i swear. just listen for two seconds, you fool! mark my words, he's going down.

i'm a little confused about the plan. who is getting who? and what is Worcester doing? i am all kinds of confused. maybe it will all become clear as it actually happens? if it actually happens? it all just happened so fast! that's actually something i really like about this play so far- it's dense. and by dense, i mean that a lot happens in every scene. granted, i've only read 3 scenes so far, but the pace is great. i hope it stays like this. does it make the play harder to understand in performance? i wonder...

who will win this? Henry or Northumberland and co.? what do you think?

quote of the day:

'an if the devil come and roar for them

i will not send them. i will after straight

and tell him so, for i will ease my heart,

albeit i make a hazard of my head.'

   -Hotspur

for tomorrow: on to act 2, scenes 1-3

-rebecca may

1 Henry IV Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2

183.

hello Shakespeare readers! new play today! wahoo! i'm super stoked. i am also stoked to go visit my friend today- she had twins! who does that? then on to work for a closing shift. woot. i also just realized that there's less than a month left of Summer. i really need to kick my reading into high gear and make up for some of that lost time in June. i can do it! okay, i know i'm super scattered today, so let's just move on...

act 1, scene 1

King Henry gives a speech to his people, explaining that they would all like to have a time of peace, and that no more civil war will rip England apart. they will all work together against a common enemy- the pagans in the holy lands. Henry asks Westmorland for news regarding their upcoming voyage, but Westmorland delivers very different news: Mortimer has been captured in Wales by Glendower and Hotspur has gotten himself into a battle with the Scots. Henry acknowledges that this probably isn't the best time to leave England, and relays news he has heard of Hotspur's bravery. he also comments, half-jokingly, that he wishes Hotspur were his own son instead of Prince Hal. (see quote below.) the bad news from Hotspur is that he won't give Henry the prisoners. he is keeping them. Westmorland warns Henry that this must be the bad influence of Hotspur's uncle, Worcester. Henry will wait for an explanation From Hotspur.

act 1, scene 2

Prince Hal are hanging out in London, chatting it up. their conversation is a constant battle of wits. they tease each other incessantly, with an undercurrent of: what will happen to Falstaff when Hal becomes king? Poins comes in, asking them to join him on a little adventure. they are going to leave town for a bit to have some adventures in robbery. Hal doesn't want to go. Poins get Falstaff to leave so they can talk in private and reveals the true plan: to play a major trick on Falstaff and the other fools in the group. they will separate themselves from them after they leave town. the group will go through with the robbery, but Poins and Hal will disguise themselves and rob Falstaff and the rest of the group. when they meet up later and ask Falstaff how the robbery went, he and the rest of them will boast about the adventure. calling them on their bluff will be the jest. Prince Hal agrees to join him.

i L-O-V-E that things are going down just as Richard said they would. we have a phrase that we use that totally fits this situation: once a cheater, always a cheater. in this case it'd be, once a committer of treason... weird though how i once felt kinda bad for Richard even though he sucked at his job and now i'm kind of feeling bad for Henry. like i said, Shakespeare is SO good at making you shift your sympathies.

i don't understand a lot of what Hal and Falstaff are saying. i think it would take some great actors for me to really get it. but what i do get is their closeness and the tenuousness of it all. what WILL happen to Falstaff when Hal becomes king? can Hal really do anything to help him? would we blame him if he didn't? i love where the conversation goes around line 50. Shakespeare creates this complicated multi-layer conversation. how much are they just messing around talking about nothing? and how much is it about Falstaff actually having a place once Henry is king? and how much is it about the grim reality that thieves are hung? people like Falstaff are hung by people like Hal. sad and intriguing. must be fun for actors to play with!

predictions so far: Hotspur and Falstaff will meet ugly ends. we shall see!

quote of the day:

'yeah, there thou mak'st me sad, and mak'st me sin

in envy that my lord Northumberland

should be the father to so blest a son--

a son who is the theme of honor's tongue,

amongst a grove the very straightest plant,

who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride,

whilst i, by looking on the praise of him,

see riot and dishonor stain the brow

of my young Harry. o, that it could be proved

that some night-tripping fairy had exchanged

in cradle clothes our children where they lay,

and called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!'

   -King Henry; act 1, scene 1

for tomorrow: the rest of act 1

-rebecca may

The First Part of King Henry the Fourth Intro Info

184.

Sean took the MCAT today! yay! done and done. although he plans to re-take it in August just to be safe, i am so happy he has one under his belt. i wasn't happy to stay up til 4:30am to help him wake up and make him a good breakfast, but i think it was totally worth it to make sure he started this important day on the right foot! and tonight we will have vegetarian chili, some of our favorite DVR'd shows, a bottle of wine, and some well-deserved relaxation. that is, of course, after we finish cleaning the apartment and i finish my blog. okay, on your mark get set go!


here's what i learned today, and i have to say, i'm pretty excited about this one:

-1 Henry IV starts off where Richard II left off. Henry wants to get his people together against a common enemy in the Holy Lands, but he can't because there's too much civil war going on at home. the Scots and Whales are both giving him trouble, and his men are off fighting.

-here's who helped him win the throne: Percy (aka Hotspur), Northumberland, Worcester, and Edmund Mortimer. remember when Richard warned... Northumberland was it?... that soon things would change? he said that those who participate in treason are likely to do so again. and guess what?!? it's looking like Richard may have been completely correct. Henry's people are frustrated with the outcome, and perhaps Mortimer would be a better option for the throne.

-i find it interesting that Bevington says that 'Shakespeare's sympathies are many sided' in this play because i have been saying over and over again in previous entries that i have found Shakespeare to be incredibly skilled at creating split-sympathy in his readers and/or viewers. if Bevington is pointing it out now, i can't wait to see what Shakespeare has in store for us!

-women are pretty much absent again. boo. but what they do offer is a different perspective on the men in the play. they kind of show the men's true colors. even though they're not a big part of the play which is kind of blah, it's cool that Shakespeare has these women be the voices of reason, the truth-givers, the wise members of their families, etc. i can dig that.

-Shakespeare seems to be exploring the relationships between fathers and sons in this one. there is, of course, King Henry and his son, Prince Hal. there is also Northumberland and his son, Hotspur. but beyond these obvious choices, there is the relationship between Henry and Hotspur (he at one point jokes that he wishes Hotspur had been his son) and the one between Hal and Falstaff.

-yes! he is here! Falstaff. here is something Bevington said about Falstaff that i loved: 'we excuse much in him because he lusts after life with such an appetite and ingratiates himself to others by inviting them to laugh at his expense.' apparently he is a great foil for Hotspur, his complete opposite. can't wait to finally read this character. and can't wait to read this play! treason, action, wit, confusing relationship dynamics, and Falstaff? sounds good to me!

sounds like we're in for a good one. i hope you'll join me!

for tomorrow: act 1, scenes 1 and 2

-rebecca may

Sonnets 52-56

185.

you ever have one of those days where you plan to wake up at a normal time, but then you accidentally wake up at 1:30 in the afternoon? yeah, that was me today. and it's kind of thrown me off kilter all day. it's extra weird because i plan to wake up at 4am to make breakfast for Sean because he has to drive a few hours to take the MCAT in the morning. so i am all kinds of thrown off. and of course it;s a sonnet day! forgive me if i'm not totally with it today.

#52- the writer describes his love as a treasure that he holds in his chest as a rich man might hold his wealth in a safe.

#53- i have. NO. IDEA!!!

#54- just like roses live again in potpourri, love can live again in writing.

#55- (see quote below.) nothing outlives words. all things will die, but the writer's  love will live on in his poems.

#56- let love be renewed with each new encounter! even though you're full of love now, when you wake up tomorrow be hungry for it again as you are hungry for food.

sonnet 53?!? i have no idea what's going on. help!

sonnets 54 and 55 are scaring me! we spent so much time on this sentiment earlier on this year. i don't want to go back! i was getting SO sick of it. please no, Shakespeare!

i love sonnet 56. it's lovely. you should check it out. go!

i got nothing profound to say, but if you do, please share.

quote of the day:
'not marble nor the gilded monuments
of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,
but you shall shine more bright in these contents
than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.'
   -sonnet 55

for tomorrow: Henry IV Part 1

-rebecca may

The Tragedy of King Richard Act 5, Scenes 3-6

186.

so much to do! paper for ASTR, syllabus for Theatre History 3, thesis, clean, read a few plays, blog, etc.! gotta go gotta go!!!

act 5, scene 3

Henry is looking for his son, who is apparently some sort of miscreant boozing about London. Aumerle comes in, completely freaked out. he asks to speak with Henry alone, and Henry obliges. they close the door and lock it. Henry promises not to open the door for anything. Henry also promises Aumerle, who is begging forgiveness, that he will pardon him no matter what the problem is. a moment later, York comes knocking at the door yelling "traitor!" Henry freaks out and opens the door for him. York tells Henry to condemn Aumerle, while Aumerle begs forgiveness. the Duchess, wife of York and mother of Aumerle, comes to beg for Aumerle. everyone pleads with the king. ultimately, King Henry decides to pardon Aumerle. he will, however, persecute every other person who was trying to revolt against him.

act 5, scene 4

Pierce, Exton, and some others are distressed by Henry's distress. they vow to kill the man who is distressing him: Richard.

act 5, scene 5

King Richard is alone in his cell, wordily lamenting his fate. time is his enemy these days. he receives a couple of visitors before Exton and the others arrive. Richard puts up a serious fight, killing a couple of men. eventually, however, he is killed.

act 5, scene 6

Henry is sharing with York the downfalls of some of the English towns.Northumberland and Fitzwater also come to deliver news. Percy, however, arrives with Carlisle and the news that Abbott has killed himself. in a strange move, Henry tells Carlisle that he's letting him go to live a quiet and secret life. he considers Carlisle to be an honorable man. Exton comes in with the biggest news of all: Richard is dead. Henry has mixed emotions. (see quote below.) Henry plans to make a trip to the Holy Land 'to wash this blood off [his] guilty hand.'

Henry has a son? WHAT?!? when did that happen? his 'wanton and effeminate boy'. HA.

here's how i feel about some of these characters... York: moralistic and idealistic to the point that he is going to go DOWN soon. i predict it. Aumerle: he is one. lucky. bastard. he keeps evading consequences. Henry: he's a fool. he's no better than Richard. in fact, he might be worse.

so i'm a bit confused by the end of scene 5. what is it that Exton is feeling about the murder? i can't tell whether he is happy, regretful, or a combination thereof. what's going on there?

what the HELL is going on with Henry? he pardons Aumerle, has a bunch of others killed, pardons Carlisle, is happy that Richard is dead. what is up with him? he seems just as random as Richard was. what is going to happennnnn?

quote of the day:

'they love not poison that do poison need,

nor do i thee. though i did wish him dead,

i hate the murderer, love him murdered.

the guilt of conscience take thou for thy labor,

but neither my good word nor princely favor.

with Cain go wander through the shades of night,

and never show thy head by day nor light.'

   -King Henry; act 5, scene 6

for tomorrow: sonnets!

-rebecca may

The Tragedy of King Richard Act 5, Scenes 1 and 2

187.

okie dokie kiddies. i'm hard core attacking my 5 things to do today: Shakespeare, crunches, work, laundry, read Gem of the Ocean. i got this on lock! if you are reading this, i'm telling you that this 5 goals a day thing really works! check it out. but annnyyyywayyyy, this play is getting good! man, i was really into it when i was reading this morning. check it out...

act 5, scene 1

the Queen is on the path toward the Tower, waiting for Richard to come along the path. when Richard comes by, he begs her not to grieve and to go immediately to France. the Queen cannot believe that he is going out with a whimper instead of a growl. (see quote below.) Richard is VERY 'woe is me' and yet begs his wife not to grieve too much. Northumberland enters with news for Richard. instead of going to the Tower, Bolingbroke has decided to send Richard to Pomfret Castle in Yorkshire. Richard warns Northumberland that corruption leads to more corruption. it won't be long before Bolingbroke will realize that if Northumberland can overthrow one king, he can surely overthrow another. he finishes his warning with: 'the love of wicked men converts to fear,/that fear to hate, and hate turns one or both/to worthy danger and deserved death.' the Queen begs Northumberland to banish both of them, but he says no. she also begs him to let her go with Richard. Richard points out that if they go together, they still won't be able to see each other. they kiss as they part, so full of grief to leave each other.

act 5, scene 2

the Duchess of York is asking the Duke of York to recount what just happened when Bolingbroke and Richard arrived in London. when Bolingbroke arrived, the "greedy" citizens of London cheered him on. when Richard arrived, however, no one cheered, and people threw things at him. Aumerle, their son, arrives. he has been stripped of his title for being a supporter of Richard. York notices that Aumerle has a document on him and demands to see it. Aumerle resists, but eventually York gets it from him. when he reads it, he is shocked to see words of treason. Aumerle has entered into a pact to assassinate Bolingbroke. York will not stand for this treason. although the Duchess begs him not to, York heads out to inform Bolingbroke of this treason. after he leaves, the Duchess sends Aumerle to beat him to Bolingbroke and get out of this mess. she will not be far behind.

one little random thing that's interesting to me- in the beginning of the act, the Queen refers to the Tower of London as being Julius Caesar's. apparently tradition of the time called it Caesar's, but it was actually built by William the Conqueror to keep London in check. interesting! thanks for the history lesson Mr. Bevington.

Richard is seriously playing the martyr here. i understand that he's lost his kingdom, but does he not remember that he was kind of a crappy king? is he not aware? or is his memory just selective? i'm not sure whether or not the answers are in the text. if not, these would be some interesting actor questions. again, i'd love to see this onstage.

what is the significance of Pomfret Castle vs. the Tower? the castle sounds less intense. true or false?

quote of the day:

'what, is my Richard both in shape and mind

transformed and weakened? hath Bolingbroke

deposed thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart?

the lion dying thrusteth forth his paw

and wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage

to be o'erpowered; and wilt thou, pupil-like,

take the correction, mildly kiss the rod,

and fawn on rage with base humility,

which art a lion and the king of beasts?'

   -Queen; act 5, scene 1

for tomorrow: the rest of the play!

-rebecca may

The Tragedy of King Richard Act 4

188.

so here's my latest plan, and so far (for two days), so good: make 5 goals a day. whatever it is i need to do. even if taking a shower is uber-important for the day, put it on the list. if i accomplish those 5 things, then i can move on to other things. of course things like work go on the list, but it's a great opportunity to motivate myself to get things accomplished that i might normally put off. i also have a tendency to become so overwhelmed with the number of things that i have to do, that i don't accomplish as much as i need to. so... 5 things a day. it's awesome. and guess what's on the list every day? that's right...

act 4, scene 1

Bolingbroke asks Bagot what he knows about Gloucester's death. (remember that? from long long ago?) Bagot points his finger at Aumerle. he also accuses Aumerle of not wanting Bolingbroke to be king. Aumerle gets pissed and throws down his gage. Fitzwater refutes Aumerle and throws his gage down. Aumerle continues to deny the charges and Percy points his finger at Aumerle as well. he's so upset, he throws down his gage. soon, yet another gage is thrown down. Surrey gets on Aumerle's side, pointing fingers at Fitzwater. so guess what? he throws his gage down too. more gages are thrown down and taken up. Aumerle even has to borrow a gage! someone's gage is thrown down against Norfolk (the other man banished. remember that?). the news is revealed that Norfolk is actually dead. York enters with news that Richard is giving up his crown "with willing soul". Carlisle, however, speaks out against it. he is a clergyman, and gives his honest opinion. he thinks it's wrong to basically try Richard when he isn't even there. they are going against God's will, and they will be published. Northumberland calls him a traitor and has him taken into custody. Richard is finally brought in. he's talking a little crazy. giving up his crown is obviously taking its toll on him. (see quote below.) he does eventually give his crown over to Bolingbroke, but he is losing it. Bolingbroke plays at being respectful, but it seems like it's just a show. the one thing Richard asks is for Bolingbroke to let him go instead of trying him. if he lets him go, Richard promises he will never be heard from again. Bolingbroke, however, has him taken to the Tower. after everyone leaves, a few of the Lords agree to meet in secret to discuss how to fix this whole situation.

so we remember that the gage being thrown down is a challenge from one person to another? if the other person picks up the gage, the challenge is accepted. got it? ok good.

so all this gage-throwing... is this meant to highlight the ridiculousness of the situation? or is the tension supposed to be mounting here? to me, it's bordering on funny. i wish i could see this on stage!

hm... looks like Bolingbroke is turning into exactly the tyrant that he accused Richard of being. anyone else seeing that?

quote of the day:

'alack, why am i sent for to a king,

before i have shook off the regal thoughts

wherewith i reigned? i hardly yet have learned

to insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my knee.

give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me

to this submission. yet i will remember

the favors of these men. were they not mine?

did they not sometime cry, "all hail!" to me?

so Judas did to Christ. but he, in twelve,

found truth in all but one; i, in twelve thousand, none.

God save the King! will no men say amen?

am i both priest and clerk? well then, amen.

God save the King, although i be not he;

and yet, amen, if heaven do think him me.

to do what service am i sent for hither?'

   -King Richard

for tomorrow: act 5, scenes 1-3

-rebecca may