Kate Tempest on Shakespeare

(Spoken) word:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_auc2Z67OM

Forgiveness in philosophy

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/forgiveness/

Arthur Miller: Tragedy and the Common Man

February 27, 1949

Tragedy and the Common Man  by ARTHUR MILLER

I believe that the common man is as good a subject for tragedy as kings were.

 

We feel tragedy when we meet a character who is ready to lay down his life to secure one thing: his sense of personal dignity.

 

The struggle inside all tragedy is that of the individual attempting to gain his "rightful" position in his society.

 

Only the passive, only those who accept their lot in life without fighting back, are "flawless." (Like most of us.)

 

Our biggest fear is being torn away from our chosen image of what and who we are in this world. It is the common man who knows this fear best.

 

The tragic struggle demonstrates the indestructible will of man to achieve his humanity.

 

Poetry: lifesaving videos

2 a day between now and the exam?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN402fjKty8&list=PLaIevfqn6i7BMS3NefTsPg04ww95cGtF-&index=4

Mercy and forgiveness in another Shakespeare play...

Laura Carmichael as Portia from 'The Merchant of Venice', begging Shylock to show mercy: 

http://gu.com/p/4tmb4?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

How far does Prospero measure up to Portia's ideal of a 'merciful' figure?

Here's the speech written down:

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘T is mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant there.

A04 + 3 - did Shakespeare have syphillis?

An article which reviews two new books on Shakespeare. One of these books suggests Shakespeare may have been syphilitic later in his life. 

 

It then goes on to consider how this may have influenced Shakespeare's attitude towards sex in his later plays. Perhaps it could be linked to an interpretation of Prospero's 'Hymen's lamps' - the stress placed on Ferdinand and Miranda not sleeping together. 

 

The link is below - the second part of the article is where the writer discusses the syphilis claim.

 

http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2016/05/measure-pleasure-sex-money-and-shakespeare

 

Could be an interesting and unusual piece of Ao4 and Ao3.

The Globe's 2014 production of 'The Tempest' on youtube - great revision and A04!

Thanks to Sam for this excellent find- really useful revision and another perspective to include in your essays:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5XlfPw14Qw&list=PLWI8THsLoGZq08TnpK_rOa-fxQ4EMWgo2&index=6

 

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V1MKIASLBo