Witch Slapped: Macbeth's fall from Grace

While Macbeth was Shakespeare's shortest written work, the themes he explored merit hundred page analyses. One of the most interesting themes explored through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship was the concept of manhood.

Shakespeare's idea of manhood was that a true man made decisions and did not need the input of his wife, or anyone else for that matter. This is shown through Lady Macbeth's frequent emasculation of Macbeth with lines such as "are you a man?" (Act III, Scene IV) and "When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man" (Act I, Scene VII). Macbeth is looked down by Shakespeare on for viewing his wife as an equal and being interested in her input. This view would have been held by all of the people in England at this point in time.

This idea of manhood differs from the view of manhood held today. Manhood today is no longer about not listening to your wife, it is about being humble, strong, and decisive. It is not manly to ignore others or take no input, rather it is viewed as foolish. A man today is defined by his ability to collaborate, his ability to stick to his morals, and his ability to provide a good example for others. It is  worth it to mention that conventional ideas of manhood from Shakespeare's time period have not faded away completely. A man is still expected to provide for his family, to be physically strong, and to be a little out of touch with their emotions.

What it takes to be a good man is case specific, but on the whole it depends on the different types of  strength. A good man is a good father and a good friend, someone who is strong but kind and fun to be around; that is emotional strength. A good man is smart and knows what he wants out of life; that is logical strength. A good man is able to work with others and compromise when need be, he knows that he does not know everything and is not always right; that is social strength. And finally a good man needs to be able to protect himself and the people he cares about in case of emergency; this is physical strength. Good men may look different, come from different places, and speak different languages, but all good men have these character traits in common.

My views on manhood differ from Macbeth in a few aspects, but have many overlaps. For example I believe that a good man needs to be smart and know what he wants out of life, and Shakespeare expresses that same theme via Macbeth's pursuit of political power. I also agreed with Shakespeare in believing that a man needs to be a protector of his family. Lady Macbeth places a high amount of value on Macbeth being king of Scotland, because she believes that it is what is best for herself and Macbeth. A King is the most revered and respected person within a nation, and with respect comes safety.

My views on what being a man is differ from the play in two key ways. I do not believe that men  have to be the sole financial provider for their families, and Shakespeare does not represent this theme at all throughout the play. I also do not believe that men should be out of touch with their emotions, and Macbeth's downfall are his emotions. Macbeth's guilt from killing Banquo is what leads to his rapid decline in the final act of the play, and this is Shakespeare's version of warning men of what perils befall those who do not have their emotions in check.

Freebie

This is my only freebie for the semester and I am using it on blog post 5. I believe that this will help me strategically, but I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the butt!

Can't Bury These Tales

I was out in the cold on Saturday the 17th to watch the play. This is my Canterbury free-bee. :)

Seven Deadly Bugers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dARPOq5VPPA

Above is the most recent Carl's Jr./ Hardees advertisement for the 1,180 calorie Tex Mex Thickburger; published on September 25th, 2015. This advertisement contains clear examples of lust, gluttony, and pride. This ad features overtly sexualized versions of American and Mexican women competing in a sexy, sexy beach volleyball game across the border to determine if the horrific meat pile is 'Tex' or 'Mex' (aren't we all winners just to watch?). The setting of a hot day in South Texas aids in Carl's Jr.'s ability to justify using images of sweaty women in bikinis competing against each other. Interestingly enough, while there are plenty of implicit and explicit messages about the role of women in society, there is no discernible difference between the social status of Mexicans and Americans, and the cultures of the two nations were portrayed as homogenous.

 As far as the sins present in the advertisement, lust is implicit because the men in the ad are transfixed by the scantily clad women playing volleyball. Gluttony is also apparent in this ad because the women and men are all eating overly large and unhealthy burgers and glorifying an unhealthy diet. And finally, there is pride in this ad because both the U.S. and Mexico are fighting for the right to claim the gluttonous burger are as their own creation. All of these sins are portrayed in this advertisement through visual imagery and dialogue, and it is geared towards males aged 13-35.

What's in a name?

Aidan, a name originating in Ireland in 400 B.C that means fiery one. It has adorned soccer players, actors, and even a Patron Saint of the Diocese in Ferns. This name defines me because it is a cornerstone of an understanding of myself. When I think of person, I think of them as the sum total of their physical characteristics, personality traits, aspirations, and their name. My name is what I have always been called, and it is one of the ways I define myself. I am Aidan, I have always been Aidan, and I will alway be Aidan. 

When you work for an organization like the YMCA, you are yourself and also a representative of a larger whole. At work you have to adhere to strict work codes, a blue shirt with your nametag on the right, athletic shorts, and nor piercings. I am a part of the work force, a part of the camp counselors, and a part of a positive image. Within that I have the freedom to express myself in small ways like creative socks and hats, but the regular Aidan has to be filtered down into a parent and child friendly version. There are aspects of my vernacular and personality that I have to omit or alter to fit into the work me. The me that hangs out with my friends and exercises after work is different from the me that makes sure the kids are engaged and having a good time. 

Wing Young Huie and Margaret Atwood: A Study in Othering

Wing Young Huie "We Gave Them an Inch" Fargo, North Dakota (1999)

        Upon examining this Wing Young Huie photograph we see what appears to be a Native American man standing outside of a store with his arms crossed wearing a T-Shirt that reads "we gave them an inch and they took 5,000 miles" and has Native Americans on horses in traditional tribal wear. He has long hair, sunglasses, a few arm tattoos, scars, and two bracelets.

       Looking beyond the surface level, we see a man making a statement. The choices this man, clearly of Native American descent ("We gave them an inch") made as far as his appearance were not happenstance. His hair is long, similar to that of his ancestors, and his shirt is clearly anti-manifest destiny and the trail of tears. His facial expression shows that he is not laughing or making a joke of the matter. He is unhappy, not in every aspect of his life, but he is unhappy because of what happened to his people. Even though he may not have experienced what his ancestors did directly, he sees the result of it every day. North Dakota is a large plain with mountainous regions, land that belonged to the Sioux and many other Native tribes. He lives there, but not nearly similar to the way he would have without the westward expansion of the United States. In a society where western culture prevails, he is making the choice to be other.
        Margaret Atwood also presented the concept of 'othering' in her novel The Handmaid's Tale. Atwood did this through her use of language, illustrating Offred as the character who stood in contrast from society. Offred's diction shows that she is not an uneducated or complacent handmaid, and the way she is talked about and described by other characters affirms this. For example, when Offred describes the inside of her room she proclaims "My white curtains are like gauze bandages, hanging limp, glimmering in the aura cast by the search-light" (Atwood, 97). Huie presents 'othering' visually by contrasting the Native American man with his modern surroundings. His facial expression  and shirt tell the story without using any words. The black and white color of the photograph gives it a timeless, if not old feeling, regardless of the fact that it was taken in 1999. These two works take different approaches, but both effectively convey the concept of 'othering'.