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[gileonnen]

Thirty Days of Shakespeare meme!

Day #2: Your favorite characterThis is an incredibly difficult question for me, because I want to say 'EVERYONE, YES, EVEN THAT ONE' and be done with it. Even if I were to apply more discerning standards, I would still come up with a massive list--Angelo and Isabella, I love because they're trying desperately to

Comments

[likeadeuce]

This is beautifully argued.

[gileonnen]

I'm glad you think so! I ... am not totally sure whether anyone else in the world agrees with me. XD

[likeadeuce]

I wouldn't have thought of it in these terms before, but I really like the say you put this. I've always had a lot of sympathy for Laertes, but there's the whole "he lets himself get co-opted by Claudius, he's willing to commit murder in a church, he cheats in the fight" part. . .but if you look at him not as somebody who's less moral than Hamlet but as somebody who has thought through the risks and still wants to take them knowing his soul will be in peril (as Hamlet's ultimately is too, however much he dithers), then it comes into focus.

[gileonnen]

Yes! Yes, this! Just as you say. ^__^

[cl0ckw0rks]

Compellingly argued, I would add...

I'm enjoying reading your essays on these questions. I don't always agree with you, but I adore the capacity for deep, extended thought that you demonstrate with every elegantly turned word.

[gileonnen]

Thank you for the kind words! I've got rather unorthodox opinions on Shakespeare, and so I'm not at all surprised at dissenting sentiments.

[snowyofthenight]

This is lovely. I want to do this meme, but your wonderfully written and reasoned answers would put me to shame. XD

[gileonnen]

N'awwww, that's why I'm lagging behind everyone else who's doing it--I feel like their answers put me to shame!

[reconditarmonia]

THIS IS NOT SURPRISING AT ALL

[gileonnen]

XD XD XD But the one in the play's so much more interesting than the one in my head!

[reconditarmonia]

Well, we're long since past the point where the game had any connection to the play. XD

[elviaprose]

Great essay! I especially appreciate your observation that Laertes dies without ever knowing whether Hamlet has forgiven him. I've never really thought about the significance of that before. I'm almost sure that some of the productions I've seen have had Hamlet make some sort of gesture that makes his forgiveness clear, before Laertes dies. It's never been a directorial choice I've given much thought to, when watching Hamlet, but you've changed all of that for me.

You know, I've always wanted to see a production of Hamlet where Laertes was cast as a woman. You have such insight into Laertes--I wonder what you think of the idea.

[gileonnen]

I think that, were Laertes cast as a woman, it would do fascinating things to Hamlet's obsessive desire to police Ophelia's and Gertrude's sexuality--because here would be Laertes (Anticleia?) and Ophelia policing each other, Laertes/Anticleia spouting about harlotry while behaving in a way that could only be deemed harlot's conduct. She would seem to confirm everything that this play says about women and the dangers of their getting out ... and she would do so not to destroy the 'chaste treasure' of her honor and her family's, but to preserve it. All of which means, I'd be all for it!