American Tempest: Overture

[salimondo]

"If a theatre were to take on the task of doing the entire work of Shakespeare, out of an absolute conviction that this is the greatest school of life that they know, that group would be an astonishing group in human terms." - Peter Brook

Comments

Beautiful

[wireless_soul]

Got caught up in Keith's discussion and didn't read this until now. Looking forward to the next chapter!

your indulgence

[salimondo]

Thanks for reading. So far the platform seems to be holding water!

I see a ship in the harbor

[pharminatrix]

The gerund contains a verb and becomes a thing only by the presence of its process. And a ship contains sailors which drive it forward and maintain its upkeep. Without the verb, the gerund becomes just another noun, and without sailors, the ship is just an empty boat which eventually decays through neglect.

Obstacles and/or the final approach towards destination volatize these active ingredients, but once past danger and into harbor, the New World exercises its narcotic properties and renders them literally dormant:
The Marriners all under hatches stowed,
Who, with a Charme joynd to their suffred labour
I have left asleep

I don't recall the sailors in Greenaway's adaptation, and we only encounter them (aside from the final scene) after the first scene in an early report from Ariel; for them, the remainder of the play is their epilogue, their charmed dream.The only reminder we have of their condition is Miranda's on-stage somnambulation.
It interests me that Shakespeare left this in the text. He could have killed off the mariners or left

wayfarers all

[salimondo]

If "for riding is required a horse," then we can indeed flip this: for shipping is required some sailors.

Given what we know about the behavior of sailors (much less stewardesses) on shore leave, I think there's a difference between home port and harbor. The question might be who if anyone is truly at home on the island, but that's for next time.

"Why, where are you off to, Ratty?" asked the Mole in great surprise,
grasping him by the arm.

"Going South, with the rest of them," murmured the Rat in a dreamy monotone, never looking at him. "Seawards first and then on shipboard, and so to the shores that are calling me!"

Rosencrantz and Gilligan

[minniethemoocha]

I don't think that the end of Tempest is about colonization, exactly. I think it's about apocalypse: New World as New World and point of departure. When they return to Italy it will not be the same. But the end of this world is no tragedy. The boatswain and the shipsmaster huddle in the hold through a terrifying din, the last alarum. The sounds of chains and creaking wood are not the sounds of destruction, but the sound of the spirit's magic rebuilding the wreck. All that was broken is repaired, and all who have done wrong repent as much as they are able. There is no further need for spells or conjuring of sprites. Everyone's going home, some of them for the first time.

But you're right: they don't really go back. We never see it happen. What storm keeps them on the island, after all?

[bloodandsalsa]

Mr. D. sends his regards.

[ygg13]

Happy 37th, Scott! Today is a good day to be born.

P.S.: This entry made me want to read Shakespeare. I'll get his Complete Works in the near future. Wish I had something to add to the discussion, but not yet ready.

Hello,

[musewithamagnum]

Michaleen has highly recommend your journal to me...do you mind if I add you to my friends list? It has been a pleasure to read.

Hello

[salimondo]

You're too kind (and come highly recommended yourself -- Blacksburg rocks!). At this rate I'll have to update more often.

Re: Hello

[musewithamagnum]

Thank you - I look forward to the updates. You've hit several of my favorite subjects already (the Magic Flute, Hans Christian Andersen in particular).

I love it here - Blacksburg is definitely not as sleepy as I was led to believe it would be!

Home twice removed

[pharminatrix]

Hey, that purple bird perched up there told me you're in Architecture at Tech. Are you doing the grad program or undergrad, and in either case, how are you finding it?