An Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Essay - 1592 Words

An Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Hamlet by William Shakespeare has been considered by many critics as one of the best plays in English literature. It has also been considered as one of the best tragedies among the many Shakespeare wrote. It is a story which revolves around this person called Hamlet, prince of Denmark. It is set in the Elizabethan times in the 16th century. It is a tragedy because it results in the deaths of many characters either accidentally or purposefully or forcefully. They all revolve around Hamlet’s actions and thoughts and the deaths, either directly or indirectly are a consequence of his actions. Each character in Hamlet is important and deserves a great deal of†¦show more content†¦The ghost also makes Hamlet and three other Danes swear to avenge ‘his most unnatural death’. The ghost brings about the beginning of the play by making its appearance and appealing to Hamlet. The ghost appears again when it confronts Hamlet with his mother, Gertrude. It brings Hamlet back to his senses after he commits a murder in a rash mood. It is not seen by Gertrude. It tries to urge him to try to dissuade his mother to live any longer with Claudius. The ghost plays two roles, the first one to inform Hamlet of the truth and the second one to pacify him after his rash action. 2. Claudius – Claudius is the late king Hamlet’s brother. He murders his brother, marries his sister-in-law and ascends to the throne despite the king’s own son Hamlet being alive. Claudius is a very cunning and shrewd man who speaks eloquently and manipulatively trying to justify his actions. He is the person at whom Hamlet’s anger is mainly targeted at. Claudius gives us the picture of a very crafty person who is very quick to spot areas which can help him and to exploit them. He is a man who tries to turn everything to his advantage. He is also quite shameless about his horrendous deeds though, he does try to ask forgiveness for his crime by trying to pray at which he fails miserably.Show MoreRelatedHamlet Character Analysis961 Words   |  4 PagesWhen one reads William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is easy to overlook the female characters as powerless and subservient. However, things are not always what they seem at first glance, as a further analysis of Gertrude and Ophelia suggests. Although the plot centers around Hamlet’s quest for revenge, these two female characters have a profound influence on what transpires. These women certainly play more significant roles than they seem at first. In Act I, Gertrude appears to be an unfaithful wifeRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis2058 Words   |  9 PagesWilliam Shakespeare. The play is a drama that includes a love story, betrayal, and a tragic ending. During the time Hamlet was written, the population of England loved watching the hard ache of others and they epically loved murder and gore. Luckily for Shakespeare, todays current population loves watching and reading about the same things which kept most of his work around. The play Hamlet is the story of a young price that lost his father to a murderer who happens to be his uncle, Claudius. ClaudiusRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Hamlet In Hamlet730 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet is a character of melancholy because he is a very sad individual finding out that his very own uncle has killed his father. He is wanting to commit suicide but he’s contemplating it because it is a sin. He is not to fond of Claudius considering he was the one that had killed his father in th e first place. â€Å"O most wicked speed, to post/ With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!/ It is not nor it cannot come to good/ But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue† This quote is showing how heRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Gertrude in Hamlet902 Words   |  4 PagesGertrude: Character Analysis Introduction There is no doubt in saying that Hamlet is counted as one of the famous play of English language (Thompson and Taylor 74). It was written in 1601 by Shakespeare and was performed at The Globe Theatre. This essay will evaluate role of Gertrude, mother of Prince Hamlet who is the title character of the play. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the character of Gertrude and find out if she was really disloyal to her husband late King Hamlet and responsibleRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis918 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play Hamlet, Shakespeare raises the question regarding deception and the differences between â€Å"seeming† and â€Å"being†. Each character is trying to decipher what each other are truly thinking, contrary to what they are pretending to think. Shakespeare sets Hamlet up to illustrate the complexity of how one must deceive others to reveal the truth.  ¬Ã‚ ¬The coexistence of appearances and reality develops as the Danish court gets engulfed in a we b of corruption, lies and deception. Through how ShakespeareRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis729 Words   |  3 PagesWill Hamlet accept the new changes in his life? What is he capable of to be happy? After his father’s death, Hamlet will have to face the new changes in his hometown, Denmark. Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to other characters in these soliloquies. Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to the ghost of king Hamlet. To start the ghost says, â€Å"I am thy father’s spirit†(Shakespeare 60). King Hamlet’s ghost had appeared in Hamlet’s life after his death. At first HamletRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis Essay1014 Words   |  5 PagesNicole Ventzke Crystal Jensen 1102 T/H 2/14/11 Hamlet Character Analysis: Hamlet One aspect that makes William Shakespeare’s Hamlet alluring is how he broke the limiting mold of the one-dimensional character by representing characters in all of their human complexity. Hamlet, for example, is a compelling character because he is complicated. As Hamlet himself observes early in the play in, â€Å"Tis not alone my inky cloak/nor customary suits of solemn black, /Nor†¦forced breath/No, nor the fruitfulRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Hamlet1065 Words   |  5 Pageswill be explaining where and when Hamlet talks about certain characters, to help explain how he thinks about them (ex: King Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude). This essay will help to explain Hamlet as well as his thought process throughout the book (story). In Act 1, Scene 2 (Gertrude) (Lines 141-145) Quote â€Å"That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly.—Heaven and earth, Must I remember?† In this first part from line 141 to 143 Hamlet says â€Å"Oh God, do I have to rememberRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis1502 Words   |  7 PagesWritten by William Shakespeare, Hamlet has a strong relationship with the authors society and era, being the late 1500’s to early 1600’s. Hamlet, a character is confliction with his society, shows different views and actions to his fellow Danish men. Shakespeare could create a character whom through Hamlet’s life choices, his own historical and cultural context and the state of Hamlet being in confliction with the Elizabethan-era and Nihilism showed immense differences from his society, which ShakespeareRead MoreHamlet Character Analysis816 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet is dealt circumstances in life that are not only unfair, but also that he has no control over. Hamlet’s father was murdered by his uncle, his mother quickly remarried to his murderous uncle, and his life is in complete shambles by any measurement. Hamlet is dealt some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable, and has no real ability to change the circumstances that he must deal with. Hamlet has no choice but to live in a world that he did not create for himself which is entirely unfair

The Developmental Progress Of Children And Forever...

Jean Piaget is most known for studying the developmental progress of children and forever changing the education and psychology world. Piaget developed an interest in the intellectual development of children (Internet). Through studies Piaget was able to conclude that children possessed with a limited way of thinking that wasn’t necessarily wrong but instead different than grown adults (2013). Piaget created a four stage theory which provides insight to the mental development of children. This theory outlines the natural inclination children take towards mental development. Through a creation of studies Piaget was able to prove these stages and ever since many have done studies on this theory (Internet). Piaget had incorporated three parts into his theory: schema, the four processes that enable the transition from one stage to another, the four stages of cognitive development. In the process of Schema, Piaget believed there was two parts of this: assimilation and accommodation . A child may adapt by either interpreting an experience so that it fits an existing scheme, assimilation, or changing an existing scheme to incorporate the experience, accommodation (2013). Through my own personal studies, I was able to witness these theories at work. Throughout this paper I will describe myself as the experimenter and then the kids I did the study on, Jack and Lexie, I will call Subject 1 and 2 from now on. Subject 1, Jack, is age 7 and in second grade. He also completed threeShow MoreRelatedThe Effects of Advertising on Children33281 Words   |  134 PagesTelevision Advertising to Children A review of contemporary research on the influence of television advertising directed to children Prepared for ACMA by Dr Jeffrey E. Brand May 2007  © Commonwealth of Australia 2007 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the ManagerRead MoreCollaborative Practice Essay4034 Words   |  17 Pagesgroup. On reflection I found at such an early stage it was difficult to understand what my role was and as the aim of the group work was to finish exercises, mine and the groups focus was task related. A vital part of a nurses pre-registration education is good quality practice learning (NMC 2008) and by working alongside other professions exposes students to experiences greatly valued by patients(Johnson et al 2009).The IPL modules emphasised developing an understanding of the dynamics of workingRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesPearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, IncRead MoreHow Pastoral Care Policy Has Contr ibuted to the Management of Junior Secondary Schools In Botswana23474 Words   |  94 Pagescomments in every submission we made. Special thanks go to each one of our families for their prayers, believing in our abilities, supporting us and putting up with our three years absence. May the good Lord repay their patience and endurance. We are forever indebted to God Almighty who kept us healthy and supplied us with divine energy throughout our study. He in a miraculous way bound us together with strings that could not be broken to the end of the study. Last but not least are our colleagues atRead MoreChange Management49917 Words   |  200 Pagesgranted. In some sectors of the economy, organizations must have the capability to adapt quickly in order to survive. When organizations fail to change, the cost of failure may be quite high. All organizations exist in a changing environment and are themselves constantly changing. Increasingly, the organizations that emphasize bureaucratic or mechanistic systems are ineffective. The organizations with rigid hierarchies, high degree of functional specialization, narrow and limited job descriptionsRead MoreIntercultural Communication21031 Words   |  85 Pagesaware of the reasons for the development of the world into a global system: a. The development of technology has enabled a constant flow of information and ideas across boundaries. Communication is faster and more available than ever. The development of transportation as well, has increased face-to-face contact with people from different cultural backgrounds immensely b. These developments have affected the world economy. The business world is becoming more international and interrelatedRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesCoral Graphics Text Font: 10/12 Weidemann-Book Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2011, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1998 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisherRead MoreLibrary Management204752 Words   |  820 Pages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 The Increasing Complexity of Human Resources Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Types of Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 The LIS Education and Human Resource Utilization Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 The Organizational Framework for Staffing . . . . . . . . . 216 Job Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Job Analysis . . .Read MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesCollective Bargaining 340 Endnotes 367 Glossary 389 Company Inde x 395 Subject Index 398 v Contents PART 1 UNDERSTANDING HRM Chapter 1 The Dynamic Environment of HRM 2 Learning Outcomes 2 Introduction 4 5 Understanding Cultural Environments 4 The Changing World of Technology What Is a Knowledge Worker? 6 How Technology Affects HRM Practices 6 Recruiting 7 Employee Selection 7 Training and Development 7 Ethics and Employee Rights 7 Motivating Knowledge Workers 7 Paying Employees Market Value 8 CommunicationsRead MoreMm-Chapter 1-3 Dawn Iacobucci17854 Words   |  72 PagesP P R O V E D THE MEET SHOW PROCESS ARE WE LISTENING? Reach out to students to understand their learning preferences and motivations for taking a course. Students in the Marketing Management course wanted an approach with core material and real-world cases to tie concepts together.    MARKETING SOLUTIONS DID WE DO IT? Develop learning solutions based on today’s students and validate through an iterative process to ensure the ideal product mix. MM2 features an integrated marketing management framework

The Classical Political Economy Developed Theories And...

Economic system in the world is mostly productive in America this is due to the constant unlimited wants of its people and the fact that most people have high standards of living (Rosefielde, 2008). An individual has different wants and at any particular time an individual can satisfy his or her wants through purchasing these goods therefore there is an unlimited wants for goods and services. In recent times people consume goods that they don’t produce they sell or provide services then the income they gain from the services they purchase the goods that they want to consume. In this paper I will discuss the developed theories of the classical political economy developed theories and discuss on their different characteristics. These theories were mainly concerned with the changing aspects of economic growth in different centuries. Classical political economy is the political economy during industrial revolution from the 18th century to the 19th century. The theories of classica l political economy ask some specific questions whose answer creates the differences between them. Some of the asked questions are what does the surplus consist of and what defines its size, what is its origin, to whom is it distributed to, what causes or rather defines its growth over time. In addition the economists also ask what happens to the relative shares of surplus obtained by the various classes of revenue appropriators as the surplus increases. Lastly how does the distributive relation impactShow MoreRelatedTenets of Neoclassical Economy2154 Words   |  9 Pagesobjective of this academic essay is to discuss the main tenets of neoclassical economic liberalism, explain whether less developed countries should entirely depend on developed countries not and give the reasons. According to Schumpeter (1954), the classical school of economics was developed in the 1750 and lasted as the mainstream of economic thought until the late 1800. Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nation book published in 1776 can be used as the formal beginning of classical economics but it actually evolvedRead MoreTrade Liberalization And Socio Economic Development Essay1607 Words   |  7 PagesFrancis Department of Political Administrative Studies University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria And Okechukwu S. Amadi Department of Political Administrative Studies University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Abstract This paper sought to evaluate the concept of Trade Liberalization and Development in Nigeria especially from 1999 to 2010. It was discovered that Trade liberalization theory is a branch of internationalRead MoreWhat Does a â€Å"Political Economy† Approach to Study of the Creative and Cultural Industries Involve? What Are Its Advantages and Disadvantages?4265 Words   |  18 PagesIndustries, MA Module: HUP057N What does a â€Å"political economy† approach to study of the Creative and Cultural Industries involve? What are its advantages and disadvantages? ID: 10048001 Anastasia Davydova 1. Introduction The intention of this paper is to define what we mean by political economy? What does this approach involve to study the Creative and Cultural IndustriesRead MoreOrganizational Behavior Issues9605 Words   |  39 Pagesterm. Many companies have shown poor leadership when trying to capitalize on technological breakthroughs; e.g., Kodak; Xerox. 2. What are some of the new challenges confronting managers in today s business environment? The global, one-world economy is changing the nature of competition. The second generation of the Information Age, marked by advances in decision support and telecommunications technology, is changing the nature of work in all organizations. The quality Service Revolution isRead MoreThe French Revolution And The Enlightenment1708 Words   |  7 PagesFrancis Bacon and Thomas Hobbes, the Frenchman Renee Descartes and the important characteristic logicians of the Scientific Revolution, including Galileo, Kepler, and Leibniz. The civilization called for changes in different parts of Europe and America than bore a style known as baroque. The style was considerable by an ornate design in architecture. Artist developed neoclassical which were borrowed ideas from classical times. The enlightenment expands in the time when Fredrick the Great ruled PrussiaRead MoreRelationship Between Female And Economic Growth Essay1859 Words   |  8 PagesFurthermore, I will also discuss how women’s other rights’ change contribute to economic development. Initially, to assess women’s availability to these rights, I use administrative records from CIRI Human Rights Project. I find substantial changes in the femaleâ€℠¢s rights affect the economic growth between 2005 and 2014. Those changes are used to conclude that the progress of women’s rights has a negative impact on economic growth. Keywords: (Women’s economic rights women’s political rights women’s socialRead MoreThe Characteristics Of Client Patron Relationships3016 Words   |  13 PagesThe characteristics of client-patron relationships in politics in Africa tend to be discussed as a phenomenon, or an issue or obstacle, that make African states remain in a certain phase of development (Cammack, D. 2007 p. 600). However, other scholars (Chabal, P. Daloz, J-P. 1999; Erdmann, G. Engel, U. 2007) have recognised that this phenomenon in Africa deserve further analysis and that characteristics of what is defined as neopatrimonial features, which will be further elaborated this essayRead MoreRelation between Economics and Law3001 Words   |  13 PagesThe study of Law without the knowledge of other related social sciences i.e., Political theory, Sociology and Economics, etc, is incomplete. In any law curriculum the study of Economics and Law and their interaction is increasingly found neces sary. As Law influence Economics, Economics also influence Law. As a matter of fact Economics forms the basis of the study of Law. Economics reflects the socio-economic ethos of the country in particular and world in general. It becomes out of date and misleadingRead More The Impacts ofTransnational Corporations on Less Developed Countries2517 Words   |  11 Pages The issue of the impacts transnational corporations have on less developed countries has been a controversial and much disputed subject within the field of economics and development studies. Researchers using various models such as the Rostow Development model, Harrod Domar model and the Neoclassical Theory Model, have studied these impacts and have tried to come to a conclusion to this issue. Researchers have also conducted many case studies in order to investigate in depth factors contributingRead MoreLewis and Rostow2297 Words   |  10 PagesOutline the theories of Lewis and Rostow and discuss their relevance in analysing the problems of development in LDC’s In the 1950’s, the two most prominent economists of the Western school were Arthur Lewis and Walt W. Rostow. Their theories had a significant impact on the policies of Western governments regarding development in LDC’s. Arthur Lewis claimed he was a classical economist because he disagreed with the neo-classical school. He argued that the neo-classical assumption of full employment

Analysis Of Chronicle Of A Death Foretold By Gabriel...

What could have been more valued than honor during 1900’s culture in Colombia? During this time period honor, especially in the form of a woman s value based on sexuality, was a prevailing influence of one s importance in society. Although, today one may say this perception of status has vanished and been interchanged by wealth, it is still an essential concept that differentiates one s superior qualities and character in society. This notion of honor is greatly portrayed in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, when Angelica’s brothers kill Santiago Nasar for taking her value as a woman. However, the nature of mystery in the novel also leaves many questions about Santiago s actual guilt in taking Angelica†¦show more content†¦This quote from the text suggests the reader that Angelica did not have any connection with Santiago, instead it suggests that she vaguely chose any name to satisfy her family desire to recoup her honor. This is because Angelica’s thought process of looking for the name in the shadows and finding it at first sight has the connotation that she did not think clearly and just picked the name that first came to her mind. Additionally, she thought of saying the name of a dead person which conveys that she did not have anyone to blame and was just trying to prevent someone from getting murdered. However, she did not have a logical reason to accuse a dead person so she chose to sentence Santiago. Therefore, considering that it was very unlikely for Angelica to have lost her virginity to a man combined with her questionable and unproven sentencing of Santiago; there’s a lot confusion and questioning about how Angelica is not a virgin on her wedding night. The most plausible explanation for Angelica’s inexplicable events leading to the discovery that she is not a virgin could be due to her not wanting to marry Bayardo San Roman. This is shown through the forcefulness of Angelica’s family in making her get married, since â€Å"Bayardo San Roman hadn t even tried to court her, but had bewitched the family to his charm,† (Marquez 34). Additionally Angelica immediately follows by saying her family,Show MoreRelatedMaria Alejandrina Cervantes in Chronicle of a Death Foretold1239 Words   |  5 PagesMaria Alejandrina Cervantes—Commentary—Chronicle of a Death Foretold â€Å"I dreamed that a woman was coming into the room with a little girl in her arms, and that the child was chewing without stopping to take a breath, and that half-chewed kernels of corn were falling into the woman’s brassiere. The woman said to me: ‘She crunches like a nutty nuthatch, kind of sloppy, kind of slurpy.’ Suddenly I felt the anxious fingers that were undoing the buttons of my shirt, and I caught the dangerous smellRead MoreChronicle Of A Death Foretold By Garcia Marquez1134 Words   |  5 PagesRealism through Setting in Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold Question: How far does setting serve to reinforce or emphasize meanings or themes within Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Work Used: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez In Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez, the setting plays a potent role in showing a certain theme. Especially what happens in a certain setting plays a dominant part in developing a theme. Mà ¡rquez is best known for hisRead MoreAnalysis of Cultural Flaw in Chronicle of a Death Foretold1485 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Cultural Flaw in Chronicle of a Death Foretold Humanity has built grand and wondrous cultures and societies, for the better of mankind people have devoted themselves to a functional structured society. But have these creations become merely fabrications that hinder one’s true beliefs? Throughout the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, author Gabriel Garcia Marquez gives insight into Colombian society. As the story of a murder unravels Marquez projects the themes of honor and fateRead MoreChronicle of a Death Foretold Reflective1503 Words   |  7 PagesChronicle of a Death Foretold: Cultural Analysis In America, there is a judicial system that helps justice prevail, to punish criminals, and let the innocent walk. The judicial system allows for there to be a trial where evidence is presented. Through the evidence presented, the jury then decides if the person on trial is innocent or guilty. Never in any trial, in any courthouse, under any judge would it be allowed for a murder to be justified so that one could restore a relative’s honor. HoweverRead MoreChronicle Of A Death Foretold By Gabriel Garcia Marquez1492 Words   |  6 PagesHowever often this may happen, Latin Americans are indeed American. Dealing with this identity crisis, many turned to writing as an outlet. Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a successful author that utilizes this form of expression.Writing Chronicle of a Death Foretold, a story surrounding the true life of a Latin American at an earlier time in history. This enabled Marquez to extract his personal interpretation of America and exaggerate it in such a way that it is unique and believable in comparison to that

Last Sacrifice Chapter Nine Free Essays

string(152) " how far we were from civilization–and based on how dark it was away from the fire–I was willing to bet they didn’t have electricity\." FORTUNATELY, THEY WERE MOROI FACES. That didn’t stop me from raising my stake and moving closer to Sydney. No one was attacking us, so I held my position–not that it probably mattered. We will write a custom essay sample on Last Sacrifice Chapter Nine or any similar topic only for you Order Now As I took in more and more of the setting, I saw that we were completely surrounded by about ten people. We’d told Sydney we were good, and it was true: Dimitri and I could probably take out a group like this, though the poor fighting quarters would make it difficult. I also realized the group wasn’t entirely Moroi. The ones closest to us were, but around them were dhampirs. And the light I’d thought had come from torches or flashlights was actually coming from a ball of flame held in one of the Moroi’s hands. One Moroi man stepped forward, about Abe’s age, with a bushy brown beard and a silver stake in his hand. Some part of me noted the stake was crudely made compared to mine, but the point held the same threat. The man’s gaze passed over me and Dimitri, and the stake lowered. Sydney became the object of the guy’s scrutiny, and he suddenly reached out for her. Dimitri and I moved to stop him, but other hands reached out to stop us. I could have fought them but froze when Sydney let out a strangled, â€Å"Wait.’ The bearded Moroi gripped her chin and turned her head so that the light fell on her cheek, lighting up the golden tattoo. He released his hold and stepped back. â€Å"Lily-girl,’ he grunted. The others relaxed very slightly, though they kept their stakes poised and still looked ready to attack if provoked. The Moroi leader turned his attention from Sydney to Dimitri and me. â€Å"You’re here to join us?’ he asked warily. â€Å"We need shelter,’ said Sydney, lightly touching her throat. â€Å"They’re being chased by–by the Tainted.’ The woman holding the flame looked skeptical. â€Å"More like spies for the Tainted.’ â€Å"The Tainted Queen is dead,’ said Sydney. She nodded toward me. â€Å"They think she did it.’ The inquisitive part of me started to speak but promptly shut up, wise enough to know this bizarre turn of events was best left in Sydney’s hands. I didn’t understand what she was saying. When she’d said Tainted were pursuing us, I thought she was trying to make this group think we had Strigoi after us. Now, after she’d mentioned the queen, I wasn’t so sure. I also wasn’t so sure identifying me as a potential murderer was that smart. For all I knew, Brown Beard would turn me in and try to score a reward. From the looks of his clothes, he could have used one. To my surprise, this brought a smile to his face. â€Å"And so, another usurper passes on. Is there a new one yet?’ â€Å"No,’ said Sydney. â€Å"They’ll have elections soon and choose.’ The group’s smiles were replaced by looks of disdain and disapproving mutters about elections. I couldn’t help myself. â€Å"How else would they choose a new king or queen?’ â€Å"In the true way,’ said a nearby dhampir. â€Å"The way it used to be, long ago. In a battle to the death.’ I waited for the punch line, but the guy was clearly serious. I wanted to ask Sydney what she’d gotten us into, but by this point, we’d apparently passed inspection. Their leader turned and began walking down the path. The group followed, moving us along as they did. Listening to their conversation, I couldn’t help a small frown–and not just because our lives might be on the line. I was intrigued by their accents. The motel’s desk clerk had had a thick southern accent, exactly like you’d expect in this part of the country. These guys, while sounding similar, had a few other pronunciations mixed in. It almost reminded me a little of Dimitri’s accent. I was so tense and anxious that I could hardly focus on how long we walked. Eventually, the path led us to what seemed like a well-hidden campground. A huge bonfire blazed in a clearing with people sitting around. Yet, there were structures scattered off to one side, stretching into the woods along the now widened path. It wasn’t quite a road yet, but it gave the illusion of a town, or at least a village. The buildings were small and shabby but appeared permanent. On the other side of the fire, the land rose sharply into the Appalachians, blocking out the stars. In the flickering light, I could see a mountain’s face that was textured with rough stone and scattered trees, dotted here and there with dark holes. My attention moved back to the living. The crowd gathered around the fire–a couple dozen or so–fell silent as our escort led us in. At first, all I saw were numbers. That was the warrior in me, counting opponents and planning for attack. Then, just like I had earlier, I truly took in the faces. More Moroi mixed with dhampirs. And–I was shocked to discover–humans. These weren’t feeders either. Well, not in the sense that I knew feeders. Even in the dark, I could see glimpses of bite marks along some of the humans’ necks, but judging by their curious expressions, I could tell these people didn’t give blood regularly. They weren’t high. They were mixed in among the Moroi and dhampirs, sitting, standing, talking, engaging–the whole group clearly unified in some kind of community. I wondered if these humans were like the Alchemists. Maybe they had some sort of a business relationship with my kind. The tight formation around us began to spread out, and I moved closer to Sydney. â€Å"What in God’s name is all this?’ â€Å"The Keepers,’ she said in a low voice. â€Å"Keepers? What does that mean?’ â€Å"It means,’ said the bearded Moroi, â€Å"that unlike your people, we still keep the old ways, the way we truly should.’ I eyed these â€Å"Keepers’ in their worn clothes and the dirty, barefoot children. Reflecting upon how far we were from civilization–and based on how dark it was away from the fire–I was willing to bet they didn’t have electricity. You read "Last Sacrifice Chapter Nine" in category "Essay examples" I was on the verge of saying that I didn’t think this was how anyone should truly be living. Then, remembering the casual way these people had spoken about fights to the death, I decided to keep my views to myself. â€Å"Why are they here, Raymond?’ asked a woman sitting by the fire. She was human but spoke to the bearded Moroi in a perfectly ordinary and familiar way. It wasn’t the dreamy manner a feeder usually used with a Moroi. It wasn’t even like the stilted conversations my kind had with the Alchemists. â€Å"Are they joining us?’ Raymond shook his head. â€Å"No. The Tainted are after them for killing their queen.’ Sydney elbowed me before I could deny the claim. I clenched my teeth, waiting to be mobbed. Instead, I was surprised to find the crowd looking at me with a mix of awe and admiration, just as our welcoming party had. â€Å"We’re giving them refuge,’ explained Raymond. He beamed at us, though I didn’t know if his approval came from us being murderers or if he simply liked the attention he was getting. â€Å"Although, you are welcome to join us and live here. We have room in the caves.’ Caves? I jerked my head toward the cliffs beyond the fire, realizing now what those black holes were. Even as I watched, a few people retiring for the night crawled off and disappeared into the dark depths of the mountain. Sydney answered while I worked to keep a look of horror off my face. â€Å"We only need to stay here †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ She faltered, not surprising considering how sketchy our plans had become. â€Å"A couple days, probably.’ â€Å"You can stay with my family,’ said Raymond. â€Å"Even you.’ That was directed toward Sydney, and he made it sound like quite the favor. â€Å"Thank you,’ she said. â€Å"We’d be grateful to spend the night at your house.’ The emphasis on the last word was for me, I realized. The wooden structures along the dusty path didn’t look luxurious by any stretch of the imagination, but I’d take one over a cave any day. The village or commune or whatever was getting increasingly excited as our novelty sank in. They bombarded us with a flurry of questions, starting with ordinary things like our names but moving quickly on to specific details about how exactly I’d killed Tatiana. I was saved from having to answer when the human woman who had spoken to Raymond earlier jumped up and steered my threesome away. â€Å"Enough,’ she said, chastising the others. â€Å"It’s getting late, and I’m sure our guests are hungry.’ I was starving, actually, but didn’t know if I was in dire enough straits to eat opossum stew or whatever passed as food around here. The woman’s proclamation was met with some disappointment, but she assured the others they could talk to us tomorrow. Glancing around, I saw a faint purpling of what must have been the eastern sky. Sunrise. A group of Moroi clinging to â€Å"traditional’ ways would most certainly run on a nocturnal schedule, meaning these people probably only had a few more hours before bedtime. The woman said her name was Sarah and led us down the dusty path. Raymond called that he’d see us soon. As we walked, we saw other people wandering near scattered, ramshackle homes, on their way to bed or possibly woken up with all the commotion. Sarah glanced over at Sydney. â€Å"Did you bring us anything?’ â€Å"No,’ said Sydney. â€Å"I’m just here to escort them.’ Sarah looked disappointed but nodded. â€Å"An important task.’ Sydney frowned and appeared even more uneasy. â€Å"How long has it been since my people brought you anything?’ â€Å"A few months,’ said Sarah after a moment’s thought. Sydney’s expression darkened at this, but she said no more. Sarah finally took us inside one of the larger and nicer looking of the houses, though it was still plain and made of unpainted wooden boards. The inside was pitch black, and we waited as Sarah lit old-fashioned lanterns. I’d been right. No electricity. This suddenly made me wonder about plumbing. The floors were hardwood like the walls and covered in large, brightly patterned rugs. We appeared to be in some hybrid kitchen-living-dining room. There was a large fireplace in the center, a wooden table and chairs on one side, and large cushions on the other that I presumed served as sofas. Racks of drying herbs hung near the fireplace, filling the room with a spicy scent that mingled with the smell of burnt wood. There were three doors in the back wall, and Sarah nodded to one. â€Å"You can sleep in the girls’ room,’ she said. â€Å"Thanks,’ I said, not sure I really wanted to see what our guest accommodations were like. I was already missing the MOTEL. I studied Sarah curiously. She looked to be about Raymond’s age and wore a plain, knee-length blue dress. Her blond hair was pulled back and tied at her neck, and she seemed short to me the way all humans did. â€Å"Are you Raymond’s housekeeper?’ It was the only role I could deduce for her. She had a few bite marks but obviously wasn’t a feeder. At least not a full-time one. Maybe around here, feeders doubled as household help. She smiled. â€Å"I’m his wife.’ It was a mark of my self-control that I managed any sort of response. â€Å"Oh.’ Sydney’s sharp eyes fell on me, a warning in them: Let it go. I again clenched my jaw shut and gave her a brief nod to let her know I understood. Except, I didn’t understand. Dhampirs and Moroi hooked up all the time. Dhampirs had to. More permanent liaisons were scandalous–but not completely out of the realm of possibility. But Moroi and humans? That was beyond comprehension. Those races hadn’t gotten together in centuries. They’d produced dhampirs long ago, but as the modern world progressed, Moroi had completely withdrawn from intermingling (in an intimate way) with humans. We lived among them, sure. Moroi and dhampirs worked alongside humans out in the world, bought houses in their neighborhoods, and apparently had bizarre arrangements with secret societies like the Alchemists. And, of course, Moroi fed from humans–and that was the thing. If you kept a human close to you, it was because they were a feeder. That was your level of intimacy. Feeders were food, pure and simple. Well-treated food, yes, but not food you became friends with. A Moroi having sex with a dhampir? Racy. A Moroi having sex with a dhampir and drinking blood? Dirty and humiliating. A Moroi having sex with a human–with or without blood drinking? Incomprehensible. There were few things that shocked me or gave me offense. I was pretty liberal in my views when it came to romance, but the idea of human and Moroi marriage blew me away. It didn’t matter if the human was a type of feeder–as Sarah appeared to be–or someone â€Å"above’ that like Sydney. Humans and Moroi didn’t get together. It was primitive and wrong, which was why it was no longer done. Well, at least not where I came from. Unlike your people, we still follow the old ways. The funny thing was that no matter how wrong I thought all this was, Sydney had to feel even more strongly about it with her vampire hang-ups. I supposed she’d been prepared, however, which is why she could manage that cool expression of hers. She hadn’t been blindsided like Dimitri and me, because I felt with some certainty that he shared my feelings. He was just better at hiding surprise. A commotion at the door startled me out of my shock. Raymond had arrived and wasn’t alone. A dhampir boy of about eight or so sat on his shoulders, and a Moroi girl about the same age scurried alongside them. A pretty Moroi woman who looked to be in her twenties followed, and behind her was a cute dhampir guy who couldn’t have been more than a couple years older than me, if not exactly my age. Introductions followed. The children were Phil and Molly, and the Moroi woman was named Paulette. They all appeared to live there, but I couldn’t exactly figure out the relationships, except for the guy my age. He was Raymond and Sarah’s son, Joshua. He had a ready smile for all of us–especially me and Sydney–and eyes that reminded me of the piercing, crystalline blue of the Ozeras. Only, whereas Christian’s family tended to have dark hair, Joshua’s was a sandy blond with lighter gold highlights. I had to admit, it was an attractive combination, but that stunned part of my brain reminded me again that he’d been born from a human-Moroi hookup, not a dhampir and Moroi like me. The end product was the same, but the means were bizarre. â€Å"I’m putting them in your room,’ Sarah told Paulette. â€Å"The rest of you can share the loft.’ It took me a moment to realize â€Å"the rest of you’ meant Paulette, Joshua, Molly, and Phil. Glancing up, I saw there was indeed what looked like a loft space covering half the house’s width. It didn’t look big enough for four people. â€Å"We don’t want to inconvenience you,’ said Dimitri, sharing my thoughts. He’d been silent for almost all of this wood-land adventure, saving his energy for actions, not words. â€Å"We’ll be fine out here.’ â€Å"Don’t worry about it,’ said Joshua, again giving me that pretty smile. â€Å"We don’t mind. Angeline won’t either.’ â€Å"Who?’ I asked. â€Å"My sister.’ I repressed a grimace. Five of them crammed up there so that we could have a room. â€Å"Thank you,’ said Sydney. â€Å"We appreciate it. And we really won’t be staying long.’ Their dislike of the vampire world aside, Alchemists could be polite and charming when they chose. â€Å"Too bad,’ said Joshua. â€Å"Stop flirting, Josh,’ said Sarah. â€Å"Do you three want something to eat before bed? I could warm up some stew. We had it earlier with some of Paulette’s bread.’ At the word stew, all my opossum fears came racing back. â€Å"No need,’ I said hastily. â€Å"I’d just be fine with bread.’ â€Å"Me too,’ said Dimitri. I wondered if he was trying to reduce their work or if he shared my food fears. Probably not the latter. Dimitri seemed like the kind of guy you could throw into the wilderness and he would survive off anything. Paulette had apparently baked a lot of bread, and they let us have a picnic in our small little room with a full loaf and a bowl of butter that Sarah had probably churned herself. The room was about the size of my dorm room at St. Vladimir’s, with two down stuffed mattresses on the floor. Quilts neatly covered them, quilts that probably hadn’t been used in months with these temperatures. Munching on a piece of bread that was surprisingly good, I ran my hand over one of the quilts. â€Å"It reminds me of some of the designs I saw in Russia,’ I said. Dimitri studied the pattern too. â€Å"Similar. But not quite the same.’ â€Å"It’s the evolution of the culture,’ said Sydney. She was tired but not enough to abandon textbook mode. â€Å"Traditional Russian patterns brought over and eventually fused with a typical Americana patchwork quilt form.’ Whoa. â€Å"Um, good to know.’ The family had left us alone while they got ready for bed, and I eyed our cracked door warily. With the noise and activity out there, it seemed unlikely we’d be overheard, but I lowered my voice anyway. â€Å"Are you ready to explain who the hell these people are?’ She shrugged. â€Å"The Keepers.’ â€Å"Yeah, I got that. And we’re the Tainted. Sounds like a better name for Strigoi.’ â€Å"No.’ Sydney leaned back against the wooden wall. â€Å"Strigoi are the Lost. You’re Tainted because you joined the modern world and left behind their backward ways for your own messed up customs.’ â€Å"Hey,’ I retorted. â€Å"We’re not the ones with overalls and banjos.’ â€Å"Rose,’ chastised Dimitri, with a pointed look at the door. â€Å"Be careful. And besides, we only saw one person in overalls.’ â€Å"If it makes you feel better,’ said Sydney, â€Å"I think your ways are better. Seeing humans mixing with all this †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ The pleasant and professional face she had shown to the Keepers was gone. Her blunt nature was back. â€Å"It’s disgusting. No offense.’ â€Å"None taken,’ I said with a shiver. â€Å"Trust me, I feel the same way. I can’t believe †¦ I can’t believe they live like that.’ She nodded, seeming grateful I shared her view. â€Å"I like you guys sticking with your own kind better. Except †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ â€Å"Except what?’ I prodded. She looked sheepish. â€Å"Even if the people you come from don’t marry humans, you do still interact with them and live in their cities. These guys don’t.’ â€Å"Which Alchemists prefer,’ guessed Dimitri. â€Å"You don’t approve of this group’s customs, but you do like having them conveniently stashed out of mainstream society.’ Sydney nodded. â€Å"The more vampires who stay off on their own in the woods, the better–even if their lifestyle is crazy. These guys keep to themselves–and keep others out.’ â€Å"Through hostile means?’ I asked. We’d been met by a war party, and she’d expected it. All of them had been ready to fight: Moroi, dhampir, and human. â€Å"Hopefully not too hostile,’ she said evasively. â€Å"They let you through,’ said Dimitri. â€Å"They know the Alchemists. Why did Sarah ask about you bringing them things?’ â€Å"Because that’s what we do,’ she said. â€Å"Every so often for groups like these, we drop off supplies–food for everyone, medicine for the humans.’ Again, I heard that derision in her voice, but then she turned uneasy. â€Å"The thing is, if Sarah’s right, they could be due for an Alchemist visit. That would just be our luck to be here when that happens.’ I was going to reassure her that we only needed to lie low a couple days when an earlier phrase tugged at me. â€Å"Wait. You said â€Å"groups like these.’ How many of these commune things are out there?’ I turned to Dimitri. â€Å"This isn’t like the Alchemists, is it? Something only some of you know about that you’re keeping from the rest of us?’ He shook his head. â€Å"I’m as astonished by all of this as you are.’ â€Å"Some of your leaders probably know about the Keepers in a vague way,’ said Sydney. â€Å"But no details. No locations. These guys hide themselves pretty well and can move on a moment’s notice. They stay away from your people. They don’t like your people.’ I sighed. â€Å"Which is why they won’t turn us in. And why they’re so excited I might have killed Tatiana. Thanks for that, by the way.’ Sydney wasn’t apologetic in the least. â€Å"It gets us protection. Such as it is.’ She stifled a yawn. â€Å"But for now? I’m exhausted. I’m not going to be able to follow anyone’s crazy plans–yours or Abe’s–if I don’t get some sleep.’ I’d known she was tired, but only now did the extent of it hit me. Sydney wasn’t like us. We needed sleep but had the endurance to put it off if needed. She’d been up all night and forced into some situations that were definitely outside of her comfort zone. She looked like she could fall asleep against the wall then and there. I turned to Dimitri. He was already looking at me. â€Å"Shifts?’ I asked. I knew neither one of us would allow our group to stay unguarded in this place, even if we were allegedly queen-killing heroes. He nodded. â€Å"You go first, and I’ll–‘ The door was flung open, and both Dimitri and I nearly leapt up to attack. A dhampir girl stood there, glaring at all of us. She was a couple years younger than me, about the age of my friend Jill Mastrano, a student back at St. Vladimir’s who wanted to be a Moroi fighter. This girl looked like she did too, just by her stance alone. She possessed the strong, lean build most dhampirs had, her whole body braced like it might tackle any one of us. Her hair was stick-straight to her waist, a dark auburn that had picked up gold and copper highlights from the sun. She had the same blue eyes as Joshua. â€Å"So,’ she said. â€Å"You’re the big heroes taking my room.’ â€Å"Angeline?’ I guessed, remembering Joshua mentioning his sister. She narrowed her eyes, not liking that I knew who she was. â€Å"Yes.’ She studied me unflinchingly and didn’t seem to approve of what she found. That sharp gaze flicked to Dimitri next. I expected a softening, expected her to fall prey to his good looks the way most women did. But, no. He received suspicion as well. Her attention turned back to me. â€Å"I don’t believe it,’ she declared. â€Å"You’re too soft. Too prim.’ Prim? Really? I didn’t feel that way, not in my battle-scarred jeans and T-shirt. Looking at her attire, I could maybe understand the attitude, though. Her clothes were clean, but her jeans had been around a while, both knees worn to threads. The shirt was a plain, off-white tank top that had a homemade feel. I didn’t know if it had originally been white. Maybe I was prim by comparison. Of course, if anyone deserved the title of prim, it would be Sydney. Her clothes would’ve passed at a business meeting, and she hadn’t been in any fights or jail-breaks recently. Angeline hadn’t even given her a second glance, though. I was getting the feeling Alchemists were in a strange category around here, a different type of human from the ones who intermarried with the Keepers. Alchemists brought supplies and left. They were almost a type of feeder to these people, really, which boggled the mind. The Keepers had more respect for the types of humans my culture l ooked down on. Regardless, I didn’t know what to say to Angeline. I didn’t like being called soft or having my battle prowess called into question. A spark of my temper flared, but I refused to cause trouble by getting in a fight with our host’s daughter, nor was I going to start making up details about Tatiana’s murder. I simply shrugged. â€Å"Looks are deceiving,’ I said. â€Å"Yes,’ Angeline said coolly. â€Å"They are.’ She stalked over to a small chest in the corner and pulled out what looked like a nightgown. â€Å"You better not mess up my bed,’ she warned me. She glanced over at Sydney, sitting on the other mattress. â€Å"I don’t care what you do to Paulette’s.’ â€Å"Is Paulette your sister?’ I asked, still trying to put this family together. There didn’t seem to be anything I could say that wouldn’t offend this girl. â€Å"Of course not,’ Angeline snapped, slamming the door as she left. I stared at it in astonishment. Sydney yawned and stretched out on her bed. â€Å"Paulette is probably Raymond’s †¦ eh, I don’t know. Mistress. Concubine.’ â€Å"What?’ I exclaimed. A Moroi married to a human and having an affair with a Moroi. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. â€Å"Living with his family?’ â€Å"Don’t ask me to explain it. I don’t want to know any more about your twisted ways than I have to.’ â€Å"It’s not my way,’ I retorted. Sarah came shortly thereafter to apologize for Angeline and see if we needed anything else. We assured her we were fine and thanked her profusely for her hospitality. Once she was gone, Dimitri and I set up sleeping shifts. I would have rather we both stayed on alert, particularly since I felt pretty sure Angeline would slit someone’s throat in their sleep. But, we needed rest and knew we’d both react promptly if anyone came busting down our door. So, I let Dimitri take the first watch while I snuggled into Angeline’s bed and tried not to â€Å"mess it up.’ It was surprisingly comfortable. Or, maybe I was just that tired. I was able to let go of my worries about execution, lost siblings, and vampire hillbillies. Deep sleep wrapped around me, and I began to dream †¦ but not just any dream. It was a shifting of my inner world, the sense of being both in and out of reality. I was being pulled into a spirit-induced dream. Adrian! The thought excited me. I’d missed him and was eager to talk to someone directly after all that had happened at Court. There hadn’t been much time to talk during my escape, and after this bizarre backwoods world I’d stumbled into, I really needed some piece of normality and civilization around me. The dream’s world began to form around me, growing clearer and clearer. It was a location I’d never seen, a formal parlor with chairs and couches covered in lavender paisley cushions. Oil paintings lined the walls, and there was a large harp in the corner. I’d learned long ago that there was no predicting where Adrian would send me–or what he’d make me wear. Fortunately, I was in jeans and a T-shirt, my blue nazar hanging around my neck. I turned around anxiously, looking for him so that I could give him a giant hug. Yet, as my eyes searched the room, it wasn’t Adrian’s face I suddenly found myself looking into. It was Robert Doru’s. And Victor Dashkov was with him. How to cite Last Sacrifice Chapter Nine, Essay examples

Bille Whitelaw what Beckett said to me Essay Example For Students

Bille Whitelaw: what Beckett said to me Essay Billie Whitelaw, Becketts preeminent actor, has just demonstrated the dazzling difference between reading his Play realistically and reading it the way Beckett wanted it done-without what he called color, and at tongue-tying, lung-collapsing speed. A puzzled theatre student in the room at Franklin Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. asks, But how would anybody know to do it that way? Questions like this one give Billie Whitelaw a heightened sense of mission. She has been on the college circuit this year, providing workshops and informal performances, spreading the word that comes right from the mouth of the late Samuel Beckett, arguably our centurys most influential and difficult playwright. As the only remaining actor of Becketts Triplets (the other two, Patrick McGee and Jack McGowran, are both dead) and as the actor Beckett wrote for and worked with most closely, Whitelaw has 25 years of experience and insight to impart to her young American audiences. She tells about the time Kenneth Tynan and Laurence Olivier had a famous fit at the National Theatre during the first rehearsals of Play: When Olivier delivered his ultimatum You cant do it like that, the director, George Devine, quit, and Beckett just looked sad. She recounts how she, Rosemary Harris and Robert Stephens invented the make-up for the three faces emerging from the urns in Play, achieving Becketts desired look of decay by a mixture of oatmeal, surgical glue, liquefied jelly and slimy green coloring covered by pancake. She still has her original costumes for Winnie in Happy Days, May in Footfalls and the woman in Rockaby. She has her own personal Beckett library, including otherwise unavailable BBC films of all her original performances and, most astonishing, what may be the only corrected scripts for those plays, including all the changes Beckett made during performance which were never included in the published texts. Outline1 The story of my life  2 Ng boredom  3 Skill and stamina   The story of my life   Small, blonde and a bit scattered, her powerful stage presence constantly surprises. She speaks in her conversational voice and then, to illustrate a point, switches into Beckettian character, emptying her voice, creating an aural void; just as suddenly, she can zing her audience with a Lady Bracknell like aside and a flash of her sky-blue eyes. Knowing that Beckett scholarship has become a minor industry in the academic world, Whitelaw always begins with disclaimers: She is not an intellectual and understands these plays only intuitively. All the plays are about me, she says, and remembers asking Beckett, How could you have written the story of my life 10 years before we met? Her life, as she recounts it, became chaos at age seven, during the blitz of Coventry, when she was evacuated and then ran away to rejoin her family. I was afraid not of death, but of staying alive when they died. After the war, her father died of cancer at home a painful and lingering process. I knew from childhood that there were far worse things than death. All this, Whitelaw feels, allowed her to intuit Becketts works, although she admits that the only Beckett shes read is the Beckett shes worked on. But her storehouse of experience as an actress has become its own invaluable resource, and many of those experiences have left indelible physical traces. She tells the students how overwhelming the role of Mouth in Not I was to memorize, and how dangerous it was to perform since it required full sensory deprivation. Since only the actors mouth is seen on stage, everything else had to be blacked out. When it was first produced at the Royal Court every light in the theatre was turned off exit signs, bathroom lights, everywhere. At the first dress rehearsal, Whitelaw fell into hysteria and hallucinations, and Beckett said, Oh, Willie, what am I doing to you? They carried her offstage and gave her brandy and milk, after which Beckett said, Back up you go.Eventually a solution was found to her disorientation and terror by cutting a tiny slit in the blindfold for her to see through. In addition to the psychological strain, Whitelaw says the role was athletically taxing as well-her rib cag e hurt, and she had no time to swallow her saliva. .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .postImageUrl , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:hover , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:visited , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:active { border:0!important; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:active , .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4944a3e07adc2ad84d033cb4cdbceccc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Play of social criticism EssayPerforming Beckett has taken a terrible toll on her body-her eyes were damaged by the extreme heat and brilliance of the lights for Happy Days, and she still suffers from back problems caused by the unnatural posture she held in Footfalls (Ill never perform it again). Ng boredom   More important than the stories is her acting advice: Dont give a performance. Forget youre a human being. just stand there and say the words as if you were a robot. Think of the words as Morse Code. Precision is paramount in delivery; she emphasizes the need to keep the syllables if a word has two syllables, say each one, and open your mouth very wide. The Beckett techniques have stood her in good stead in other work as well, although it always requires courage to employ them because it means risking the audiences boredom threshold. It took her three months to learn Happy Days, and once shed learned it Beckett started to revise, changing an Ah well to an Oh well, changing a comma to a semi-colon. Beckett may have been the gentlest, kindest most generous of men, but he was a hard taskmaster as a director: If you said an Ah instead of an Oh he groaned, as if stabbed by a knife. Skill and stamina   By contrast, Whitelaws teaching demeanor is not at all Beckettian; she suggests, she encourages, wanting the students to see. Using groups of three students, she has them each run through a scene from Play, and then repeat it faster, trying to eliminate from their delivery any impulse to tell the story. This simple technique challenges all of the students theatrical expectations, as well as demanding every bit of their enunciation skills and stamina. Some actors respond quickly, exactly as Whitelaw and presumably Beckettwant them to, while others resist the elimination of inflection, naturalistic pacing, or realistic, histrionic or emotive connection to the text. She and Beckett (whom she always talks about in the present tense, as if he were still alive) never discussed the meaning of the plays. She simply put herself entirely at his disposal, allowing him, for example, to mold her body as if he were a sculptor for Mays stance in Footfalls. She knew exactly what he meant when he told her to make Mays voice sound as though it comes from beyond the grave. Thus her script of that play is marked Bong. Bong over the words, Mother. Mother to remind her to make it sound hollow. Whenever she reads Beckett to herself it is with his Irish accent an accent he always denied he had. Before I become too old to do this, I want to take young people on the journey I took with Beckett. I want to let them see it is simpler than they think it is. I want to say to them what he said to me.