I enjoyed hearing the reading from Bookworms, wherein the author compares his mother to Lear. Embodied in his words–the truth that people are flawed, and still we love. We all have our Lears, maddening, endearing, crippling, inspiring. It is much easier to wax eloquent about them when they are gone. I was moved that this author found the imagery in Shakespeare’s play to reframe what was likely a difficult relationship. In forgiveness we ‘reason not the need.’
It reminded me of a class I took, Human Development and Aging. We discussed how when people suffering from dementia insist on their perceptions, caretakers often try to correct them. It is actually unkind to do this. If they insist they are having a conversation with an invisible person, or that a certain event happened, better to listen and engage them than to insist on ‘the truth.’ Which is what Edgar did. Shakespeare had uncanny knowledge of sociology, of humanity.
And when Cleopatra said,“But since my Lord is Anthony again, I will be Cleopatra,” it portrays the idea that we have different selves, constructed and used in varying situations.
Okay, I might as well admit it, Cleopatra bothers me. Her selfishness is unrivaled. Interesting that Angelina Jolie was mentioned in class. I think she has fashioned herself after Cleopatra and would not be surprised if she ends up playing her in a major motion picture. I was disturbed that her servant died, collateral damage, so I looked up Asp and found this on That Reptile Blog:
“Reputation Redeemed – Asp Cleared of Responsibility for Cleopatra’s Death
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. A 2,000 year-old-legend holds that Cleopatra, famed last Queen of Egypt, committed suicide by allowing an Asp, or Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje), to bite her. A recent study at Germany’s University of Trier, however, has now called this story into question.
Plant Poison or Snake Toxin?
By analyzing ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls and a Roman historian’s account of Cleopatra’s demise, German toxicologists have concluded that a lethal mixture of plant poisons, and not a venomous snake bite, was the more likely suicide agent.
Research revealed that Cleopatra was probably well-schooled in the use of plant poisons, and had even observed their use in prisoner executions during her search for a painless suicide method. Written descriptions of her passing as being “peaceful and painless” also point away from a cobra bite, which usually induces vomiting, respiratory failure and a great deal of pain.
One of the ingredients in Cleopatra’s toxic cocktail is believed to have been Hemlock, which has also been implicated in Socrates’ death.”
But the snake sounds more dramatic, to be sure.
Shakespeare is full of death and tears.
Pg. 1683, Anthony says,
“Fall not a tear,
I say: one of them rates
All that is won and lost.”
Nice thought, that one tear holds everything.
Reminds me of Blake’s idea of eternity in a grain of sand.
And more on tears pg. 1687: “Grace grows where
those drops fall.”
In Venus and Adonis:
“Whereat her tears began to turn their tide
being prisoned in her eye like pearls in glass.”
Shakespeare thought about tears. I find that unusual.
It seems many men are afraid of tears, avoid them, in themselves or others. Again WS is light years ahead of his time.
JenniferThornburg--wecrytodreamagain 