Conversation Piece - Monday, December 8, 2008
"Oh, come not near me, sir; I shall defile you.
I am that of your blood was taken from you
For your better health. Look no more upon't
But cast it to the ground regardlessly;
Let the common sewer take it from distinction.
Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor
Ever hung my fate, 'mongst things corruptible;
I ne'er could pluck it from him. My loathing
Was prophet to the rest, bu ne'er believed;
Mine honor fell with him, and now my life."
(The Changeling V.iii.158-67)
I am that of your blood was taken from you
For your better health. Look no more upon't
But cast it to the ground regardlessly;
Let the common sewer take it from distinction.
Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor
Ever hung my fate, 'mongst things corruptible;
I ne'er could pluck it from him. My loathing
Was prophet to the rest, bu ne'er believed;
Mine honor fell with him, and now my life."
(The Changeling V.iii.158-67)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
An Unecessary Definition
I have to admit I read the previous posts before reading the Act, and so when I came across the line "O unkind father! O deceitful world! With what excuses canst thou show thyself?" (4.1.7-8), I immediately read the word "unkind" as synonymous with "unnatural". While it makes sense that Bel-Imperia may be calling Hieronimo an unnatural (out of the ordinary) father because of his lack of action, I think the word "unkind" can be read in the traditional sense as well. Because he had not yet taken revenge, Hieronimo can be viewed as unkind (uncaring). I guess what I'm trying to say is, while the Oxford Dictionary may define "unkind" as unnatural, in the case of this line, the specific meaning, whether it is "unkind" or "unnatural", is something that can't be determined and this distinction is therefore irrelevant.
