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)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Volumina Stuck in a Woman's Body
I don't see the shaping of Coriolanus into a brave, proud war-hero by Volumina. She seems very similar to her son in that she speaks of valor and fighting as important above all else; it would be better Coriolanus died fighting bravely in battle than live by avoiding war. However, I do agree with Anna that this quote sheds light on the position of women in the Renaissance. Hecuba, although the Trojan queen, is defined by her relationships to men. She derives her status from her marriage to Priam and her birthing of Hector. Similarly, Volumina, although she continually wishes for her son's fame, is limited by it. Her personality is strong and power-hungry, in many ways manly. Stuck in a female body, her only outlet for glory is her son.
