Leave the Horse Out of This

I was actually expecting this reading (The Virgin's Lover) to be a lot cringier than it ended up being (as the phrase "romance novel" is one I'm always wary of), but still I did find a couple of cringe moments within it. For example, on page 143, as Elizabeth and Robert admire the portrait of Archduke Ferdinand, Robert makes a peculiar, clearly allegorical and not intended to be skeezy but skeezy (to me) nonetheless about how one ought judge a horses' potential the same way they may a man to marry; in short, feeling it up.

"I would want to know how he felt when I gentled him under my hand, smoothed his neck, touched him everywhere, behind the ears, on the lips, behind the legs. I would want to know how responsive he was when I had him between my legs," (p. 143) and so forth and so on.

My comment, then, is this: I find it interesting, though quite unsettling, that this author, and as we observed in Wednesday's class, many authors' want to sexualize Elizabeth, be it allegorically or directly. I guess a powerful, intelligent woman is just not interesting enough for the masses, though that's human psychology for ya, isn't it? I'm not saying that's how it ought to be, but from reading this, that sure is how it is here.

My Enemy the Queen

https://imgflip.com/i/119wt4

How I imagine Elizabeth (Not the one in the picture) looked after she found out Robert got married to her cousin. She did say that she didn't want to see her cousin's face.

Exposure

I chose this gif of roses dying because I believe it represents Elizabeth's life as a whole.  She starts off as a beautiful teen who can be described as pure and youthful. Due to exposure to the position of power she is placed in and all the duties that came along with it, she slowly "wilts" and becomes aged and worn out until it eventually kills her. 

God Forbid Women are Single *eye roll*

Although the full  reasoning behind Elizabeth not wanting to marry is never know in full detail, we know it worked for her.  Why though, would she not marry, never have children,  never have a "love"?  She probably never knew a "family life" (although being queen she most likely wouldn't have had much time).  Did she do this only for the good of her kingdom, so she could be the best leader they needed? Or did she have other private intentions that haven't been reveled?  Was she afraid of her husband overtaking her power? There's many reasons, some we know for sure, but maybe there are others that have never been revealed. 

BOOM ROASTED

In the movie "Elizabeth", Elizabeth takes the crown and does not have any support from the bishops. When she meets with them after a crushing defeat to the queen of Guise, she proceeds to roast them.
This scene reminds me of the scene in the Office when Michael Scott roasts the whole office.


https://twitter.com/Scranton_Quotes/status/786389943782219776

God Save the Queen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk

The way each article talked about her death and how much people loved her I instantly thought of this song

Battle of Wills

      The song "Empire of Our Own" by RAIGN seems like a good summary of the showdown between Brutus and Antony's armies. The final two acts of the play show Cassius and Brutus trying to defend their actions against the people, and Brutus especially was adamant that what he did was for 'all of Rome' - to free the people from tyranny, though none of their reasons matter as the battle draws near. Therefore, these two parts of the songs seemed particularly reminiscent of what's happening: "Our minds are full of freedom...when love becomes the reason, we fly with kings tonight and come down with an empire of our own," and "Our glory days are numbered."

(Important lyrics start at 50 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwP0BquR_C8

Sibling love/rivalry

As anyone with siblings knows, fighting is inevitable. However, underneath it all we still love each other. When reading Act 4 Scene 3, I saw Cassius and Brutus to be very much like brothers. They were bickering a lot and pointing out each other's flaws and shortcomings, but they both know that they need each other and when Cassius hears of Portia's death, he immediately apologizes to Brutus and realizes that he went too far. They may fight, but in the end they know that they are stuck with each other and they are in the long-haul together.

Brutus' Takeover

"Caesar's better parts

Shall be crown'd in Brutus."

Julius Caesar (3.2.1587)





Although its small, I found this quote interesting. Right before, someone says basically that Brutus should be Caesar, but then someone corrects him to say only the good parts about Caesar. This shows the people didn't completely not care for Caesar, only some parts of him. It shows they still want a good leader, they just need some different qualities. Their society isn't mad over Caesars death, but they're at the same time not celebrating it. They desire a good leader. Right after, someone says "Peace silence, Brutus speaks!" just like they used to say when Caesar spoke, it shows how Brutus was so quickly transformed into Caesars place, and how it didn't really phase the people.

Riddle me this....

Why is it, do you think, that Shakespeare's Julius Caesar begins and stays for an entire scene without Caesar himself, specifically in relation to Richard III? Richard was about as direct as could be as he spoke directly to the audience with a bold monologue, whilst Caesar is only talked about by other people at first.

What does it say about Caesar's character and what Shakespeare's intent was in regard to presenting the characters (Richard III and Caesar)? Consider how it would be as performed in front of a live audience and the affect it would have on them.

P.S.

Seems like a lot to ask, but it's pretty much the same thought; answering one thing helps answer another, I think. I, of course, have my own conclusions on the matter, but I figured since it's a discussion question that I shouldn't write my own answers here...? Eh?

Convinced to kill

"... Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in out stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. 'Brutus' and 'Caesar': what should be in that 'Caesar'? Why should that name be sounded more than yours?..." Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 138-142

I Picked this quote to be significant because after a celebration of Caesars military victory, Cassius attempts to persuade Brutus against Caesar. Cassius exclaims that Caesar should not be appreciated more than Brutus and Brutus deserves praise from the people of Rome. Two of the major contributors in Caesars death are plotting against him early in the play.