Shakespeare Concordance

In our group we have chosen to look up words regarding Sport. The word sport was found mostly in Act II and Act IV. However, it seems that every time sport is mentioned it all goes back to the foundation that the sport is the game of love. Therefore, our group decided to connect the two ideas and focus on the thematic strand that includes the words: Sport…lose…play…passion…adore…desire…affection… care…fond…fight…love…true…hunt. In Twelfth Night, Love is portrayed to be a game. There is either a winner or a loser. To the characters love is an infatuation. They are competing against each other in order to win over someone else’s affection. Shakespeare is not using sport as what you usually think when you hear sports. When he uses the word sport he is not speaking of a physical duel or physical competitions. He is using figuration by taking out the physical aspects and making it all about the emotions inside each character. The fight of emotions and others fondness is indeed the Sport Shakespeare keeps referring to.

Viola: Then think you right. I am not what i am...

Viola: Then think you right. I am not what I am.

Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be. (III.i.148-9)

Viola is basically telling Olivia that she could never love her because obviously she is a woman. Olivia clearly does not know this and wishes that Cesario would love her that way she wants. Olivia is so head over heals for Cesario that she is not even listening to what Viola is saying. Olivia is not used to taking no for an answer and certainly does not want to from Cesario. Olivia is being so blind sighted by love that she is not taking in that Cesario said he will never and could never love her. We know that Viola is saying this because since she is a woman and she loves men. But even if Olivia doesn’t know that she should still listen to Cesario because the same thing is happening to her. Orsino keeps sending her messengers who tell her how much he loves her and Olivia keeps telling them that she does not love him and does not want to love him. Every time she gets a new message from him she gets annoyed that he won’t take no for an answer. Now that it is happening to her she does not even realize. Cesario even went farther to say that no woman has his love and no one will ever. Olivia obviously does not catch on. She continues to fantasize over him and beg for him to return. Viola is just getting annoyed now that Olivia does not understand what she is saying. She needs to wake up and realize that someone is saying NO to her and accept that. Unfortunately, no one wants to hear the word “No” when it comes to love. Therefore, they hang on to people and hope that one day they will eventually change their mind. That is precisely what Olivia and Orsino are doing.

Malvolio: ... and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me... (II.v.143-145)

Malvolio states this while he has discovered the letter written by Olivia. In actuality, the letter is not specifically addressed to anyone. However, while reading what is written Malvolio has decided that it was written for him. When he says “…and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me…” he is basically saying that if you just twist the words around it will sound like it is directed for him. This is something that everyone does when they want to believe something. If you want something to be true you can always make it seem that way. Malvolio obviously wants to believe that Olivia wrote this letter for him so in order to make it appear true he looks deep into the words and convinces himself that “M.O.A.I.” are all apart of his name so it must be for him! This is no real justification that the letter is addressed for him, but to make Malvolio feel that it is he searches for something that actually isn’t there. When someone knows something could never be true and they want it to be they search for clues and make it appear that way so they don’t seem completely crazy. This reminds me of my friend that whenever she gets a text from this guy she analyzes it so much that I don’t understand where she gets these ideas. The text could say, “hey what’s up!” and because it has an exclamation point she will think that it means hey I’m so excited to talk to you because I am deeply in love with you. This is exactly what Malvolio is doing. He loves the idea that Olivia could be in love with someone like him so he looks at the words in a one way type of mind set and makes it appear that the letter is ultimately for him.

Viola: I am the man ( II.ii.25)

This line takes place right after Malvolio hands Viola the ring from Olivia. Viola is in confusion because she knows she did not bring her a ring from Orsino so why has Olivia given her this ring? Viola has realized that her outside appearance as a man has made Olivia fall in love. When she says, “I am the man” it is ironic because as we all know, Viola is no man. However, when she says this she is meaning that her disguise as Cesario is the man that Olivia loves. Viola discusses with herself that maybe this disguise is actually evil. While she did this to be safe it has ultimately led to problems. Viola is in love with Orsino but cannot tell him because she is supposed to be a male, Olivia is now in love with Cesario but he will never love her back because unfortunately he is a she, and now Viola is upset because now Orsino who she ultimately cares about is going to be hurt that Olivia will not love him in return. Overall, this has just led to a crazy love circle and has people head over heals for someone they don’t really know. This is all part of the lunacy taking place in Illyria. We have Orsino who only loves Olivia for her outside appearance and the idea of her, Olivia who loves Cesario for his honesty but does not know who he really is, and why Viola loves Orsino, who knows?

Act II - Inkshedding

Toby: "Farewell, dear heart, since I must needs be gone.” (II, iii, 102)

Before Sir Toby sings this line, Malvolio informed him that Olivia only watches out for him just because they are family. Malvolio reprimands Toby for being an obnoxious drunk and tells him that if he cannot act more mature than Olivia will have no problem kicking him out. Since Malvolio does not care for Sir Toby he would not mind this at all. Toby who has clearly been up drinking for quite a while comes back singing the line above. The way Sir Toby does this comes off as sarcastic. Instead of being the mature man Olivia wants him to be he sings a quote from “Corydon’s farewell to Phyllis” that seems to match what is going on. Sir Toby mocks Malvolio and basically says, “Oh well than, since I am acting ‘foolish’ I guess I’ll have to leave.” Sir Toby is not serious when he says that it is time for him to go. He does not agree with Malvolio at all and he seems pretty confident that Olivia would never do such a thing because after all they are family. Because of his confidence he responds with his sarcastic drunk comment and in the end just irritates Malvolio.

“For me, writing the small object, LARGE SUBJECT essay was …”

For me, writing the small object, LARGE SUBJECT essay was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. When we first got the assignment I was torn about what object to pick. Everyone seemed to be picking iPod’s because it was something they used everyday. However, I never even use mine so I had no idea what I would write about. I starred at the other objects clueless. Then my boyfriend and his addiction to his iPod popped into my head. How annoying and distracting it is! Suddenly the first assignment became a whole lot easier. After we got the second assignment for our 5 page paper I thought, “no worries, this should be a breeze.” However, the paper was much more than a breeze; more like a category three hurricane. When I sat down to expand my first draft I was doing fine but realized it was only about 2 pages long. All I kept thinking was, “how am I supposed to make this 3 more pages long without blabbing.” I hate when all your thoughts are written down and you still need more! It’s so difficult. I feel like it just makes your paper worse because you start repeating yourself and all your trying to do is fill pages. When there is no more meaning in my writing my papers come out like President Bush’s speeches, “Uhhhhh?” So I turned too other people for help. I started to research what other people thought about iPods effect on society. I came across this really interesting website that was also created for a college course. The girl who created the website caught my eye even more! Her name was Krystle Song. Not only did we have the same first name but also how appropriate is her last name for this topic! Song, I mean did she make that up or is this for real? I started getting really involved in her website. She had a good point of view about the iPod effect so I decided her words of wisdom would be used in my essay. By the end of the paper I actually felt proud of my completed work. “Struggled but in the end proud.”

Twelfth Night- Act I

ACT I

1. Have Orsino and Olivia ever met before? And if not then where does his love fascination for her come from?

2. I know that Maria is Olivia's "waiting-gentle woman" but what exactly is that? A maid/servant type figure?

3.. Is there some sort of connection that Viola's brother has died and so has Olivia's?

4. I am confused as to why Viola disguises herself as a man?

5. Why does Toby want Andrew to be with Olivia so badly?

6. In Scene 5, after Viola leaves I am confused on how the scene finishes and what happened Olivia's and Malvolio's short conversation.

"Taking Wildness in Hand" -Abstract

In "Taking Wildness in Hand: Rescuing Species", Michelle Nijhuis brings up a serious issue that our culture is facing. Many wild species are facing problems of extinction due to a warming climate. Nijhuis claims that, "While scientists debate how to help save species from a warming climate, others aren't willing to wait." After visiting Torreya State Park, Connie Berlow discovered a serious problem regarding the Torreya taxifolia, a tree commonly known in Florida. Berlow's immediate reaction was to take action and debate about finding this tree a new home in a cooler climate. Many scientists are on the fence of weather "assisted migration" is a good idea. Some such as Camille Parmesan realized years ago that something must be done and "getting them (organisms) to the next possible suitable habitat as the climate changes" was something important. Other scientists such as Don Falk find the action of “assisted migration” disturbing and claims that it is not humane to disrupt a habitat. Michelle Nijhuis assumes that many people will agree with Berlow and believe that "assisted migration" has to happen. Although people disagree, Connie Berlow has tried not to waste too much time debating and taking the matters into her own hands. Berlow and several acquaintances have begun planting the Torreya taxifolia in new habits in the Carolinas and they have been growing healthy for five years. Maybe everyone should get over the shock of "disrupting habitats" and focus on moving species before there are none left! Wild preserves, which were once a good idea to saving species, are now not working as efficiently as they used too. With the climate changing overall, these reserves no longer have control in protecting this organisms and moving them is the only option many believe in.

"Virtual Iraq"- Abstract

In "Virtual Iraq", Sue Halpern introduces us to a recent psychological therapy for P.T.S.D (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) patients. This recent clinical trial uses "simulation to treat a new generation of traumatized veterans." Virtual Iraq places a traumatized veteran inside a virtual world that is customized toward their most painful memory. "The program uses sights, sounds, even smells to evoke, and subdue, painful memories." The therapist is in charge and has complete control of how little or how much sounds, smells, pictures and noises to add. Albert "Skip" Rizzo, the creator of Virtual Iraq came up with this idea through a video game "Full Spectrum Warrior" and an old experiment called Virtual Vietnam. Unfortunately, Virtual Vietnam did not work that effectively but Virtual Iraq has seen positive feedbacks. Many therapists were afraid that putting their patients in the experience all over again would be harmful and more traumatic. However, that is why Rizzo stated that it is important to start slow. "You have to know when to ramp up the challenges. Someone comes in and all they can do is sit in the Humvee, maybe with the sound of wind, and may have to spend a session or two just in that position." Sue Halpern, who focused on a specific Iraq veteran Travis Boyd, has gone through Virtual Reality treatment and successfully recovered from P.T.S.D. During his last interview with Halpern he said. “You never really get rid of P.T.S.D., but you learn to live with it. I had pictures of my team leader that I couldn’t look at for three years. They’re up on my wall now.” Halpern assumes that people may think of this therapy as frightening and insane therefore she wrote this article to show us of these success stories. Boyd is not the only success story out there. Though According to Rizzo, psychologist Karen Perlman "has a gift, and so far eight of the nine patients she has treated no longer meet the criteria for P.T.S.D." This creation could be the next big step for all veterans with hope to return to a normal lifestyle after war.