The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.0445 Wednesday, 9 March 2005
[1] From: Bill Arnold <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 8 Mar 2005 13:56:08 -0800 (PST)
Subj: Re: SHK 16.0432 A Claudius Question
[2] From: Harry G. Rusche <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 08 Mar 2005 15:20:02 -0500
Subj: Hamlet's Father Claudius
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Bill Arnold <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 8 Mar 2005 13:56:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 16.0432 A Claudius Question
Comment: Re: SHK 16.0432 A Claudius Question
Susan St. John writes, "I love Abigail Quart's idea of looking at the
marriage proposal between Claudius and Gertrude. After having played
Gertrude twice I have decided that Old Hamlet was a good king but a
lousy husband (married to his country first) and an even worse lover
(only one son and he quit!). Whereas Claudius is a charmer, knows how
to love a woman and makes Gertrude feel loved and wanted and sexy, etc.
Gertrude is so lost in her newfound sensuality that she doesn't see
Claudius' evil, scheming side. That's my take on it, anyway!"
"Good grief!" to quote Charlie Brown! Is this why the infamous O.J.
found his freedom at the hands of an American jury of mostly women,
despite *blood* on his hands? Do not forget he was found guilty in a
civil trial! So, I guess the reason we cannot read Shakespeare with any
modicum of consensus is that our value systems have become, after the
Feminist Movement, so *sexist*? God help us if we get a female
President of the United States.
Where is Margaret Thatcher, when we need her?
Bill Arnold
http://www.cwru.edu/affil/edis/scholars/arnold.htm
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Harry G. Rusche <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 08 Mar 2005 15:20:02 -0500
Subject: Hamlet's Father Claudius
I know of one critic, Alfred Barkov, who "proves" from the text that
Claudius is really Hamlet's father (among other assertions about the
relations in the play). Does anyone know of other critics who have
offered this novel reading of the play?
Harry Rusche
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30322
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