5.21.13+and+5.22.13

Discuss HW: Lord Capulet, Juliet, Lady Capulet, and Nurse's POV on love. Get notes from a peer if you missed class.
 * HW is to finish Mercutio and the final paragraph. DUE next class.

WU: Romeo and Juliet's Parents

At this point in the play, what do you think about Romeo and Juliet's parent's intentions for their children? Do they have Romeo and Juliet's best interests in mind? What are their goals for them?

Read: Act. 1, Sn. 4--Queen Mab scene

Ideas we discussed as we read:

Romeo and Mercutio's differing ideas about dreams: Romeo thinks they represent "truth" and trusts in the dream he has that foreshadows his death and Mercutio calls dreamers/dreams liars/lies that are born of "vain fantasy" rather than reality. Effectively, he feels that dreams are the byproduct of desire which is not "truth" and can therefore be dangerous. This philosophy works on deeper levels to reveal that human desires can be dangerous. For example, this feud is born of "vain fantasy" to some degree; it lacks substance and meaning much in the same way that dreams do, yet the Montagues and Capulets (and many others) seem to be ruled by it. Mercutio's mercurial nature is highlighted in this speech as it works to expose this truth.

Fate vs. Free-will: Mercutio's Queen Mab speech in comparison with Romeo's discussion of the "consequence yet hanging in the stars" reveals an important duality that Shakespeare explores in his play. He questions what we are ruled by, fate or free-will. To what degree do Romeo and Juliet (or any of us) determine our future?

Treatment of love: Romeo is ruled by love, and not shy about expressing how love has been "rough with him". Mercutio challenges this notion of love, stating that Romeo should "be rough with love" if "love be rough with [him]". Again, Mercutio is presenting a philosophy that works as a foil to Romeo's understanding of the world.

Shakespeare's Insults...simply for fun.

HW: Finish Love Connection Assignment for next class.