Sheakespeare Behind Bars was truely an eye-opening and remarkable experience to observe. It was inspirational, and a startling wake-up call to the no-nonsense world of reality. Shakespeare gave these participating inmates something positive to pour all their energy and liveliness into; something that they have never had in their lifves before. These inmates in the La Grange, Kentucky are more than a given number, they are people. They have families, childhood memories, passion, sadness, dreams and aspirations. Nonetheless, each person in the prison had come across obstacles at some point of their lives.
Despite their criminal pasts, when presented with the opportunity to learn and perform they transformed into students, eager to learn their lines. The prisoners found redemption in their ability to bring joy to others through their performances. Also, the inmates were able to take the lessons and themes from the plays and reflect them into their own lives. Many Shakespeare characters have troubled pasts and must overcome adversity in order to find peace. The prisoners can relate to the stories and take the moral themes from the classic literary works and find their own peace. This shows the desire of man to make amends for one's mistakes and become a better person overall through human exprience.
This fundamental program is a perfect starting off point to demonstrate to the rest of the world the power of performance and the arts. This performance program could be applied to not only prison settings, but within young peole everywhere. If these amazing opportunities to stand out in positive way was implemented in children at an early age, it could provide an amazing transformation.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Money Makes the World Go Round
After analyzing the satire of Volpone, the concepts of greed and money were at the forefront of my thoughts. We currently live in a world where often money is the root of all evil. A battle regarding wealth can destory friendships, marriages, businesses, families, and even countries. Every person probably knows at least another being whose obsession for money has impacted them in a negative way. It is fascinating to realize that some things never change. Regardless of class, race, ethnicity, location, or religion, the need for accumulation of wealth is endless. Within the literature of Volpone, each character's life revolved around the notion of wealth, whether they directly engaged in that crusade or they were forced into the struggle.
In the play, every character was in desperate lust of something; money. Each character reveals their greed in a unique way, as well as distincively chastised for their gluttony. Moreover, each person's greed is portrayed through a maze of disguises and betrayels.
Volpone, the main character, has no family or real friends, yet all he wants in the world is the acquision of more money and gifts, despite the fact that he has all he needs. When people are blinded by greed, they refuse to see the true lacking in their lives. Nonetheless, after he wrongly acquires exceeding amounts of objects from the legacy holders and purposefully deceives everyone he knows, he comes out on bottom.
Two can play at this game; Mosca learned from the best. This character thought he had an ideal situation; he obediently carried out and assisted in all of Volpone's evil plans. Nonetheless, Mosca thought he had the last laugh when he helped execute Volpone's last hoax; the imitation of his own death. Volpone trusted Mosca (since he was the only "family" he had), and Mosca continued to elaborate his death, in order to gain Volpone's money for himself.
All three of the "legacy holders" were also in lust of Volpone's money, and seemed to stop at nothing to gain control of his assets. They were all willing to give up everything; the non-material things that matter most in life. Voltore was willing to sacriface his profession and identity, Corvino was willing to give up his beautiful and kind wife, and Corbaccio was willing to forfeit his own son in return for short-lived wealth.
In the end, every person involved did end up happy, wealthy, or successful. In actuality, they were alone, banished, dismissed, and ridiculed. It was amazing to think that the actions and consequences of greed are the same throughout time and space.
In the play, every character was in desperate lust of something; money. Each character reveals their greed in a unique way, as well as distincively chastised for their gluttony. Moreover, each person's greed is portrayed through a maze of disguises and betrayels.
Volpone, the main character, has no family or real friends, yet all he wants in the world is the acquision of more money and gifts, despite the fact that he has all he needs. When people are blinded by greed, they refuse to see the true lacking in their lives. Nonetheless, after he wrongly acquires exceeding amounts of objects from the legacy holders and purposefully deceives everyone he knows, he comes out on bottom.
Two can play at this game; Mosca learned from the best. This character thought he had an ideal situation; he obediently carried out and assisted in all of Volpone's evil plans. Nonetheless, Mosca thought he had the last laugh when he helped execute Volpone's last hoax; the imitation of his own death. Volpone trusted Mosca (since he was the only "family" he had), and Mosca continued to elaborate his death, in order to gain Volpone's money for himself.
All three of the "legacy holders" were also in lust of Volpone's money, and seemed to stop at nothing to gain control of his assets. They were all willing to give up everything; the non-material things that matter most in life. Voltore was willing to sacriface his profession and identity, Corvino was willing to give up his beautiful and kind wife, and Corbaccio was willing to forfeit his own son in return for short-lived wealth.
In the end, every person involved did end up happy, wealthy, or successful. In actuality, they were alone, banished, dismissed, and ridiculed. It was amazing to think that the actions and consequences of greed are the same throughout time and space.
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