RR7 - Fences

The reason for naming the play fences is probably because it is pretty much about fences and the idea of fences.For instance using the term fence symbolizes a difference between sides because a fence is essentially a barrier or divider used for some purpose. all the characters seem to have some type of barrier between them. Troy has  fence in which he parallels his marriage with. Rose has a fence for spiritual reasons. Everyone's fence represented something about them. Most notably what caught my attention was the separation  between Troy and Cory. They have a pretty rough relationship. It seems at times he does not have so much pride in his son because he does not even believe the situation about paying back money. He wants the best for him but it seems they have trouble getting on the same page. For the most part I think this play was a projection of overall relationships. Ultimately this play made me think about the term of fences differently.

RR6 - Claudius

In Hamlet Claudius is a very unique character in my eyes. I do not think he is purely evil but he is close to it. what makes him not purely evil is the fact he does seem to have some knowledge that what he did was wrong and shows a glimpse of remorse "  It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder. Pray can I not" (act 3 scene 3 lines 36-37). This shows that he might actually have true remorse about his brother's death, or possibly  he only tries to convince himself   it was a bad decision for the sake of getting a chance at heaven. Along with being evil I believe he is also a major flawed human being. He is flawed because he killed his brother for selfish reasons. The evilness of the matter is he actually did it and does unthinkable actions within a short period of time. He marries his brother's wife which is definitely weird, maybe in the belief of keeping up the power now that his brother is gone, but still it is disturbing. Maybe at that time the quick out of the ordinary marriage was justifiable after the king's death, but I think it dramatically shows his morals are not very high. Claudius killed his brother, married his wife, sent people to spy on Hamlet, and tried to pin the death of Hamlet Sr. on Hamlet. Overall his actions are unsettling which makes him a very flawed person. He is evil but not purely because of the fact he shows some remorse but at the same time the remorse could all the while be artificial. Although there is the  possibility of Claudius expressing counterfeit guilt nothing has indubitably convinced me he is purely evil. 

RR5 - Hamlet

Hamlet's father's death seems like it changed him a good amount but did not bother him as much as the events after. The death of his father definitely made him feel he had to avenge his death. Through attempting to avenge his death, Hamlet seems very reluctant most of the time about killing his uncle. There are many reasons for this, but for the most part I think it is because he does not seem to find the right opportunity. Also it seems like he is not completely sure he should do it. One of the opportunities where he had a good chance of killing Claudius is when he is praying. I am not completely sure why he did not do it but I believe it had to do with something religious. In act 3 scene 3 line 74 he has the opportunity "Now might I do it pat, now a' is a-praying, and now i'll do't [draws his sword] and so a' goes to heaven". I think the religious belief was that if he killed him while praying he would go to heaven so that is why he did not do it then. What troubles him greatly is his mother's overall behavior. I think what really troubles him about her is the lack of good faithfulness. he does not like that fact that his mother is fundamentally disrespectful to the death of his father by seemingly rushing into a new life "Let me not think on't; frailty, thy name is woman a little month or ere those shoes were old with which she followed my poor fathers body like Niobe all tears, why she, even she O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer" Act 1 Scene 2 line 146. From all of this it seems to change his mental state greatly. He seems pretty crazy but also at the same time seems like he is in just great grief that overwhelms him and does not know how to handle it. I think what drives him even more crazy is that he holds much in and it irritates him that he has bite his tongue "She married. o what wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets; it is not, nor cannot come to good, But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue." Act 1 scene 2 line 156