Stood challenger on mount of all the age

 In reflecting on the life of his sister, Laertes says something that I found interesting: she "stood challenger on mount of all the age/for her perfections" (Hamlet, 4.6.30-31). As is the case with many of the beautiful phrases in Shakespeare's writing, I didn't understand the meaning of this immediately, but the notes in the Folger edition clued me in to the praise that Laertes was offering his sister. "Her worth challenged all age to equal her excellence" is the explanation given, and with that I found myself thinking about heroes. The imagery provoked by Laertes' description of Ophelia rising above everyone else is one that inspires respect and awe for this girl, but I like the reasoning that the footnotes gives behind by Ophelia was able to do so: because of her worth. This was an idea that hadn't struck me before, but the more I think about it the more I think it must be true; heroes have to know their worth. Whether in the movies or a book or reality, heroes are often applauded for their great accomplishments, but while true heroes are often humble, they also must recognize that they have worth, by nature of being a human. All people have worth, and we need to recognize that we are great by virtue of the fact that we are alive and surviving and doing good. It is incredible to me that this planet is populated by over 7 billion people who keep going, day after day, and because of that I think that we all rise and stand on mounts of excellence.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For she had eyes, and chose me

Before doubt creeps in. Before tragedy strikes. Before love is lost. Before any of the wreckage begins in Othello , we get one of the most beautiful lines from Othello about Desdemona: "For she had eyes, and chose me." I think this is what all of us want. We want to be seen , and not for our outward appearance, not for what makes us better or worse than other people, not for our accomplishments, but for what makes them human. We all yearn for somebody who will see us as we are and embrace and love all of it, and that's exactly what Desdemona did for Othello. She heard his tragic backstory, saw the scars on his skin, recognized the years of good and bad in his eyes, and fell in love with it all. I honestly like to picture Othello as somewhat unattractive. Not horribly ugly or repulsive, but also not somebody who would ever be expected to catch the eye of somebody as high-ranking as Desdemona. And yet, she looked past what she saw on the outside, and she chose him for what ...
Read more

But why should honor outlive honesty?

 In the middle of all of the chaos of the final scene of Othello , Othello says something that I found quite profound: "But why should honor outlive honesty?" (5.2.293). Despite the fact that Othello has just killed his wife, despite all of the disorder that is surrounding him at this very moment, Othello makes this interesting observation that people are often known for being honorable for much longer than they are actually honorable. Once again, this ties into the theme of outward appearances, though in a different way. I think that I often do good things to impress people or make a nice show of being a good person, rather than out of a desire to actually love those around me. This is a good thing for me to consider when I go about trying to serve: am I doing this for their sake, or for mine? Am I doing this to be an honorable person, or to have the reputation of being honorable? It's interesting that Othello makes this observation when it is too late; after he has kill...
Read more

Though She Be But Little

This quotation is one that I had heard before, but I didn't realize it was written by Shakespeare. Amid all of the confusion that occurs during A Midsummer's Night Dream , the conversation (and insults) turns to pointing out Hermia's shortness, and Helena makes the cautionary statement: "And though she be but little, she is fierce" ( A Midsummer's Night Dream , 3.2.342). I find it significant that I had heard this line numerous times without ever having read or seen this play, because that means that enough people have related to this line to popularize it. Hermia takes offense at the references to her short stature, and yet Helena tells us that there is more to Hermia than meets the eye. I think that so many people want to be viewed as fierce and strong, but perhaps people also wanted to be seen as vulnerable. It is hard  to open up and allow others to see who we are on the inside, and yet this is something that all human beings crave. Another meaning that I ...
Read more