Journal 2 - Harry Potter and Jacobean Sex

 

1/5/2000

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  by J. K. Rowling

               I am glad that Crookshanks made it though the book alive.  He’s any interesting cat.  Ron and Harry are the main pair while Hermione is on the outside.  What is Ron’s area of expertise.  Hermione has schoolwork, but what is Ron’s?

               Mention of Red Caps.

 

1/5/2000

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  by J. K. Rowling

               I think the death would have had more impact if it had been someone in Harry’s own year.  Cerdric wasn’t that close to Harry.  What is more disturbing is the treatment of the muggles on the whole.  Even the muggle lovers are upsetting in their treatment.  It is like the house elves in  a way.  The wizards don’t care.

 

1/10/2000

Four Jacobean Sex Tragedies  ed. Martin Wiggins

“The Insatiate Countess” by William Barkstead and Lewis Mackin

               The speech of the Widow reminds me of Hamlet.  In all truth, what could the men except from her?  Shouldn’t they have considered themselves forewarned.  Intro is correct.  Isabella seems to be executed simply because she is a woman.  While the men get off.  Wonder what woman in the audience, if there were any, thought about it.  Did it make them uneasy, seeing this double standard, the behavoir of the men ins a bad as hers.

               The sub-plot is commonly used.  Is the play a cautionary tale about the loose woman or a portrait of a double standard?  Isabella s not entirely unsympathetic.  In addition, the sub-plot shows women as out smarting men.  Men, on the whole, in the play, seem weak willed.

 

“The Maid’s Tragedy” by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

               This is more of  a man’s love for man.  Melonthis focus on Amiator and his honor rather than his sister.  Amitator wants forgiveness but seems unable to give it.  He pushes Evadne away after she has done what is commanded of her.  If she had not committed suicide would she have escaped punishment?  Amiator is just as guilty.

 

“The Maiden’s Tragedy” by Thomas Middleton

               Very much an allegory.  Only one woman, the serving girl, gets a name.  Perhaps it is to show the difference in social class.  As the farther down the social ladder you go, the more character or freedom women have?  Usually maids are not named.  The sub-plot to be that of the Tieyent etc.  Lower social classes moving to the front.

 

“The Tragedy of Valentinian” by John Flecther

               “But when the virtue’s known, the honer’s doubled

Virtrue is either lame not at all

And love a sacrilege and not a saint,

When it bars up the way to men’s petitions” (1.2. 22-25)

 

Valentinians says of Lucinda, “That though I were a god, she would fire my blood” (I.iii, 248). 

               Interesting because Roman/Greek esp. the more powerful and popular were attract to, pursued, and seduced women.  Identifying himself with the loose morals in regards to the gods and sex.

               Valentinian does not blame himself for his actions. 

               Again that semi worthiness of a woman compared to the friendship between men.  Maximus seems motivated to avenge Lucina for power as well as for in the insult given to his position.  Not out of love for her, but because she belonged to him, and she was, therefore, insulted.  Maximus is even tempted not to believe her until she committed suicide.

 

What did women of the time feel seeing or hearing these performances/stories.  All the plays the women are seen as next to worthless sluts, as an object of possession or desire.  They lack the finishing of Shakespeare’s characters.