tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87107633393486875572024-03-19T07:50:25.827-05:00Thoughts of a PirateEssays, reviews, criticisms of various literature, especially Shakespeare.John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-26596044523236173192018-06-03T13:15:00.001-05:002018-06-03T13:15:08.125-05:00Running with an Unseen Obstacle: Asthma
I have been a runner since I was 14 years old. Like most others, I run to relax, to destress, to think, to reflect. However, in my mid 30's, I continued to have "trouble" every time I ran, which often resulted in bronchitis and a couple times pneumonia, and I stopped running. At around 42, I was diagnosed with asthma and allergies (to mold, dust, and pretty much every tree and grass pollen).
John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-4401827206017823032016-06-10T23:50:00.001-05:002016-06-10T23:50:29.436-05:00Once Upon a TimeOnce upon a time in a land far far away . . .
I love to ask people to tell me a story. I require them to start it out with "Once upon a time in a land far far away . . ."
I have spent too much time away from writing my thoughts. However, my thoughts are like the thousands of sands trying to get through the neck of the hourglass at one time. I haven't been taking advantage of the venues to expressJohn Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-26165608725391090032010-01-28T15:37:00.002-06:002010-01-28T15:37:39.195-06:00FeelingAm I so cold & emotionless that I can't cry? Me, a Spock? What? Why
can I get choked up watching a tv show or movie, but I cannot feel
what I need to feel? Why do I have to be strong for everyone else?
When . . . when do I get to just be . . . be relaxed . . . be carefree
. . . be taken care of instead of being the caretaker . . . be in a
position where I know I can John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-55146998349976296262009-07-02T11:41:00.003-05:002009-07-02T13:53:40.796-05:00Christian Symbols in The Old Man and the SeaWhile Hemingway makes the obvious connection between Santiago and Christ, he also plays heavily with the symbolic Christian meaning of numbers and objects throughout the novel. In using these numbers and objects that symbolically line up with Christianity, Hemingway solidifies Santiago as the Messiah.Hemingway immediately initiates Christian numerology in the first paragraph. He refers to the “John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-86939146141446427412009-06-11T00:07:00.001-05:002009-06-11T00:41:38.767-05:00In reference to book by Tillyard, E.M.W. The Elizabethan World Picture. New York: Vintage Books, 1959.<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-40914041769952975192009-06-11T00:04:00.000-05:002009-06-11T00:07:28.235-05:00In reference to an article by Knowles, Richard. “Cordelia’s Return.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Spring, 1999), 33-50.Synopsis:Knowles attempts an explanation of Cordelia’s return with armies of France to redeem her father, King Lear. Knowles studies the restraints of time and various techniques that Shakespeare may have used to overcome time. He also delves into the questions of how Kent and Cordelia informed each other of his/her intentions – letters not being read or sent before events occurred as an John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-9830715101401041092009-06-11T00:02:00.000-05:002009-06-11T00:04:11.243-05:00In reference to article by Snyder, Susan. “Mamillius and Gender Polarization in The Winter’s Tale.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Spring, 1Synopsis:Mamillius’s sickness and death may have been a result of pulling him away from his mother too early. The custom of the time dictated that a male child wore a coat (a unisex dress) until approximately age seven. During the first childhood period (before age seven), the boy required a maternal touch and was predominantly in the company of women. The boy was to be nurtured and cared for John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-59321946786800760572009-06-11T00:01:00.000-05:002009-06-11T00:02:21.908-05:00In reference to article by Kidnie, Margaret Jane. “Text, Performance, and the Editors: Staging Shakespeare’s Drama.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 51Synopsis:Kidnie discourses on editors’ revisions of stage directions and the effect on staging the performance and on the reader of the text. Her conclusion asserts that the nebentext (side text – including stage directions) is as important as the haupttext (dialogue). Any modification made to the stage directions not only alters the performance, but also restricts the reader’s interpretation John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-43987654278814986092009-06-10T23:59:00.000-05:002009-06-11T00:01:07.492-05:00In reference to article by Holland, Peter. “Modernizing Shakespeare: Nicholas Rowe and The Tempest.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 1 (Spring,Synopsis:Peter Holland reflects upon Nicholas Rowe as one of the first editors of Shakespeare. Holland discusses, in his words, “the stages by which Rowe arrived at his mode of modernization and the implications of the set of conventions he established, especially as it affects punctuation” (24). The vehicle Holland uses in his exploration is Rowe’s 1709 edition of The Tempest.Holland’s initialJohn Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-82646753182770613762009-06-10T23:57:00.001-05:002009-06-11T00:29:33.580-05:00In reference to article by Lupton, Julia Reinhard. “Creature Caliban.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 1 (Spring, 2000), 1-23.Synopsis:Lupton introduces her essay with various definitions of creature. She then discusses the relationship of Caliban with the likes of Adam and Leviathan – the extremes between human and creature. Throughout her article, Lupton follows the creation of Caliban not only through the composition of Caliban, but also the capacity for change in Caliban. Lupton throws out ideas that appear to be John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-84974525118682623332009-06-10T23:51:00.000-05:002009-06-10T23:55:18.530-05:00In reference to article by Werstine, Paul. “A Century of ‘Bad’ Shakespeare Quartos.” Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 50, No. 3 (Autumn, 1999), 310-333.Synopsis:Werstine discourses on the memorial-reconstruction hypothesis that the “bad” quartos were reconstructed from memory by an actor/reporter. He analyzes W. W. Greg’s work on the Quarto The Merry Wives of Windsor as the memorial-reconstruction of the Host. Werstine then applies Greg’s methodology to Hamlet, Henry V, and Romeo and Juliet in order to destroy the validity of the John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-88429741115865503202009-06-10T23:49:00.000-05:002009-06-10T23:51:04.037-05:00King Lear vs. Forrest GumpLear: In Lear 3.2, Lear taunts the storm like Lt. Dan of Forrest Gump. “Is that all you’ve got!” Lt. Dan yells from the top of the mast. Lear yells at the storm with the same “bring it on” attitude. Forrest is equated with the Fool – the baser man. Forrest brings his ship out of the storm with a huge catch of lobster and is on his way to riches (wealth and Lt. Dan’s respect) as the Fool John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-23253820010459645502009-06-10T23:45:00.001-05:002009-06-11T00:30:32.492-05:00In reference to article by Kim, Lois. “Shakespeare as Literary Dramatist.” The Sixteenth Century Journal 36no1. 195-7. Spr 2005.Synopsis:Kim gives a critical review of Lukas Erne’s Shakespeare as Literary Dramatist. Kim mostly agrees with Erne’s assertion that Shakespeare wrote for both the page and the stage. Kim questions Erne’s proposal that Shakespeare’s intention was to elevate his literary reputation. I have a personal interest in this topic also, having had many discussions on this matter with a colleague, Jane, John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-33985632652091615842009-06-10T23:40:00.000-05:002009-06-10T23:44:12.413-05:00Othello - ImpetuosityImpetuosity seems to be a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s plays. Othello contains several instances of impetuosity. Roderigo is so bent on revenge upon Othello for stealing Desdemona away from him that he jumps at any idea concocted by Iago without first considering the consequences of the action. Brabantio throws a tantrum before the Duke and other Senators about the marriage of Desdemona toJohn Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-12213029827868014342005-07-25T23:32:00.001-05:002009-06-11T00:31:23.355-05:00Impetuosity Amidst the Struggle for Rational ActsThroughout life, people strive to do the sensible thing at the appropriate time. During this process a lot of second-guessing and “should’ve – would’ve – could’ve” occurs. Amidst the struggle for rational acts, impetuosity inevitably looms, usually bringing about a setback or the downfall of a person. While impetuosity may result in good, wonderful acts, most often – because of the absence of John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-23445238110963589762005-06-30T23:16:00.000-05:002009-06-10T23:23:13.062-05:00True Colors of Shakespeare’s Othello<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-64992595766758004682005-06-25T23:55:00.001-05:002009-06-11T00:32:34.123-05:00Shakespeare in the park – Tempest - Summer 2005The performance of The Tempest in St. Louis was wonderfully produced to appeal to all ages. Although the set was of a minimalist design, it was perfect for the production. The wrecked ship was placed upon its side and at a diagonal angle with the bow in the air – approximately half of the ship was missing. The deck was facing the audience, and the mast had been broken off at the base. A John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8710763339348687557.post-61282272414593460502001-12-12T19:00:00.008-06:002010-11-27T17:37:19.542-06:00Grandpa's Christmas Star
Christmas lights after Allie helped me put them up November 27,2010
"Alright, pay attention so when I'm gone you can put this together by yourself. I might not be around next year," he said. That must have been 1987.
I helped Grandpa put that temporary breezeway on his porch for a few years after that until they sold the two story house because Grandpa was having trouble with the John Langleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14433692087376973463noreply@blogger.com2