Who is this, you are probably asking. I know. You have forgotten me. That is fair and just.
But in recompense I bring you Halloween stuffs! Is that quality or what? (Please don't say, 'or what')
Ahem.
We all know there are many creepy things in Shakespeare, but I prefer the more obscure ones - the side notes that get glazed over and just accepted out of hand, rather than the grander, "I'm baking your sons into a meat pie and you're going to eat it!" kind. Although now that I say it aloud, that one sorta always wins. So suck it, Game of Thrones! Shakespeare did it first!
Don't be proud of that, Khaki.
Okay anyway! I bring you two vurry creepy moments for your... enjoyment I guess. Ugh. Weirdos.
1. Macbeth is full of little creepy asides - eye of newt and toe of frog - it's just a creepy, crawly play. But the weirdest bit, for me, comes in Act 2 scene 4 when the men are discussing the unrest and unnatural state of Scotland. The sun doesn't rise on time, an owl kills a falcon, and weirdest of all, Duncan's noble steeds turn wild on each other and became cannibalistic. What in the world, you crazy horses? That is terribly creepy in my book.
ROSS
And Duncan's horses—a thing most strange and certain—
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make
War with mankind.
OLD MAN
'Tis said they eat each other.
ROSS
They did so, to th' amazement of mine eyes.
2. Oh Titus Andronicus. You are a nasty play. Much smaller perhaps, than baking someone's sons, but for some reason this one really sticks with me as horrid. Aaron the Moore confesses to doing many terrible things, such as pitting friends against each other, raping maidens, setting barns on fire and telling the owners to put it out with their tears, and worst of all (just my opinion, mind you) admitting to digging up the bodies of the recently deceased and leaving them on their friend's doorsteps, with notes that basically say, "I am dead, how dare you be happy."
“Oft have I digg’d up dead men from their graves,
And set them upright at their dear friends’ doors,
Even when their sorrows almost were forgot;
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters,
‘Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.’”
— Aaron (Titus Andronicus, Act V scene i)
....Can we just.... wow.
Also, if you'd like another good Halloweenie play, I recommend Richard III. That is one slimy dude. Murders children, woos women whose husband and father he killed. That'd do it!
Enjoy your October, erebody!
Also, if you'd like another good Halloweenie play, I recommend Richard III. That is one slimy dude. Murders children, woos women whose husband and father he killed. That'd do it!
Enjoy your October, erebody!
