Essay on The Role of Wiglaf in Beowulf - 1154 Words

The Role of Wiglaf in Beowulf Seemingly minor character Wiglaf plays a central role in the conclusion of Beowulf. A young knight who has never before seen battle, Wiglaf steps forward to help his lord, hero, and cousin Beowulf in a time of peril. With his failure in battle and resulting death, the narrator shows that Beowulf is, after all, a prideful and mortal being; thus begins the transfer of heroic status from the old king to the young knight. The narrator argues that Wiglaf is worthy of his abruptly acquired status even though his intentions may seem questionable. The end of the poem devotes a significant amount of lines to dialogue spoken by Wiglaf, signifying his newly crucial role in his kingdom and in the story.†¦show more content†¦Stepping up to lead the ranks into battle, he rallies the troops and tries to excite the others’ passion and will to defend their lord and their purpose. Beowulf is now a weak and unsound character in need of rescuing, whereas Wiglaf is the valiant hero a nd savior. As Beowulf fails for the first time, Wiglaf confronts battle for â€Å"his first time to be tested as a fighter† (2627). He is the only visible character aside from Beowulf as the other knights were hiding out of harms way: No help or backing was to be had then / from his highborn comrades; that hand-picked troop / broke ranks and ran for their lives / to the safety of the wood (2597-2599). The cowardice of these men contrasts with Wiglaf’s bravery and discernment: But within one heart / sorrow welled up: in a man of worth / the claims of kinship cannot be denied (2599-2602). He concedes that Beowulf wants to fight the fight alone, but recognizes the futility of the king’s prideful wishes and suggests that â€Å"sound men,† or men who are not weak and foolish, lend a hand to the old man. In the climax of the battle scene and last display of his strength, Wiglaf must take refuge behind Beowulf’s shield as they fight the dragon. However, the transition of heroism onto Wiglaf progresses when he stands besideShow MoreRelatedEpic of Beowulf Essay1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe 8th century epic poem Beowulf illustrates a loss of community, cultural values and tradition. On the other hand, an elegiac passing of an extraordinary hero and the relationship between the themes of mortality and heroism are well discussed in Beowulf. Beowulf’s character exemplifies the Germanic and the Anglo-Saxon ideals of the hero: strong, fearless, bold, loyal, and stoic in the acceptance of fate. Despite his lack of humility, Beowulf was the definition of a hero in his own time by hisRead MoreEssay on Beowulf and the Heros Journey1073 Words   |  5 Pagesbe described as a hero’s journey. Many heroic characters follow the monomyth, no matter the time period or culture the literature was created in. The poem Beowulf is known to follow the adventure of the hero described in Campbell’s monomyth . The hero’s journey consists of three rites of passages: separation, initiation, and return. Beowulf endures each of these stages throughout the epic poem, so his journey does follow Campbell’s monomyth. The separation is the first stage a hero must go throughRead MoreGermanic Culture Preserved in Beowulf1284 Words   |  6 PagesGermanic Culture Preserved in Beowulf Many differences can be found between early Germanic culture and our culture today. Beowulf,the story of the triumphs of a great warrior over near impossible feats, takes place in Scandanavia during the 450s. In this tale, the war obsessed men exhibit values important to the early Germanic culture. Recording such an epic tale not only immortalizes the hero of the poem, but in turn also makes certain that these Scandanavian ways of life will never be forgottenRead MorePaganism and Christianity in Beowulf Essay examples1414 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf is an epic poem that centers around the hero Beowulf, a Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea to Denmark in a heroic quest to save King Hrothgar, king of the Danes and the builder of Herot, and his men from the demonic monster Grendel who kills and feasts on Hrothgar’s warriors. Beowulf’s adventure does not end when he defeats Grendel though, he must also kill Grendel’s mother because she seeks revenge for her sonâ €™s death. Once Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, he goes home and soon becomesRead MoreBeowulf Archetype Analysis724 Words   |  3 PagesThe use of archetypes largely contributed to the development of the story. It helped make connections between the events. It helps make sense of why these situations were included in the story. Through difficult situations Beowulf developed a never-ending faith in God, and a realization that material goods aren’t all that matter. The possibly most important archetype used in this book is â€Å"Religion†. God is referred to by many names. He is referred to as the Almighty Father, Heavenly Shepard, LordRead MoreA Warrior Essay : The Importance Of Courage In Beowulf1275 Words   |  6 Pagesfollowing their leader into battle or anything. After Hrothgar’s counsellor Aeschere was killed by Grendel’s mother, Beowulf used his courage to fight and avenge King Hrothgar’s close counsellor, (1384-1397). Beowulf not only uses his courage, but he also raises Hrothgar’s courage and again brings back the fact they obey and must follow the heroic code. As stated before, Beowulf, and his men risk their lives to defeat Grendel’s mother and save Hrothgar’s people. Even though many of the men inRead MoreBeowulf : An Anglo Saxon Epic Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesThomas May Mrs. Purcell ENGL 12H September 12, 2016 Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic that depicts the tales of the great hero Beowulf who fights valiantly and wins every battle he ever fights in. One day he gets word of a terrible monster named Grendel who is terrorizing the Danes and they can’t kill the beast himself, so Beowulf takes off to help the Danes. Upon arrival he is led to Heorot, the mead hall where Grendel does a lot of his killings. Once he is there he decides to trick Grendel by pretendingRead MoreEssay On Selflessness In Beowulf783 Words   |  4 Pagessociety as well as in the epic poem Beowulf, align completely with the archetype of an epic hero, these qualities being selflessness, generosity, and bravery. The traits of epic heroes are glorified in society and are the standard to which a society bases their morals from, a prime example of one such trait is selflessness. Not only is selflessness portrayed in Beowulf with a positive connotation, but it is represented by the main protagonist of the story, Beowulf himself. An instance of his selflessnessRead MoreThe Epic Of Epic Poems1106 Words   |  5 Pages Epic poems played a significant role in maintaining historical events during the Middle Ages. With very little written records, epic poems were memorized and passed down as an oral communication for generations. Beowulf was an example of this type of story that may have existed for a century before it was documented. Unfortunately, due to this type of record keeping, there is no accurate account of the time frame that Beowulf was created or even by what author. It could be deduced that thisRead MoreEssay on Beowulf study guide1576 Words   |  7 Pages1) Describe how we find King Hrothgar and his response to learning that Beowulf has come to his kingdom. A. The king is sad and depressed that his kingdom has fallen into such a state of disrepair. He is overjoyed to learn that Beowulf, whom he knows from stories and his father, Ecgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster. 2) In the beginning of â€Å"Beowulf,† King Hrothgar’s hall has been deserted for twelve years. In a short essay, tell why

Women s Rights And Gender Equality Essay - 2428 Words

At first glance, the words feminism, veganism, and locavorism may induce many different thoughts and images. One might think of a celebrity, a stereotype, a character trait, or a group of specifically similar people associated with each word. For some, these three words may not even bring anything or anyone significant to mind. But no matter what thoughts arise through them, all three of these words represent an ideology, and two of them commonly have to do with diet. Feminism, or the advocacy of women’s rights and gender equality, and veganism, or the lifestyle and diet of avoiding animal products, are widely known and decently popular. However, locavorism, which is the lifestyle and diet of purchasing and eating locally and sustainably grown food in order to help the environment and be healthy, is more of a modern concept that was not always relevant or present in American society. In fact, it only became popular in the past decade (Rudy, 2012, p. 27). Nonetheless, the point still stands that feminism, veganism, and locavorism may not seem to have any connections aside from the fact that they are indeed all ideologies and they share a suffix. However, when observed on a deeper level, it is discovered that the widely held feminist views of gender and socioeconomic equality coincide with the views of vegans that also focus on equality for beings thought to be inferior. Even further, feminist views pertaining to the equitable distribution of food and positive treatment ofShow MoreRelatedWomen s Rights And Gender Equality Essay1506 Words   |  7 Pages All men and women were created equal. However, this obvious truth is not universally shared. Fortunately, there is a very real fight for gender equality that we are currently engaged in, and a participant in that fight that holds a fundamental role are non-governmental organizations (NGOs). NGOs exist as private, voluntary organizations that function without government restriction and bias because they are not for profit and not funded by the government. These organizations coordinate strategiesRead MoreWomen s Rights For Gender Equality1441 Words   |  6 PagesWhatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult (Charlotte Whitton). Women’s rights promote an equality between men and women. Equality between males and females would be both genders being treated equal and fair in all aspects of life. Many people have been fighting for centuries to transform women’s rights. Women’s rights regarding job opportunities, military advancements and pay gaps have transformed over centuries and need to continueRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Gender Equality And Women1005 Words   |  5 PagesHistorically women have not been provided equal opportunities in competitive and collegiate sports. In the late 1800’s, social perception was that females were weak and although they were admired by me n, they were treated like objects (Lumpkin, 2013). Competitive and collegiate sports were dominated by males, with little opportunity for women to participate. Females eagerly wanted to participate, however sports were perceived inappropriate which would put their femininity in question and putRead MoreGender Equality And Women s Rights1274 Words   |  6 Pages Women in the world still face discrimination and gender equality takes action to achieve women’s rights. AAUW provides and gives women the chance to have an education, while Catalyst reaches out to women to carry out equal pay, equal participation in the workplace, and remove discrimination. UN Women attains to human rights for women. Throughout history women have fought for gender equality in the workplace and in education, and every year organizations like AAUW, Catalyst, and UN Women haveRead MoreGender Equality And Its Effects On Women s Rights1962 Words   |  8 Pageshas also caused it to regress. Prior to the occupation of these treacherous groups, Afghanistan had a relatively liberal outlook, with a hopeful progression of women’s rights. More specifically; â€Å"Afghan women made up 50% of government workers, 70% of school teachers, and 40% of doctors in Kabul.† In recent years the public life of women has been completely effaced due to the effects of war and the Taliban regime. They are isolated, confined to their homes and masked with an all-encompassing burqa; prisonersRead MoreGender Equality And The Movement For Women s Rights On A Global Scale1174 Words   |  5 Pagesawareness about gender equality and the movement for women’s rights on a global scale. In fact, there are two controversial perceptions of the meaning of feminism and what feminists stand for. For many years, feminism is considered a series of mere actions exhorting for only women, which is anti-men and overaggressive. Recently, there is a gradual change in the understanding of what femin ism is. It is all about the equality that every living human should be treated regardless of gender, race, religionRead MoreGender Roles : Women s Rights On The Ground Of Political, Social And Economic Equality1531 Words   |  7 Pagesisa loaded term. Defined as the advocacy of woman’s rights on the ground of political, social and economic equality to men, feminism has become a movement for woman to have the same rights and respect as men, but just as racism is still relevant, so is the inequality of woman because of stereotypical gender roles. Woman have alway had their role in history, but those roles are often dictated by men. Historically woman have been shown doing woman s work and are defined in terms of their marital statusRead MoreSummary Of Looking For Alibrandi By Goria Steinem1077 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"A gender-equal society would be one where the word â€Å"gender† does not exist: where everyone can be themselves. â€Å"said by Goria Steinem. I disagree with Steinem’s statement in relation to gender equality in contemporary Australia. In this essay, three arguments would be addressed, which directly referred to Melina Marchetta’s 1992 novel, Looking for Alibrandi that enacted a story of a teenage girl who had to face difficulties in the society and fight with the original Australians as she was an illegitimateRead MoreGender Inequality Between Men And Women1255 Words   |  6 PagesHowever feminism maintains that women are treated in an unfair ways. Social gender roles lead to various forms of inequality and disparity between men and women, which in relation to the socio economic, political and cultural ideologies plays a negative role in girls (Asley 2014) .While some societies, defend gender differences based on their cultural norms and religious beliefs, this tends to restrict women physical and mental space.†Across social classes girls tends to have less physical mobilityRead MoreDoes Feminism Cre ate Equality?1037 Words   |  5 PagesDoes Feminism Create Equality? Feminism is an umbrella term for people who think there is something wrong with the idea that gender has the capability to limit an individual’s social and political right. Even if there is inequality between men and women, feminism has never been the main reason to give women their civil rights. Feminism started among European activists in the 19th century, when women were not treated equally and were not elected to high positions of power. Indeed, it sought to eliminate

The opinions of Mill and Kant Free Essays

Mill’s utilitarianism on Kant and Baxter’s arguments In John Stuart Mill’s arguments for utilitarianism, it can be observed that his concept of that which is â€Å"good† corresponds to the maximization of utility, or the promotion of the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Further, Mill maintains that right actions are those that primarily promote happiness while on the other hand actions that result to the reverse of happiness are wrong actions. At this point, it should be noted that Mill is arguing for the centrality of a form of consequentialism in his conception of actions and their resulting moral worth. We will write a custom essay sample on The opinions of Mill and Kant or any similar topic only for you Order Now That is, the moral worth or value of the actions of man can be assessed through the very consequences that they give rise to. As human conduct is essentially directed by the quest for happiness or utility, Mill elaborates further that the very directive of men to acquire happiness does not refer to individual happiness or the happiness of each person taken singularly but rather to the collective happiness or the happiness for the greatest number of people. Among the numerous possible manifestations of such happiness that may be perceived, he further argues that the greatest happiness is to be sought after in connection to the greatest number of individuals. From this point, we are to analyze the arguments raised by Immanuel Kant and William Baxter on the aspect of rational agents juxtaposed with the issue of pollution. Both Kant and Baxter resort to the claim that men as rational agents should occupy the central role in ethical considerations. Prior to Baxter, Kant has already maintained that human beings, as agents imbued with and the capacity to reason, should not be treated as the means to possible or given ends. Rather what Kant strongly proposes is that human beings should be considered as the very ends themselves in the course of the actions of every individual. On the other hand, Baxter strongly argues in line with the Kantian prescription for the acts of man. That is, man’s actions should be that which is what one ought to do. Mill will most likely tell us that Baxter’s conclusions do not eventually promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people in the immediate consequences of man’s actions towards the environment. Mill’s utilitarian principles will maintain that Baxter’s conclusions on the scope of environmental ethics merely prescribe what men ought to do. This prescription, when applied to several environmental issues such as man’s hunting for rare animals for the therapeutic values of their body parts, will most likely condemn the given example and other related instances. However, Mill will argue that, since the gathering of the body parts of such a rare animal will most likely contribute to the betterment and eventual happiness of the greatest number of human beings, the act in itself is a right act. The apparent consequences of such an action are deemed with the greatest amount of merit in classifying such action as morally right. For the most part, Mill might have instead argued for the claim that even if pollution becomes a result of the actions of man towards his environment, these same actions should be taken if it promotes the greatest degree of happiness for the greatest number of individuals as its consequence. Mill’s arguments cannot in any way directly support and uphold the ethical guidelines set forth by both Kant and Baxter in seeking the proper conduct for the status quo of the environment. Mill’s utilitarianism on Carr’s â€Å"Is Business Bluffing Ethical?† One essential feature of the utilitarian ethical doctrine is that its moral point of view rests firmly on the consequences of the actions made. That is, an action is then to be categorized as either good or bad depending on the consequence or result of the action intended. However, what differentiates the utilitarian principles from other ethical or moral tenet is that the former further qualifies the outcome of the actions as good in terms of maximum benefits conferred by the deed. In a sense, a good action, then, is one which has maximized benefits or advantages not to oneself but, more importantly, to the most number of individuals as well in the end. Thus, in essence, such doctrine of utilitarianism can be briefly summarized as one that seeks to establish â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number. In adopting the principles being set forth by utilitarianism one is inclined to embrace the belief that the welfare of the majority is being taken with utmost concern and that, parallel to such aspect of utilitarianism, the greatest happiness or the benefit of the most number of people is seen as fitting enough to further accept the ethical theory of utilitarianism. The relative consequences in adopting these principles highlight a connection to the modern world inasmuch as the welfare of the majority rather than the individual is deemed to outweigh personal motives. Thus, the extent of Mill’s conception of the utilitarian doctrine will firmly hold that business bluffing is ethical so long as it promotes the good of the majority through the greatest good such an action is able to produce. For instance, when company executives are tasked to manage dealings or negotiations with fellow executives, customers, government authorities, labor groups, or the department heads of the same company the executives work in, they can resort to many forms of deception. The act of deceiving these â€Å"other† people in terms of its moral value can be analyzed through the apparent consequences such a conduct is able to make materialize. Especially in cases wherein the fate of the whole company or the status of the entire structure of the line of laborers is at stake, business bluffing is deemed right if and only if it is able to sustain the welfare of the general members of the company as its immediate consequence. Or even in the smallest of the departments in a business establishment, the relative gains of that small unit when taken as a whole should be reason enough, at least in Mill’s utilitarian approach, to pursue actions that will ensure the greatest gains for the greatest number in that department. These actions, in turn, are qualified as ethical and, hence, right under the utilitarian perspective as far as Carr’s notion on the extent of cases where the business â€Å"player† resorts to bluffing is concerned. On the other hand, the extent in which Mill will contradict Carr’s proposals for deception rests on the situation wherein bluffing does not promote the general welfare but instead advances the personal aims of the executive. In such cases, even if there are positive consequences for the businessman, the fact that the relative gains of the businessman for his own goes against the utilitarian principle of the maximization of the good. It ignores the crucial part of utilitarianism that prescribes actions which ensures the furtherance of the welfare of the majority. Thus, such an instance is essentially unethical inasmuch as it is not right as far as the tenets of utilitarianism are concerned. Kant’s ethical theory on DeJardins and Duska’s â€Å"Drug Testing in Employment† In order to analyze DeJardins and Duska’s claims in the article, an understanding of Kantian ethics should first be noted. Kantian ethics can be roughly started with the presumption that if we are to strictly follow the assertion that the goal of the lives of men is the attainment of happiness in general, then every individual will most likely be inclined to seek personal gratification so as to arrive at happiness. Nevertheless, the attainment of happiness is not entirely within the human capacity and that its actuality can be interpreted as a matter of chance that depends primarily on the varying capacities of man. No universal assurance on the attainment of happiness can then be seen. Consequently, by trying to remove cynicism and nihilism and by allowing the ethical norms of man to occupy the actions of all, it is necessary for these ethical doctrines to be unconditional such that there should be no exceptions and universal in the sense that these tenets should be applicable to every human being. Kant proceeds with his idea of the good will by defining it as a will that operates for the sake of duty and as a â€Å"good-in-itself†. For the most part, the concept of duty is central to the ethical precepts of Kant which he regards crucial by considering the difference that dwell between actions in accordance with duty and actions performed for the sake of duty. For Kant, the latter phrase is the only one that bears moral worth implying a greater moral worth in man’s actions that result from a person’s greater disinclination to act merely for the sake of duty. That is, if a person is motivated to do a certain act simply because one is entirely inclined to do such an act, then the act itself is considered to be bereft of moral worth. Duty for Kant is the inevitability or necessity of functioning out of a strict observation for laws that are universal. Consequently, the worth or value of the action done by the individual in terms of moral precepts is essentially drawn from the intention of the action thereby stressing the content of the actions in terms of intent as significant. This content can be further expressed in two manners. The first states that there are maxims or imperatives that stipulate that there are acts based on the desires of the individual. This is what Kant calls the hypothetical imperative. On the other hand, those which are based on reason and not merely dependent on one’s desires belong to the categorical imperative. The latter type deals with what ought to be done. All these can be roughly transposed and summarized into Kant’s conception of the practical imperative that claims that one ought to act to treat human beings as ends in themselves and never merely as a means to any given end, whether the individual is the self or another person. Thus, in line with the arguments proposed by the authors of Drug testing in Employment, Kant will very well argue that drug testing among employees in companies is unethical for the reason that it treats the employees as mere objects or means in achieving the ends of set forth by the company. The delicate private information that are to be obtained from the drug tests, moreover, gives rise to the possibility that these information can be manipulated for sinister ploys even if the protection of these information is given due recognition. Moreover, as the authors of the article suggest, drug use is not always job relevant. If this is the case, then information concerning drug use is not relevant as well hence leading to the observation that drug tests are irrelevant and that these only impair the centrality of man as the end for every action. The reason to these claims rests on two crucial aspects. First is that the practical imperative will not allow the treatment of the employees as schemes for the purpose of the upkeep of the employment status of the employer or of the company. Second is that drug testing undermines the rights of the employee thus, relegating our attention back to the first reason, undermining as well their existence as human beings and rational agents. Reference Mill, J. S. (1863). What Utilitarianism Is. In Utilitarianism (pp. 4-16). How to cite The opinions of Mill and Kant, Essay examples

Kiss of the Spider Woman Essay Thesis Example For Students

Kiss of the Spider Woman Essay Thesis In some sports and intellectual pursuits, results are evaluated both by the success of the final product and the degree of difficulty of the attempt. By this system, the figure skater, gymnast or test-taker gets a better grade for doing a harder thing even if the performance is not flawless than for a perfect execution of something routine. In the theatre, too often, we dont acknowledge that some things are harder than others. Shows, especially in the commercial arena, are either good or bad, hits of flops. I have before me a stack of recently released compact disks of musicals from both categories. Some are the result of new production, some commemorate past works in newly digitized form. Outline1 A chorus of singing prisoners  2 Extraordinary made ordinary  3 Muscular lyrics  4 Clean but soulless sound   A chorus of singing prisoners   Given the task of reviewing them, the temptation is pretty much to bludgeon the current crop about the face and neck using the magnificent Rodgers and Hammerstein 50th-anniversary boxed set as club, with the new Broadway cast recording of Guys and Dolls held in reserve. Kander and Ebb and McNallys Kiss of the Spider Woman, the Maury Yeston/Arthur Kopit Phantomhow could these discs share the same laser light as Carousel starring John Raitt and Jan Clayton, or Alfred Drake invoking the bright golden haze of Oklahoma!? Nothe American musical has certainly, by this crude measure, gone into eclipse, with the exception of a few solar flares put out by Sondheim and Finn. In Kiss of the Spider Woman, Manuel Puigs hallucinatory, psychodramatic story of political terror and aesthetic salvation, we have the makings of a major work of music-theatre. There is conflict and tension and atmosphere enough for Verdi, and the element of the fabulous enters organically via one characters technicolor, celluloid fantasies. The high-concept contributions of director Harold Prince and his set and projection designer, Jerome Sirlinnot to mention a chorus of singing prisoners and Chita Rivera bedecked in spidery Florence Klotz frockscreate a theatrical tour-de-force thats still pulling them in. So why, then, is the CD (a 1992 RCA Victor release) so uncompelling, so cloying? Why does the experience of listening to Kiss of the Spider Woman recede so quickly to the background of ones consciousness? If we apply the degree of difficulty standard, we have to allow Kander and Ebb a pretty good score a priori. Kiss is a tough, rich subject that mixes torture, sexual tension between a gay man and his straight cellmate, and colliding levels of reality. And lets recognize the Kiss albums legitimate strengths. The music given to Molina, the flamboyant window-dresser, and Valentin, the political revolutionary, is almost always clearly character-specific. The performances by Brent Carver (Molina) and Anthony Crivello (Valentin) are emotionally packed, well-sung and crisply articulated. Rivera is in fine, expressive voice throughout. There are a few numbers, particularly Shes a Woman, that remind us of Kander and Ebb at their plaintive, lyrical best (in the style of A Quiet Thing from Flora, The Red Menace, which is my candidate for their best single song). Extraordinary made ordinary   But the recording exposes, more clearly than any in recent memory, the dark side of the degree of difficulty standard: Kisss music and lyrics do not begin to rise to the level of the material, and so the final impression left by the cast album is one of an extraordinary thing made ordinary, pedestrian, pleasantlike the freezer-section versions of exotic ethnic entrees. Listen to almost any song and be reminded of 50 other Kander and Ebb tunes, which in turn remind us of that amalgamated songwriting team of Harnick and Bock and Comden and Green and lesser Loesser, Lerner and Lowe. Suddenly were not in a prison cell in an unnamed Latin American country; were unmistakably on Broadway, where the neon lights (and the cheerful key signatures) are bright. .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .postImageUrl , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:hover , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:visited , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:active { border:0!important; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:active , .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324 .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u493336f9118470c0fb426a484dd9e324:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Can I get a witness? EssayAurora features the standard show-tune device of wispy recitative accelerating into bouncy rhythms alternating with a third style copped from another tradition, in this case the tango. Blue-bloods tries to muster up some Sondheimesque patter energy, and segues seamlessly into the next number (Dressing Them Up). But whenever lyricist Ebb reaches for something more original and difficult, as in the parallel duet Gabriels Letter/My First Woman, Kanders music lets down. Taken individually, the tunes seem collections of notes that dont quite scan with the rhythms or the emotions of the words; then, when the two parts come together briefly, the result h as an air of accidental about it, as if some arranger long-removed from the project was called upon to make a medley and chose the wrong two songs to smash together. Overall, the CD release of Kiss of the Spider Woman especially in light of the shows Tony awards and its monster-hit statusillustrates the current impoverishment of the American musical, which mostly seems to be stuck in a kind of hazy, pleasant mid-century mist. Muscular lyrics   Which brings me to Rodgers and Hammerstein, the team that got us to mid-century in such spectacular style. If you are waryand we all should beof Golden Age myths, of it was better when nostalgia, of the belief that drama generally has been going downhill since Aeschylus, a tour through the RH 50th will make you nervous. This anniversary collection, issued by MCA Classics in a four-CD boxed set, contains original cast recordings of Oklahoma! (the Theatre Guild Musical Play that in so many ways started it all), Carousel and The King and I, along with a fourth disc called The Rodgers and Hammerstein Collection, featuring RH oddities and covers. The unsurprising but chastening truth that emerges from listening to these recordings is that it was better back when. Rodgers and Hammerstein emerge (or re-emerge) as infinitely more various than any of our contemporary writers or composers. The stylistic range of the songs within Carousel or, even more dramatic, among the three shows reproduced hereis vast. The word-setting and emotion-painting of Rodgerss music is almost always directly supportive of Hammersteins lyrics, which although capable of a touch of the goony (especially in South Pacific) are usually as supple and muscular as speech, as elevated as organized poetry. The synthesis these two achieved is the more remarkable because, although there is a discernible Rodgers and Hammerstein sound, it does not dominate the material they work with, but rather emerges from it: Oklahoma! sounds a little bit like Carousel, but somehow they both sound as if they spring from their own local habitation and not from 42nd Street. The performances on these old recordings are instructive, too. Once your ear adjusts to Alfred Drakes extremely patrician-sounding Curly, his great voice and most important his sense of freedom in phrasing and shaping a musical line are thrilling. Celeste Holms Ado Annie is exuberant and unashamed a scale of playing approached in contemporary musicals most nearly by Faith Prince in Guys and Dolls. Clean but soulless sound   On a technical note, modern recording technology (like modern Broadway microphone technique) has given us clean, clear but unspecific and soulless sound. Kiss of the Spider Woman, from an engineering point of view, might as well be a top-40 concept album, not a stage musical. Studio values have triumphed over the unpredictable energy of the theatre, where some people are louder and more present than others; where singers place their voices to reach the balcony, not their hairpieces; and where the imaginary walls are not covered in anechoic sculptured foam. The RH collection, though clearly studio-created, has the feel of the stage behind it. Perhaps this is simply the result of the different (less technologically supported) performance conditions of the day, both in the theatre and in the recording studio, but I sense a different philosophy of performance at work that transcends the availability of this or that electronic gizmo. .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .postImageUrl , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:hover , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:visited , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:active { border:0!important; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:active , .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97 .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue2ce2f1fbff77cb69bb20cbfb9251e97:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Anatoly Smeliansky EssayThe fourth CD in the anniversary set is an adorable collection including such out-of-the-way items as Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin sung by Bing Crosby and Trudy Erwin with the Sportsmen Glee Club, or Dites-moi, sung in regrettable English and French by the redoubtable Hildegarde and Orchestra. There are some sublime moments on this disc, too, including Carousels big rouser, Youll Never Walk Alone, sung plangently in 1945 by Judy Garland with a splendid orchestra and chorus behind her. After the three big shows in this collection, this record is a witty dessert course. The most apparent conclusion that one reaches from listening to this 50th anniversary set in close juxtaposition to the best contemporary writing (of which Kiss of the Spider Woman is a genuinely accomplished representative) is how innovatively and variously Rodgers and Hammerstein responded to their source texts. And their original performances had a musicality, an energy and a verve that modern performance style, conditioned to its detriment by modern sound technology, cannot match. Let us listen and learn from these last 50 years. Lets not shy away from ever-higher degrees of difficulty in our musical theatre, but lets be bolder and less formulaic in our responses. And let us value but, for everyones sake, not overvalue those musicals (like Kiss) that reach for something great and ultimately fall to earth without quite attaining it.