#similar to caesar and juliet

[youling-the-ghost]

I know that they would probably be hesitant to do it, but I'd love for sfth to do a skit based on Chinese mythology.

[bookishdaze]

Noa and Mae as Romeo and Juliet Theory

If Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is inspired by Hamlet, then to keep the story feeling like Shakespeare, the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sequels could take inspiration from Romeo and Juliet.

(NOTE: I already made a post about this theory right after the movie first came out, but after months of discussing this theory with others, I wanted to update it with some of my newer thoughts and ideas).

Remember, this is just a fun theory!

First I will explain how Dawn is similar to Hamlet, using other movies as examples and their sequels.

Then I will discuss character similarities, like Raka as Friar Lawrence.

I will then talk about how Romeo and Juliet works with the themes of Planet of the Apes.

And I will share an interview with Wes Ball where he talks about "Shakespearean stuff" in the sequels.

Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet in Planet of the Apes

In Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Lion King, and Black Panther, a rightful king or heir is killed by an evil uncle, cousin, or family member. This always results in them falling off a very high cliff for some reason.

Everyone thinks they're dead, the evil relative takes power, and everything kinda sucks. There is not enough food in the Pride Lands under Scar's rule. Killmonger burns the heart-shaped herbs. Koba leads the apes to war against the humans.

The rightful ruler spends time in exile, recovering from their wounds and trauma. They might even get a visit or have a recollection of their dead father.

Then the rightful ruler comes back from the dead, challenges the usurper, and takes his rightful place upon the throne. Now let's take a quick look at their sequels, hehe.

The Lion King 2 and Wakanda Forever are loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. Wakanda Forever is also based on Hades and Persephone by the way!

Like the Montagues and Capulets, we got two rival kingdoms. The Pridelanders and the Outsiders. Wakanda and Talokan.

The two heirs/rulers from both kingdoms meet, and they don't trust each other at first, but they start to have compassion for the other.

Kiara and Kovu fall in love. Namor and Shuri don't fall in love, but Shuri begins to show compassion after he shows her his kingdom.

(Side note: There is this interview with one of the movie editors about a romantic subplot between Shuri and Namor being removed, but it was later clarified the comments in the interview were taken out of context. But I digress!)

Namor and Shuri are also based on Persephone and Hades, who are a couple in Greek mythology. Hades kidnaps Persephone and brings her to the underworld. Namor kidnaps Shuri and takes her to his underwater kingdom.

So Romeo and Juliet, Hades and Persephone...they're based on romantic couples.

There are losses on both sides. Kovu's brother is killed going after Simba. One of Namor's people is killed. Shuri's mother, Queen Ramonda, is killed by Namor's attack on Wakanda.

This escalates the situation. Things get worse.

In the end, both pairs are able to bring the fighting between their people to a stop. The Outsiders are welcomed into Simba's pride, and the Wakandans and people of Talokan stop fighting after seeing their leaders return together.

Character Similarities

So Noa and Mae would be Romeo and Juliet for obvious reasons. Romeo and Juliet's deaths brought the feud between their families to an end. Noa and Mae could bridge the gap between apes and humans and help achieve coexistence.

But now I want to talk about Raka!

He's Friar Lawrence!

Friar Lawrence is wise, optimistic, and religious.

We see this with Raka already. He is religious and is a follower of the Order of Caesar. He's also a little too optimistic, believing apes and humans once lived side by side, but we know this isn't true.

Friar Lawrence believes Romeo and Juliet's marriage will unite their Houses in the eyes of God and end the feud between the two families.

Caesar is pretty much God for the apes. Raka says since humans were important to Caesar, he must show compassion and teach them.

Even his last words to Noa and Mae are "Together strong." NOT "Apes together strong," but "TOGETHER strong."

He believes humans and apes, or at least Noa and Mae, are stronger together. This stems from him being a member of the Order of Caesar and because he believes it's what Caesar would want.

Back to The Lion King 2. Rafiki would be the Friar as well. He gets a message from Mufasa (Caesar/God) about how Kiara and Kovu getting together would unite the two sides.

"Kovu...Kiara...together?"

"Together...strong."

I see Anaya being Mercutio.

Mercutio is Romeo's friend. He's very witty, making jokes all the time. (Seriously, read the play. He doesn't stop, lol). His death is what leads to Romeo killing Tybalt.

Anaya is definitely the jokester in his friend group. If Anaya is Mercutio though, poor guy. Hope he goes down swinging!

Romeo and Juliet Themes

Both sides realize they're the same and to not let hate cloud their judgement.

As Kiara says to her father Simba, "A wise king once told me we are one. Look at them. They are us. What differences do you see?"

This reminds me of when Caesar tells his son, "I always think ape better than human. I see now how much like them we are."

In Planet of the Apes, the apes are a mirror to humanity. We the audience see ourselves in them, and the characters must come to the realization that they're not opposites, but the same.

It's about love and compassion over hate and violence.

"But don't Romeo and Juliet die in the end?" They do, but just like how The Lion King 2 and Wakanda Forever had different endings, it doesn't mean Noa and Mae have to die. West Side Story, another Romeo and Juliet retelling, has Tony die, but not Maria.

Here's to hoping for a happier ending for Noa and Mae, though!

And to top it all off, here's a clip of an interview with Wes Ball where he talks about "Shakespearean stuff" for the sequel.

“The relationship that these two characters [Noa and Mae] have with each other is going to be crucial for what comes at them in the future. 

“Whatever exists between them, is that going to be enough to stop terrible things from happening? Or is it going to be the cause of terrible things to happen? I think there’s going to be a lot of great drama, you know, classic Shakespearean stuff.”

Shakespearean stuff, you say?

[lianadelune]

in another life

pairing: emperor caracalla x fem!reader

author's notes: so... i'm still in my brainrot era for caracalla and can't stop thinking about him, this is supposed to be a romeo and juliet based fanfic but i don't think that it's similar?? i tried, okay... also this is VERY occ for caracalla and there is probably some inconsistencies about ancient rome :)

warnings: character death

in the sprawling empire of rome, power was a fickle god, worshiped by many and feared by all. the twin emperors, caracalla and geta, ruled with an iron grip, their partnership fraught with rivalry and shadowed by whispers of rebellion. their reign was a delicate balance between ruthless control and the ever-looming threat of betrayal.

you arrived at the so-called capital of the world with your father, a king of a distant and prosperous kingdom that bordered this grandiose empire. rome had extended its hand in friendship to your land, offering an alliance that promised prosperity in exchange of the rich resources that they coveted. but beneath your father’s polished words and ceremonial offerings lay a darker purpose: he had aligned himself with the rebellious senators, promising aid in their scheme to assassinate the emperors.

as your father’s only child, you were raised to understand the intricacies of court politics. you were his crown jewel, the tool he wielded to charm, to negotiate, to manipulate. in the emperor’s court, you were not just his daughter—you were his weapon, his most valuable pawn in this dangerous game. raised to charm and manipulate, you knew your role well—to earn the emperors’ trust, particularly caracalla’s, and distract him long enough for your father’s plan to unfold.

your arrival was announced with all the pomp rome could muster. the imperial palace loomed above you, an oppressive monument to the power of the two brothers who sat on its throne. emperor caracalla and emperor geta greeted you in the grand atrium, their guards standing stiffly at attention.

geta spoke first, his smile cool and diplomatic. "we welcome you to rome. we hope this alliance will strengthen the bonds between our nations."

caracalla stood beside him, his gaze sharp and appraising as it rested on you. where geta greeted you and your father with the smooth diplomacy of a seasoned statesman, caracalla’s approach was raw, unfiltered.

"your daughter must be the jewel of your court," caracalla said, his eyes lingering on you. "tell me, princess, are you here to negotiate for your father or to keep us distracted with your beauty?"

his eyes locked onto yours, and for a moment, the noise of the palace faded into nothingness, a blush crept up your neck, but you met his gaze without flinching. "perhaps both, caesar. beauty has its uses, after all."

he smirked at your boldness, though something in his expression shifted—a flicker of interest, perhaps. it was the beginning of a dangerous dance, one you were unsure you could win.

your father laughed, the sound forced and hollow. "she is here to learn, caesar. to see the heart of the empire and to witness its greatness."

"and perhaps," geta interjected smoothly, "to see a future where our nations stand united."

the meeting was brief, a show for the gathered senators and nobles. but as you followed your father out of the hall, you felt caracalla’s gaze linger on you, heavy and unrelenting.

days turned to weeks, and you found yourself drawn into the web of roman politics and deeply intertwined with your father’s plan alongside the senate, your role in the plan was clear: earn caracalla’s trust, distract him, and keep him blind to the storm brewing around him. but the emperor was not an easy man to deceive.

caracalla was nothing like his brother. where geta was polished and calculating, but still easily manipulated by your father’s tactics and the promise of becoming more rich and powerful with the fake alliance, caracalla was unrestrained, he moved through the court like a lion in a cage waiting for an opening, a weakness to attack.

this was the man you had to win over.

but, despite your father’s warnings, you found yourself intrigued by him.

it all started the very next day.

the palace gardens were caracalla’s private sanctuary, a place rarely visited by anyone but the emperor himself. you had stumbled upon it by accident, your wandering taking you through a small, ivy-covered archway that led into the hidden oasis. the air smelled of blooming jasmine and freshly turned soil, and the sound of a trickling fountain filled the space.

you were admiring the garden when you heard a low voice behind you. “you’ve found my secret.”

startled, you turned to see caracalla standing just beyond the archway. he wasn’t wearing his usual armor or the heavy robes you saw him wearing the other day, but a simple tunic and sandals. the sight of him like this—relaxed, almost unguarded—caught you off guard.

“i didn’t mean to intrude,” you said quickly, scared of the outburst that you heard happening in the walls of the palace when emperor caracalla felt unease “i didn’t realize this was yours.”

he stepped forward, waving off your concern. “you don’t need to apologize.” his tone was light, but there was a faint amusement in his eyes.

you shifted awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or stay. “it’s… beautiful here. i wouldn’t have expected this from you.”

his lips curved into a small, sardonic smile. “because you think I’m incapable of appreciating beauty?”

“i think you spend so much time commanding armies, intimidating senators and watching fights in the colosseum that it’s hard to imagine you planting flowers,” you said boldly, surprising even yourself.

he chuckled—a low, warm sound that made your chest tighten. “fair. but even a tyrant needs a place to think.” he gestured for you to follow him deeper into the garden.

you hesitated, then complied, walking beside him as he led you to a stone bench beneath a towering olive tree. the fountain gurgled nearby, its water sparkling in the afternoon sun.

“you come here often?” you asked, glancing at him.

“when i can,” he admitted, sitting on the bench and gesturing for you to do the same. “this was my mother’s garden. she designed it herself.”

the mention of his mother softened his voice, and you sat down, intrigued by this side of him. “it’s lovely,” you said. “she must have been a remarkable woman.”

“she was,” he said quietly. for a moment, his usual bravado faded, leaving something raw and unguarded in its place. “she loved things that grew. said it was a reminder that life could flourish even in the harshest conditions.”

his words surprised you. this wasn’t the cruel emperor you had been warned about, the man whose name was spoken with fear and loathing in equal measure. this was someone else entirely—a son mourning his mother, a man seeking solace in a world that demanded so much from him, as a princess soon to be queen, you felt for him.

“i think she’d be proud of what you’ve done with it,” you said softly.

he glanced at you, his gaze searching. “and what about you, princess? what do you think?”

you hesitated, unsure if he was asking about the garden or himself. finally, you said, “i think there’s more to you than what people say.”

his expression shifted, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. “and if i told you i don’t know how much of that man is left?”

you looked at him, truly looked at him, and saw not the monster your father had painted him to be but a man struggling beneath the weight of an empire. “then maybe you should spend more time here,” you said gently, gesturing to the garden. “it seems to bring out the best in you.”

he smiled then—a real smile, not the sardonic smirk or the calculated grin you had grown accustomed to. it was fleeting, but it made your heart skip all the same.

“perhaps you’re right,” he said, his voice soft.

the two of you sat there for a while, the silence between you warm and unspoken, the garden wrapping you in its quiet embrace. and for the first time, you wondered if you had misjudged him entirely.

as weeks turned into months, your encounters with caracalla became more frequent and intimate. he shared stories of his childhood, of the relentless pressure to prove himself, while you offered glimpses of your own struggles—carefully omitting your father’s true intentions.

one afternoon, during a rare moment of peace, caracalla pulled you aside, leading you to a hidden alcove in the palace. “i want to show you something,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

he revealed a small pendant, its surface engraved with intricate patterns. “my mother gave this to me when i was a boy,” he explained. “she said it would protect me.”

“it’s beautiful,” you said, studying the craftsmanship.

he hesitated, then pressed the pendant into your palm. “i want you to have it.”

your breath caught. “i can’t take this. it’s yours.”

“i trust you with it,” he said, his tone firm but kind. “and… i trust you.”

the weight of his words left you speechless, and as he closed your fingers around the pendant, you realized that your heart had betrayed you entirely and you felt the first stirrings of guilt for the betrayal you were complicit in.

days passed and you hadn’t heard from either emperor caracalla or emperor geta, not even your father, who was starting to feel unease.

“what if they found out?” he would repeat to you pretty much every night after another day passed without hearing a word from the twins “did we underestimate them somehow? did the senate underestimate them?”

a part of you wanted that to be true, that both of the emperors discovered your father and the senate’s plans, even if that would mean your death, even if you would have to stare at caracalla’s eyes after you had betrayed him, you could do that as long as he didn’t die.

but then the gilded invitation arrived in the early hours of the day, you were already awake, anxious about your father’s anxiety, so you were the only one in the house to pick them up from the praetorian guard, after thanking the man and closing the door, you admired the letter’s ornate edges and wax seal marking it as a token of the imperial court. you turned it over in your hands, noting the unfamiliar handwriting on one of the envelopes. unlike the formal script of past correspondences, this handwriting was bold and deliberate, almost impatient.

breaking the seal, you unfolded the parchment and read:

“to honor the customs of your homeland, a ball will be held tonight in the imperial palace. wear your finest attire. i will be waiting. – c.”

your breath hitched at the signature. not geta, whose name was synonymous with the empire's carefully curated diplomacy. no, this was unmistakably from caracalla. the thought of his hand crafting those words sent a strange thrill through you, though you quickly shook it off.

that evening, the palace was aglow with light, torches and lanterns casting a golden hue over the sprawling marble corridors. the distant hum of music grew louder as you approached the grand ballroom, your gown—a rich fabric from your homeland—whispering against the polished floor.

inside, nobles twirled in an elaborate dance, their laughter mingling with the music. the scent of spiced wine and fresh flowers filled the air. yet, despite the overwhelming splendor, you felt his presence before you saw him.

caracalla stood near the far end of the ballroom, his dark attire contrasting starkly with the vibrant colors of the guests. his gaze swept the room until it found you, and once it did, it remained fixed, unwavering.

you hesitated, your heart racing. you could feel the weight of his attention as he made his way through the crowd, his movements deliberate and unhurried.

“princess,” he greeted when he finally reached you, his voice low and rich.

“caesar,” you replied, curtsying slightly.

“you wear the traditions of your homeland well,” he said, his eyes tracing the intricate embroidery of your gown before returning to meet your gaze. “the room pales in comparison.”

heat rose to your cheeks, and you struggled to maintain your composure. “flattery is unbecoming of an emperor.”

he smirked, leaning in slightly. “then perhaps i’ll save it for when we’re alone.”

before you could respond, he extended his hand. “dance with me.”

you glanced around, noting the curious stares of the other guests, but you knew refusing would only draw more attention. reluctantly, you placed your hand in his, and he led you to the center of the ballroom.

the music shifted to a slower tempo as he pulled you into the first steps of the dance. his hand settled firmly on your waist, his other holding yours with surprising gentleness.

“you look uneasy,” he observed, his tone teasing but not unkind.

“i’m dancing with the emperor,” you replied, forcing a small smile. “should i not be?”

“perhaps,” he said, his lips curving into a faint smile. “but I’d prefer if you didn’t look so ready to flee.”

his words struck too close to the truth, and you averted your gaze, focusing instead on the rhythm of your steps. yet, even as you tried to maintain distance, his presence was overwhelming, his gaze drawing you back to him.

“you intrigue me,” he admitted softly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

“why?” the word escaped before you could stop it.

“because you’re different,” he said simply. “you don’t fawn or flatter. you look at me like…” he trailed off, searching for the right words. “like i’m human.”

for a moment, the mask he wore—the ruthless emperor, the conqueror—seemed to crack, revealing something more vulnerable beneath. it unsettled you, yet it also drew you in.

the music slowed, and the dancers around you began to disperse, but caracalla didn’t let go. instead, he guided you toward a quieter corner of the room, away from the prying eyes of the court.

“why do you do that?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

“do what?”

“look at me like…” you faltered, unsure how to articulate the intensity of his gaze.

“like you’re the only one here?” he finished for you, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

you nodded, your breath catching as he took a step closer.

“because you are,” he said, his voice soft yet resolute.

before you could process his words, he leaned in, his hand rising to cup your cheek. the kiss was slow, deliberate, and completely disarming. for a moment, the world fell away, leaving only the warmth of his lips and the steady pressure of his hand on your back.

but as the reality of what was happening sank in, panic gripped you. you broke away abruptly, your breathing uneven as you stepped back.

“i… i can’t,” you stammered, your voice trembling.

his expression didn’t falter. instead, a faint smile tugged at his lips, as though he had expected your reaction. “it’s all right,” he said gently. “i’ll wait.”

his confidence unnerved you, and before you could say anything more, you turned and fled, your heart racing as you slipped into the shadows of the palace halls.

even as you disappeared into the night, even after you went to your room, changed clothes and tried your best to forget what happened his words lingered in your mind as well as his lips against yours.

unbeknownst to you and caracalla, the senators had finalized their plans the night of the ball. your father’s role was to provide soldiers to infiltrate the palace under the cover of night, but he himself also wanted to be present to see the emperors being eliminated in a swift, coordinated attack by his men.

later that night doubt began to creep into your mind. caracalla, for all his flaws, had shown you a side of himself that few others had seen. his ferocity masked a profound loneliness, a desire to be understood that resonated deeply with you, besides you couldn’t deny to yourself anymore you were actually falling in love with him.

after twisting and turning in your bed, feeling the pendant he gave you as a gift weighing more and more as the hours passed you decided to confront your father.

"are you sure this is the only way?" you asked, your voice trembling

he turned to you while putting his armor, his expression hard. "do not forget your duty, my daughter. rome is a beast that devours all in its path. if we don’t strike first, it will destroy us."

you wanted to believe him. you wanted to convince yourself that caracalla was nothing more than a tyrant, that his death would save your people. but the thought of his blood on your hands made your chest tighten with a pain you couldn’t explain.

so when your father turned around to leave the house and meet with his soldiers and the senate one last time before killing the man you so loved, you made a decision on the spot.

the halls of the palace were dark and eerily silent, save for the soft rustle of your hurried steps. the chill of the night bit at your skin as you clutched your cloak tightly, the pendant caracalla had given you swinging against your chest with every movement.

you shouldn’t have been here. you shouldn’t have left your chambers, defying your father’s orders and the pact he had made with the senate. but the thought of caracalla lying dead, betrayed by those closest to him, made it impossible to stay away.

when you reached his quarters, you hesitated for a moment before pushing the heavy doors open.

caracalla stood by the window, his figure outlined by the pale moonlight. he turned at the sound, his expression softening when he saw you. but his brow furrowed when he noticed the fear etched across your face.

“princess,” he said, his voice low, laced with concern. “what’s wrong?”

“they’re coming for you,” you said, your voice trembling. “my father… the senate… they’ve sent soldiers to kill you and your brother.”

he stared at you, his face unreadable. “you shouldn’t be here,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “if they find you with me—”

“i don’t care!” you interrupted, stepping closer. “i couldn’t let you die without warning you. without trying to save you.”

his jaw tightened, but before he could respond, the sound of boots echoed in the corridor outside. the soldiers had arrived.

caracalla moved to draw his sword, but you grabbed his arm. “no,” you said desperately. “you can’t fight them all. you’ll die.”

“and what would you have me do?” he asked, his voice heavy with resignation. “run? hide? i am caesar. if i must die, i will die standing.”

the doors burst open before you could respond, and a group of soldiers flooded into the room, their swords drawn. at their head stood a centurion, his gaze cold and unwavering as he pointed his blade at caracalla.

“step aside, princess,” the centurion commanded. “this is not your fight.”

you moved in front of caracalla, spreading your arms wide. “if you want to kill him,” you said, your voice steady despite the terror coursing through you, “you’ll have to kill me first.”

“don’t make this harder than it has to be,” the centurion said, his tone almost pleading. “step aside. this is justice.”

“justice?” you spat. “this is treachery. and i won’t be a part of it.”

the soldiers hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. but the centurion raised his blade, his resolve hardening.

caracalla’s hand came to rest on your shoulder, and you turned to face him. his eyes, usually so fierce and calculating, were soft and full of something you hadn’t expected—peace.

“you didn’t have to do this,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion.

“yes, i did,” you replied, your voice breaking. “because i love you.”

the words tumbled out before you could stop them, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. “i love you,” you said again, tears streaming down your face. “i don’t know when it happened, or how, but you’re not the monster they said you were. you’re flawed and human and—”

caracalla silenced you with a smile, his hand lifting to cup your cheek. “i love you, too,” he said, his voice as soft as the breeze outside. “i think i have since the moment i met you.”

he leaned down, his lips brushing yours in a kiss that was both tender and desperate, as if you could somehow pour all the words you hadn’t spoken into that single moment.

when he pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his voice a whisper. “i wish we had more time.”

“in another life,” you said, your voice trembling, “the gods will grant us that wish.”

a shout from the soldiers brought you back to reality, and caracalla’s arms tightened around you.

the soldiers moved as one, their blades piercing through you and caracalla in unison. pain blossomed in your chest, but it was dulled by the warmth of his arms around you. you felt yourself falling, and he held you tightly, lowering you to the ground as his own strength faded.

your head rested against his chest, his heartbeat slowing beneath your ear. his lips pressed to your forehead one last time.

and as the darkness closed in, you clung to the hope that somewhere, in another life, you would find each other again.

in the years that followed, your story became legend. the foreign princess and the emperor who fell in love despite the odds, who died together in defiance of a world that sought to tear them apart.

the marble pillars of caracalla's room bore silent witness to your final act of defiance, and in the years to come, flowers were left there in quiet tribute to a love that defied the gods themselves.

rome remembered you not as a traitor, but as a symbol of love and loyalty—proof that even in the darkest times, light could be found in the unlikeliest of places.

[instantpansies]

ok so @mostlyintact and i were talking about the strengths of each of the sfth boys, and i think i was finally able to get some words out, so i thought i'd make a real post lol. a brief summary of each of their strengths, and examples of plays where those things are visible.

longish post, so i'll put it under the cut.

aj: he really shines in caesar and juliet. the narrative sort of revolves around juliet, and aj gets to really drive the story forward. his portrayal is iconic and natural and just so fun to watch. also, he's excellent in the oopsie daisy bulge, the grape depression, and priscilla's final petal: all plays in which he's got a whole lot of control over the way his characters are going, and gets some shining moments to drive the scenes forward in really compelling ways. he really reveals himself as a director and storyteller. also obviously death for a dollar, where he IS the actual narrator. to be honest, aj might be my favorite from an acting standpoint: his quick turnarounds and seemingly wild word associations and ability to grab a single piece of information and turn it into a whole story is both amazing and very similar to my own style of improv, and seeing him do it so well (even if he gets made fun of for being confused) is just. delightful. idk. his scenes where he's playing two characters at once (in grapression and oopsie daisy) might be the best of all the boys', to be honest.

sam: i think he does well when he's the center of a web of connections. his performance in, say, the evil make-a-wish kid is really fun, where the narrative is focused on him alone, but my favorites are things like the mystery of the midnight circus, the unrelenting aubergine, strange noises, or moist and magical. his characters feel more like an "everyman" in some ways, but always with a really unique personality. theyre relatable without being blank slates. excellent protagonists made better by their worlds. he takes the energy surrounding him onstage and sends it electric at the audience, using his surroundings to bring you in. it's really cool

tom: he is absolutely enamoring as certain archetypes. and he does an excellent job of making an impact with even the smallest amount of screentime. i'm always a sucker for abigail from the neighbour's under the bed--the monologue, the mannerisms--but a lot of that comes from a whole lot of overanalysis of her character, and that's not really relevant here. instead i'll say he's really really good at capturing the audience in death for a dollar, wild wet and worrisome, ballet on the battlefield, wine under the bridge, and priscilla's final petal. but tbh i could point to memorable scenes from almost every single tom character, he's so good at making his time count. his english degree comes out, ofc, which gives us those glorious tomologues, but also he can build up tension so naturally and make a silly story seem so real for a moment. sometimes that "oscar bait" moment can distract from the plot as a whole, but you don't think about it while you're watching him because he's so good at filling the space (to use a theater term).

luke: he's the absolute king of sympathetic characters. no matter how ridiculous the rest of the play is, you can always count on him adding a layer of humanity to his characters. it's easy to see in the milkman, of course, but also in divorces and teddy bears, wine under the bridge, toby's secret pocket, and the grape depression. his people are human, in ways that the others sometimes forget to be, and his storylines are impressively coherent. he seems to be the most concerned with getting the details right--sam nitpicks to get a laugh, but luke keeps track of details really really well, and does a good job of bringing in little things that make a story come together beautifully. more than anything, though, he is so good at building a character throughout a story and leaving you actually satisfied with what you got.

they each have really unique and somewhat specific strengths, but they complement each other so well. i think that's part of the appeal of sfth - they're so so comfortable with each other and find it so easy to read each other that you can tell they're having fun. it feels natural. they click, almost all the time, and even if things go off the rails they can pick up the debris from the crash and run with it. that's what i found really appealing about them--as someone who loved improv when i got to do it, it makes me wish i had friends close enough to do that with. it takes a ton of trust and a really solid relationship to do that, and i just. i just think they're neat :)

thank you so much mostlyintact, i can't come up with this sort of thing without prompting and i can't wait to see if you end up posting smth too 👀 love hyperspecific analysis

[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO MISC. DEMIGOD HEADCANONS:🎭MELPOMENE: MUSE GODDESS OF TRAGEDY🍇

a/n: When you start cooking with Satyrs and Goats and start being sneaky in this. Also we're back with our favourite (only) Camp Director, Mr. D! [PJO MISC + MUSE DEMIGOD H/CS MASTERIST: [AO3] \\ [TUMBLR]

Alright out of the muses, you have the flair for dramatics, particularly for the macabre variety. You’re often described as being dramatic yet very serious in your pose. How, no one knows but you pull it off.

Melpomene is the Muse of Tragedy, and while you know all of William Shakespeares’ tragedies not only Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, you’re very good at remembering Julius Caesar, Timon of Athens, and Titus Androncius, you’re first and foremost familiar with the Ancient Greek Tragedies of Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus.

In terms of play and theater management, you’re the one leading it most of the time out of the muses and in turn, you’re the one who interacts with Mr. D the most. Not surprising because particularly Greek Tragedy, were also used as ritual rites while both being carried out by and dedicated to Dionysus so if anything he’s going to have a few says. He’s the Theatre director and you’re the producer basically; or the other way around. It gets confusing sometimes.

Despite Mr. D’s casual reference they used to sacrifice goats, you came to a compromise: the goat would be used as a mascot for the plays and theaters, instead as a sacrifice, but in turn you would allow any Satyr to take any part if they chose to.  

In terms of weaponry, your preferred weapon is the sword as Melpomene is portrayed holding a sword. Alongside though, you’re also known to wear a mask into battle, another of Melpomene’s symbols. 

What no one expects is that you insist on wearing boots. Not just any boots like rainboots or uggs, but Buskin boots or something similar to Cothurnus boots; boots that go to at least your knee or half way up your calves as Melpomene is shown wearing them. You have a large variety of boots that fit any occasion and you can smoothly walk across the stage and fight just as well even in your platform boots. Many Aphrodite children and even Ares children ask for tips how you wear these boots so well. 

The Sirens could also be considered your half-siblings which explains somethings as your chanting during your theater productions charms the soul of your listeners, and also explains many of the tragedies the Siren orchestrate in front of them as they tempt sailors to their deaths. On the other hand, your singing/chanting reveal your audience the themes of human nature and the dealings with mortal rights and wrongs, thus giving them enlightenment in each individual.

What is unexpected is that because of your knowledge in tragedy, that deals human nature, moral rights and wrongs, and your in depth knowledge of Sophocles and Euripedes, you’ve also become a person who provides great psychological and philosophical thoughts and discussion. Mr. D has given you some coaching in peoples’ mental healths and dreams, so you’re not alone with that responsibility.

You’re often approached by Apollo children who want a couple of insights in their patients, approached by the Athena children for some deep thought, and in general, you often hold a theater session about these subjects. 

[akkpipitphattana]

shakespeare quotes that have absolutely made their way into babe's everyday vocabulary (inspired by this post by @hurlumerlu) (my credentials are that i'm a theatre kid that reads shakespeare and a number of these have slipped into MY vocabulary):

"i would eat his heart in the marketplace" (in previous post, from much ado about nothing act 4, scene 1)

"if i be waspish, best beware my sting" (obviously. from taming of the shrew, act 2, scene 1)

"i burn, i pine, i perish" (also obviously. from taming of the shrew, act 1, scene 1)

huzzah & alas (both just a commonly used phrases that he'd use in celebration or in resignation)

woo (also a commonly used word, just when talking about romance in general)

“et tu, brute?” (from julius caesar, act 3, scene 1, is response to being slighted at all)

"oh i could weep (my spirit from mine eyes)" (from julius caesar, act 4, scene 3, for when he's feeling dramatic about a small inconvenience)

for scotland! / "oh, scotland! scotland!" (direct quote is from macbeth, act 4, scene 3 - "for scotland!" is more of an adlib he probably picked up reading macbeth - similar to a "do it for the vine" thing for him and also just a dramatic declaration)

"tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day" (from macbeth, act 5, scene 5, used when kant asks about his day at school and he's basically trying to say life is BORING PHI!)

"will i live?" (taming of the shrew, act 2, scene 1, for when he's asked to do any task that involves effort)

"alas poor york! but that i hate thee deadly" and also "stamp, rave, and fret, that i may sing and dance!" (from act 1, scene 4 of king henry vi, used as dramatic declarations about anyone that pisses him off and talking about wanting revenge)

"i'll to my brother!" (from measure for measure, act 2, scene 4 - pretty self explanatory, he says this whenever referencing kant to anyone else)

"she is one of this confederacy!" (from a midsummer night's dream, act 3, scene 4, probably used to reference feeling betrayed at all)

"o that he were here to write me down an ass!" / "remember that i am an ass" (from much ado about nothing, act 4, scene 2, used to in response to his friends calling him an ass or anything of the sort)

"cobble you" / "i bite my thumb at you" (julius caesar, act 1, scene 1 / romeo & juliet, act 1, scene 1... they both mean fuck you)

"put money in thy purse" (othello, act 1, scene 3 - he says this to kant whenever he needs money for something)

[lookclike]

when you're not yet done with the summer

task: the last interaction when: august 2nd, last performance of romeo & juliet

getting undressed in her small room backstage felt different that night. that was the last time she was going to wear that white dress, the last time she would feel the weirdly sweet fake blood sticking to skin as she rubbed it off. getting in and out of costumes was easy when you could return to them at any time, but goodbyes... eliza didn't particularly love those.

the pink peonies (her favourites) resting on the table were a good reminder to not get caught up in emotions now, to get in and out of the backstage area as soon as possible so she could actually see richard. he had been there in the audience, the expression so similar to those many times when he took them to the theatre as kids, a sight that didn't exactly make eliza nervous (she could quote the entire play on her sleep by now) but still felt weird. some of the others had come to see her, of course, but seeing richard in new york always felt a bit uncanny, two words that were separate parts of eliza. new york was chaotic and cruel and dizzying, and woodrow… woodrow was home.

“richard!” she said happily as soon as she saw him waiting outside the theatre, throwing herself at his arms mostly out of habit. richard’s hug was just as warm as she remembered, the same steady arms that used to pick her up as a child. 

“lizzie! you were quite wonderful up there, dear.”

she let herself bask into the compliment for a couple of seconds. eliza had never been one to crave richard’s approval desperately, perhaps because she knew it would always come. still, a part of her still wondered if this — the shakespeare, the theatre, the false sense of independence and accomplishment — hadn’t been born out of what she thought richard would like to see. eliza was good at playing whatever role she needed to, after all.

“don’t you think the blood bath was a bit too much?” she finally let go of the hug, looking up to him with a little humorous smile.

richard simply laughed. “quite a brave directing choice.”

“brave doesn’t always mean good.”

“but it’s almost always better than the opposite.”

lizzie didn’t let her smile falter, though the comment stirred something inside her mind she didn’t quite appreciate. onstead, she opted to grab richard’s arm and to lead him in the general direction of sardi’s. part of her wanted to take him to a mcdonald’s just to see his reaction, but that would have to wait for another night. “c’mon old man, dinner is my treat.”

“i really ought to be heading back…”

“there will still be plenty of time after we eat. please?” and that’s why eliza never really had to battle for richard’s attention like so many of the others. she could pinpoint the moment when his eyes softened and he nodded. it would be easy to just let herself get lost in the joy of the moment, dinner with her pseudo-father, but even then a little voice piped up from inside her head: it’s not you he wants to see and share a meal with. he is saying yes because of a girl who isn’t you. the cool night breeze wasn’t always enough to get eliza out of her head, but they made their way to the bustling restaurant mostly unscathed.

“are you sure you wouldn’t rather be celebrating with your castmates?”

“trust me, there was enough celebrating to be had every other week. besides, i’ve got some good news.” that got richard to smile with a questioning expression. “not telling until i’ve had a preposterous amount of fries.”

eliza did get her french fries, munching happily as the adrenaline of being on stage started to leave her body completely, making her almost melt into the seat. The dinner was filled with conversations that took her straight back to woodrow, literature and theatre and everything in between.

“so, the news?” richard finally said as they started eating dessert (they both had a sweet tooth, after all).

“well… there is a big julius caesar production happening on broadway this november, and i got cast as portia!” she couldn’t quite hide her excitement, but richard’s eyes seemed equally content.

“that used to be your favourite as a kid. you would beg me to read antony’s speech again and again-”

“-because i loved the way it sounded. i remember.” memories had never been an issue to eliza, at least not when it came to woodrow. it felt like a consolation prize in a way. she had no real past, no real family, but the time spent at the house, with richard and with the other wards, would be forever etched into the crevices of her brain. a gift and a curse, something the greeks would love.

when they said goodbye for the night, eliza hugged richard tightly, and he didn’t hesitate in matching the force.

“bye lizzie. call me anytime, okay?”

that night, eliza went home to an empty apartment decorated with books and half empty bottles. she put the peonies in a beautiful crystal jar and then cried herself to sleep like she had done so many times as a little girl. she wished she still had a night light to guide her out of her own head. she wished she could just stop ruminating over things. mostly, she wished she could be the daughter richard actually wanted.

[milquetoast27]

Hamlet liveposting >:3

I'm relatively new to Shakespeare, but I'm very excited to get more invested in his works! I've studied Romeo and Juliet in full, and know the plot of Macbeth. I'm currently going through Hamlet and I actually know nothing of the plot- although I have suspicions (considering the play is a tragedy).

Act 1, Scene 1 already goes CRAZY. My biggest passion when studying texts is considering the context of the time it was written in- and this is something EXTREMELY pertinent for Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet especially mirror the instability and tension of the 1590s. (Threats to the monarchy, invasion of the Spanish, persecution of Catholics, Irish rebellion, etc.) The very first line is "Who's there?", immediately setting the tone of distrust. There are more obvious indications of this, such as the appearance of Old Hamlet's ghost, as well as the reference to Julius Caesar by Horatio, but it's amazing seeing how many allusions there are to this strain throughout only the first scene.

and HAMLET. Listen, I've literally only gotten to the first soliloquy (no spoilers please, by the way!! 😆) but I have to express my excitement. I look forward to exploring his character in more depth, and his relation to/possible representation of Elizabethan Britons' feelings. As a Sherlock Holmes fan, I look very much to exploring a potentially complex and multifaceted character- with a mix of interpretations surrounding him. After all, his first line, "A little more than kin, and less than kind" was described by John Dover Wilson as "a riddle, just like his character", which makes me hopeful.

To be honest, my main reason for attaching myself to Hamlet was simply how much of myself I immediately saw in him. But that's what Shakespeare is good at, isn't he? Despite his plays taking place in an already distant past, their actual feeling and explorations are timeless. Upon the subject of Hamlet's first soliloquy, I have been in a painfully similar situation myself- and that frustration and lack of understanding is something I have felt exactly. I hope for him to develop and gain peace on this but, alas... This play is a tragedy, centering around themes of betrayal and mistrust. I have a strong feeling Hamlet's not making it out of this in one piece 😔 Bro just goes OFF on his first rant, though!! To me it's just... real!! So incredibly real, even if in a very outtdated manner of speaking, I totally get what that guy's getting at! That's what excites me!

And because I have Sherlock Holmes fans following me, allow me to bless you with some Jeremy Brett Hamlet pics ♥

Thanks for reading actual word garbage ❤

[krystlind]

2nd to last Sunday in Austin?

"the only reason I wouldn't be coming back to Austin is because I didn't fall in love" I could be back.. i also couldn't

There are so many important elements of a city character that are important for me here, let me illustrate a few things of the past few days:

drivability and distance: I could get to church in 15 minutes driving, choose coffee shops along the way, after church me and Tamy went to juiceland, no wait TJ (by the fruits of the spirit! I'm by the wine.. of Jesus) no wait manana, then we settled on Carpenter's (because Jesus was a carpenter!). Tonight I decided to go to the Shane's swing Jazz alone, and I could drive there in 5 min, see it for a bit, drive back easily

bumping into people: Brittany at Meteor, walking around Bouldin and waving at Kiki, saw Paige sitting with Wilbur at Carpenter's, (I've also bumped into Chloe here the other day) then we walked over to Juliet's after, I had a Caesar's salad for like nothing, we caught up on her podcast, the episode, her willingness to put on an ad

oh that's another thing! every one here has something unique and peculiar going on

FRIENDLINESS and people's readiness to make friends, our waiter "are you guys supermodels?" and then switching numbers so I can be part of the jam session

the down to earth community I have here (not like Miami where everyone needs to be going out or socializing to be social) I came back to the house, they are cooking pasta, or painting a jacket, watching a movie

I have "good people" - My pool party reflected that. the people I brought, they were genuine, they stayed, they DJ'd, cleaned, her friendly and talked with everyone.

My church: Red Rocks, SDA crew, I get to lead a Bible study, I get to contribute

access to cultural events and shows, like the Greek festival (okay overall city diversity is kinda lacking but whatever), Art Shows, Film Screenings

the non-pretentiousness, but you can still find the classy successful folks, I was at Proper the other day, met Darren and (forgot his name)

it's easy to see my friends: I can call them up and we can say walk around the lake, meet at this coffee shop, do this work out (Ghazal workout then Carpenter's), after Bible study at Simona's and Nissi wanted to talk, she just drove over to Giraffe house and we sat by pool and prayed

It's a college city so it helps with the abundance of educational events, progressive thought, youthful energy

Nature with the trees, water

Funny things can happen in one day like: Jeremey Pivvins event (screening, band, stand up in Alice & Olivia, having Clem+Cassandra+Lisa all there)

People so willing to become friends, connect, follow up, actually make it happen! meeting Nida and pool party, dinner this Thursday with her & Ghazal

Everything is so extremely accessible, close together, easy for magic to happen without having to plan or force so much

the only thing that is lacking is: fashion, international/cultural scene. but you know what? whatever. I realize what is high value and importance for me is: grounded-ness, compact, intimacy, sincere/non-pretentious people, access to cultural events and opportunities. I guess intimacy and close-knit, community for real! kind of why I liked to join start ups over big companies, or SF or NYC. something about the quirkiness and the ability to have a voice. I think about UCSD being a place I could be the EVP and maybe UCLA/UC Berkeley it would've been different

I feel proud because I feel I'm able to break through to Tamy, and hopefully she can break through to me. that we can help each other build. and I'm grateful to have Sola more on the spiritual upleveling, where me and Tamy are in proximity and are more similar in that we're building companies and looking for investors, whereas Sola has more of a teaching/coaching practice

oh I forgot my title was 2nd to last Sunday in Austin

because I'm not really sure what will unfold

I quite love my life this way

[theshakespeareproject]

The Shakespeare Project: An Introduction

I have always had trouble reading the Bard. It started in high school, each year I was assigned one Shakespeare play to read and analyze and write reports on. Starting from freshman year they were: Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Othello. As with all high school students… I read the sparknotes version, with one exception: Macbeth. The magic, the intrigue, the political turmoil, or maybe it was just my teacher being particular excited about that story, either way, it was the only one I actually read. 

Not a single word of it made sense to me except “Double, Double, Toil and Trouble” and that was because of a certain movie that shall not be named. 

After finishing Othello and watching “O” before Febuary vacation during my senior year, I did not think about anything related to Shakespeare or even reading for many years.

I went to college and “earned” (we’re being very generous with that word) a degree in Film Media and a minor in Writing. Which only occurred because I dropped out of all my ComSci classes during junior year when I realized programing was just not sticking. 

Thanks to bookTube I got back into reading, but mainly fantasy novels (thank you Sanderson, please stop filling your books with literary crack because it’s a little too addicting), occasionally horror courtesy of the King, some absurdesism from the likes of Pratchett and Adams, a journey to regency era England with Pride and Prejudice thanks to a sudden addiction to the show Bridgerton and needing something similar. And, of course, reading all of the Sherlock Holmes stories last year thanks to the Dracula Daily inspired Letters from Watson. 

Having completed my dive into the world of Holmes, paired with the ending of The Crown and the return of Doctor Who, it felt right to my anglophile self to take on the big one. I grabbed my copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare that I had bought from Barnes and Nobles many years ago and cracked it open. 

I am terrified of this journey. I was originally going to pair each play with a filmed version as LadyKnightTheBrave suggested in her video essay “Love & Mend: Much Ado About Nothing”, I even found a copy of The Age of Kings, a 1960s black and white miniseries that adapted most of Shakespeare’s historicals on british King’s into one series, but I really just want the experience of reading these. I want to try to piece together whatever words don’t make sense. Or maybe it’s because I watch every show with subtitles, and this is just like subtitles, without the show playing behind it. 

Well, either way, I started this journey. Hopefully, I’ll finish it. See y’all soon.

[butchhamlet]

Your url is butchhamlet so i trust you with my life. Which Shakespeare plays you think Must Be Read?

my honest answer is that i don't think any of them Must Be Read; i think it's perfectly all right to take no interest in shakespeare at all! that said, for people who do want to get into him, this is entirely my opinion:

romeo and juliet and a midsummer night's dream are good starting plays, imo! the language is... well, shakespearean, but relatively less complex than in some of the other plays, and they're classic (and really good) stories!

you gotta read hamlet, man. if you're getting into shakespeare you've gotta read hamlet. you don't even have to like it; you just have to read it because it's, like, one of the best plays of all time.

i ALSO think you should read lear for similar reasons (one of the best plays of all time), but hamlet is The Famous One You Should Know.

the other Particularly Famous ones, as far as i'm aware, are macbeth, much ado about nothing, twelfth night, othello, and the tempest. all of which i think are worth reading, but if i had to pick a few to recommend: twelfth night is my favorite comedy and intertwines comedy with tragedy in fascinating ways; much ado is fucking hysterical; the tempest is hard to describe and rather unique among shakespeare's plays (it's a Romance Play, ooooh).

i guess comedy of errors & the taming of the shrew are also relatively famous, but i personally didn't care for either; i found them both boring and taming specifically incredibly misogynistic. i think you can safely skip those.

i also think richard iii is famous and worth reading, but i also think it hits best with the leadup of its predecessors, and the rest of the rose tetralogy is... questionable at times.

i also personally think everyone in the world should read julius caesar. this is my problem. you don't even have to like ancient rome, though! i promise! i promise i promise i promise come back why are you running

[bookishdaze]

Noa and Mae as Romeo and Juliet in the Next Planet of the Apes Movie?

Here's why a potential "love story" between Mae and Noa, whether explicit or simply implied, may not be such a terrible idea.

Why? Because Shakespeare told me so, that's why.

NOTE: I made another post with the same Romeo and Juliet theory, only with more up to date thoughts and references here.

"When in doubt, it's from Shakespeare....or the Bible." At least according to a book I had to read for high school, lol.

The biblical references in Caesar's trilogy have been pointed out multiple times already, and these movies have also been described as Shakespearean tragedies. So I thought, 'ok, what kind of Shakespearean tragedy will we have this time around?'

I'm first gonna start off with Hamlet in the Caesar trilogy. I'm also gonna mention other popular movies that are based on Shakespeare's plays. Not necessarily because it's concrete proof that this is what will happen in future POTA movies. This is me simply picking up certain storytelling beats and patterns I've noticed in some of my favorite movies.

It's not 100% the same, but there are some similarities. Also, this isn't anything new. Many have pointed this out before, but I love talking about this stuff!

The Lion King, Black Panther, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are loosely based on Hamlet. A king or rightful heir is killed. Usually by an evil uncle, cousin, or family member. For some reason this always results in them falling off a very high cliff.

Everyone thinks they're dead, the evil relative takes power, and everything kinda sucks. There is not enough food in the Pride Lands under Scar's rule. Killmonger burns the heart-shaped herbs. Koba leads the apes to war against the humans.

The rightful ruler spends time in exile, recovering from their wounds and trauma. They might even get a visit or have a recollection of their dead father.

Then the rightful ruler comes back from the dead, challenges the usurper, and regains their rightful place upon the throne.

Now lets take a look at their sequels.

The Lion King 2 and Wakanda Forever share some similarities. They both follow another one of Shakespeare's popular plays, Romeo and Juliet.

Like the Montagues and Capulets, we have two rival kingdoms in both movies. We got the Pridelanders and the Outsiders. We also got the Wakandans and Talokanils.

The two heirs/rulers from both kingdoms meet. They hate and don't trust each other at first, but then they start to have compassion for the other. In Kiara and Kovu's case, they fall in love. Namor and Shuri don't fall in love, but after Namor shows her his underwater kingdom and what he has to protect, she softens and begins to understand him more. (They even got the whole Hades and Persephone thing going on, who are a couple in Greek mythology, by the way).

There are losses on both sides. Kovu's brother was killed while going after Simba. One of Namor's people was killed when Shuri was rescued by Nakia, and Shuri's mother, Queen Ramonda, died after Namor's attack on Wakanda. (Starts nervously eyeing Anaya here...)

These losses make things worse, by the way.

In the end, both pairs are able to bring the fighting between their people to a stop. The Outsiders are welcomed into Simba's pride. The Wakandans and Talokanils stop fighting after seeing their leaders return together.

In the end, they realize that they're the same. That they can't let hate and fear of the other side cloud their judgement.

Kiara tells her father, "A wise king once told me we are one....Look at them. They are us. What differences do you see?"

Shuri tells Namor while she spares his life, "Vengeance has consumed us. We cannot let it consume our people."

And I think this goes well with one of the core themes of these POTA movies. The apes are a mirror to humanity. We the audience are seeing us through them, and the characters in the movies themselves must come to the realization that they're the same.

Like when Caesar tells his son, "I always think ape better than human. I see now how much like them we are."

Maybe something similar like this will happen with Noa and Mae and whatever fight will happen between apes and humans. While I'm all for a good romance, it may end up being more like Namor and Shuri's case. There's something there. The tropes are present, but they don't fall in love. (At least not yet. Please Ryan Coogler, give me Nashuri endgame in Black Panther 3, hehe).

This is just a theory, by the way. This doesn't have to happen, but I just think it'd be neat. There would be differences though. What those differences would be, idk, but whatever happens in the next one, I can't wait!

"But but.... aren't you forgetting something?"

What's that?

"Don't they...ya know...both die at the end?"

Besides, they don't have to die. Things can be a little more hopeful for our two heroes 🙈

[mushroomfic]

Befriending Loki

-Fluff with teasing

-mentions of poison, age difference

-1282 words

-If you’d like an x reader version of this comment below or pm me and i’ll post one

________________________________________________________________

"Jarvis, are all books present?" She questioned the A.I. System that she had come to adore as much as her father did. "Your favorites, Twilight, New Moon, and Breaking Dawn have been taken out Miss. Stark." He responded sarcastically, but monotonously, like always. "May I ask by whom?" An amused smirk framing her face as she scanned the walls for her desired section. "By Mr. Odinson, Miss. Stark." Jarvis replied. Her smile reappeared as she thought about what Thor might think of them. The only reason she had those at all was because she refused to believe a book was bad until she'd read it herself. And unfortunately, the negative hype surrounding the series was anything but false. "Aha, here we are." She climbed the ladder up to the section full of outdated vocabulary and skimmed through titles she thought to be appropriate. "No, not Edmund... Norton... Wyatt... maybe Drayton," the mutters continued until the target was found. "Ah, Shakespeare! There he is!" She started snatching plays off the shelf and placing them into a makeshift basket she made with the front of her sweater. "Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Taming of The Shrew, Julius Caesar, and Comedy-of-Errors. That should keep him busy for a month or so." She clasped the hem of her shirt in her teeth to keep the contents from spilling out and slid down the edges of the ladder before hurrying out the door and to the elevator. The trip to his cell was unnecessarily long, especially when she stopped to make tea, which proved to be difficult when refusing to put down all the books. But nevertheless, she prevailed and took the reading material and thermos' to the fiftieth floor and into a section of the laboratory. Eventually, she stumbled into the room where his cell was and began the hike over to the door. He watched her closely, highly amused by her state. Her stomach was visible from pulling up her sweater for the books, and under both arms were cups that he found unfamiliar and suspicious. "What are you doing, mortal? You look ridiculous." His face exerted smugness, but that was never unusual for him. "I'm being nice to you, so you damn well better appreciate it, Asgardian." She commanded sarcastically, struggling to type in the password and give a thumbprint as she did so. Thankfully, the door opened without any further obstacles and she crashed in, the entrance closing behind her. "Here." She placed the tea gently into a corner and dumped the literature into his lap. "What is this?" He questioned, examining each cover of the five. "Those are called books, love." She cracked a small smile and plopped down in front of him, sipping her tea. "I'm well aware. What I was insinuating was why have you assumed I could possibly appreciate Midgardian literature?" He much enjoyed teasing her and waiting impatiently for her to throw it back in his face with her witty comments and comebacks. "Because I've listened to the way you and Thor seem to formulate sentences, and the vocabulary you use. It is remarkably similar to the regular speaking patterns of Midgardians in what historians call the Elizabethan Era. These are all written by a man called Shakespeare, who lived in England over 400 years ago, he wrote plays, 43 to be exact. Nowadays we've dubbed your speech 'Ye Old English', an unofficial term used to describe the language difference from then and now, also more formally known as Shakespearean... is that enough information, or shall I continue?" She rambled satirically. "I think that is enough for now." He stated, flipping through The Taming of the Shrew carelessly. "I didn't know what genre you preferred, so I grabbed a variety. I've read all of these ones and I think they're nice. I thought you would like them more than modern books." Her nerves set in, regretting her act of kindness, but she wouldn't dare show them.

He glanced over at her, studying her awkward actions. Her sleeves pulled over her fists, which were resting uncomfortably in the small space on the floor between her crossed legs. He was about to express his thanks when she flung herself to her feet dramatically. With haste, she bent down and snatched the second thermos, then slid on her belly over to him. He hummed a tiny laugh as she reached out her arm with the cup to him. "I made you tea, drink it and shower me with compliments about how good it is." She said. "Yes of course... but are you sure it isn't poisonous?" Loki gave her a knowing glare and a smile.

"I am sixty-five percent sure that it isn't, but you should be fine. That is unless Asgardians are prone to floral allergies." The woman raised her eyebrows sassily at him.

"I am a god. Gods do not have such pathetic internal weaknesses." He scoffed and sipped his tea (after fumbling quietly with the lid in confusion during the majority of the conversation.)

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say Magic-Man... You know, you don't HAVE to act as if you're SO above me all the time. You and I both know that we're equal in intelligence and technically the same age." She had changed her position while talking to have her legs straightened and propped up against the wall with her back and head on the floor next to Loki.

It was obvious that the god was unaware of one of those two presented points because he nearly spit out the tea everywhere. "You and I being the same age is literally impossible. I am thousands of years old and you are eighteen." He looks down at her skeptically; wiping the dribbled tea with the back of his hand.

"Wouldn't it only make sense to assume these two different realms of existence that are billions of lightyears away from each other probably have differing concepts of time? If not because of vastly contrasting histories, then possibly for different distances from their respective suns and moons? How long is a day in Asgard vs. Earth?" She talks with her hands and makes eye contact while still on the floor, happiness emanating from her because of the obvious irritation building in his face. Loki does not like to be shown up or proven wrong, albeit he's never lashed out at her for doing so for some reason.

"Even so, how do you know that we're the same age on earth terms? there are no specifics about that in your kind's Norse literature." He was quite curious now; this could really end up working in his favor.

"Well, it was excruciatingly easy when I had Thor on hand to tell me the average life expectancy of an Asgardian/Norse god and how old you were and the general synopsis of your guy's calendar. You compare those to a human's, specifically American's, then you come up with a medium level equation that can be checked by the two live-in geniuses and the supercomputer that encompasses this building. You, Loki Laufyson, are roughly seventeen and three-fourths old, which makes me approximately 3 months older than you in Midgardian years."

Loki had never seen her look so smug in his life and he despised it. "I despise you." He growled, almost a little too realistically.

"Doubtful, you looove me." An attractive and confident air surrounded her.

"I know." He murmured quietly, not quite ready to have this conversation with her.

"What was that hun?" Back to her considerate, usual tone.

"The tea is lovely, Eliza." Loki toned himself down to a sweeter, softer tone that only she and his mother were ever allowed to hear.

"Hell yeah it is."

[amphitritemists]

I don't like it when people take Shakespeare so seriously like when we're forced to analyze his work for multiple English classes. I love Shakespeare, but, in today's society, being able to understand Shakespeare and claiming that you love his work comes off as pretentious. Which I find odd considering that Shakespeare's work was written to be understood by commoners in his time. I doubt he would've wanted his work to be considered prestigious. It definitely didn't seem like his intentions.

With how far the English language has come we can't expect every person to understand his work, especially people who come from underfunded public schools or who are already struggling to learn English as a second language.

The fact that literature snobs hold this guy on a platform is ridiculous and elitist. Yes, his work is great. He's a fantastic writer, but in the way Tina Fey is a great writer. He captures emotions and ideas that everyone can relate to. His idea of comedy is more lewd than witty in most circumstances. Literature snobs are gatekeeping dick jokes because they think it sounds fancy and they think they're so special for being able to understand Early Modern English.

Dear school systems,

Update the reading list. There are other books with similar themes to Shakespeare that are just as good. Give kids The Song of Achilles instead of Romeo and Juliet. Give them The Perks of Being a Wallflower instead of Hamlet. Give them The Hate U Give instead of Julius Caesar. What makes Shakespeare so special that you feel the need to continue assigning his work over and over again?

[sweetsmalldog]

One of the great things about the Dream SMP is that there are multiple characters who fit into common character tropes/character genres for example C!Captain Puffy is a paragon. But we get to see them from other perspectives. From most character perspectives Dream’s solely a villain but from Phil’s he’s the (more) morally dubious ally you really shouldn’t trust.

Most interestingly in my opinion is how Badboyhalo plays an archetypical tragic hero to a T. The most important factor of a tragic hero is a fatal flaw that is fatal because of the story they’re in. Take the classic example of if Hamlet and Othello switched stories neither would be tragedies as Hamlet would overthink everything Iago said and do through elaborate hoops to see if Desdemona was truly guilty while if the ghost of his father told him to kill Othello would simply do it. Bad’s fatal flaw is his undying all consuming love for Skeppy but it wouldn’t be a fatal flaw if he was in any other situation. Bad wouldn’t have given in if anyone but Skeppy had been corrupted. If Skeppy hadn’t been corrupted Bad would’ve had no real interest to experiment with the Egg or try to find a cure that would lead him down the dark path of freeing it.

Another aspect of tragic heroes (though not required) is for their actions to be misunderstood by others due to their own flaws. Romeo’s good cheer was misunderstood by Tybalt which resulted in Mercutio’s death or how Romeo thought Juliet was actually dead when she was simply under the last few minutes of a poison. Similar to everyone around Bad assuming he gave himself up for the promise of power out of their own flaws, Puffy taking things a little too at face value and not applying other information or Quackity’s projecting of his own trauma and reasonings onto Bad.

Tragic heroes are also often warned against going down the past that leads to their doom that they ignore due to their flaw. Oedipus was warned against seeking out a cause of the plague ailing Thebes even after the oracle warned him it wouldn’t change anything but his stubbornness wouldn’t let him leave it alone. Caesar was warned against going to the Senate on the Ides of March by his wife but his pride wouldn’t let him listen. Puffy tried to sway Bad away from attempting to heal Skeppy, something that she thought was a hopeless endeavor, but Bad’s undying love for Skeppy refused to let him leave his best friend alone in pain.

Interestingly Bad, and the egg plot at large, fall into another common trope of Shakespearian tragedy specifically collateral damage. Ophelia was collateral of Hamlet’s overthinking. Porcia was an unseen victim of specifically Brutus’s hand in Caesar’s assassination. Mercutio didn’t half to die. Antfrost and Punz didn’t half to be corrupted. They’re collateral of Bad’s grief filled choice to give himself over and free the egg. He manipulates them into helping him free it leading to their possession.

[phlaimeaux]

Hello!

I mentioned this on the ISOLATING podcast today.

Here is a six round quiz you can do with your friends/family/frenemies in person or over the internet/WhatApp. The questions are mostly from the amazing Louise O’Connor and I wrote some of the less good ones. Please go on Twitter and say thanks to her. She’s @oconnola.

You can use this quiz but the only rule is that you have make a donation to a charity that is helping vulnerable people at this time. In Ireland, good ones are Alone or Age Action. Please find a similar one in your country/area. And if you could ask the people who are playing with you to do likewise.

It’s one point for a correct answer plus a bonus of two if you can get the link that ties each round together, so the whole quiz is out of 72 points. Sometimes it’s easier to figure out the link and work backwards to get the questions.

The way I did it with my family was to use the main O’Doherty family WhatsApp. There are forty people across three time zones on that. I told them we’d be having a quiz at 8pm Irish time and to form teams and nominate a captain. In the end there were six teams and they could converse with the rest of their team across video platforms. At 8pm I cut and pasted the questions from round one up on the WhatsApp and gave them 10 (more like 15mins really) for the team captains to get the answers back to me directly . Then we moved on to round two. There was a threat of excommunication from the family if anyone cheated.

I corrected them and my Dad did the scores while they were deliberating on the next round and it was one of the most fun nights of the pandemic so far!

Good luck with it and let’s all just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Let me know how it goes.

DO’D

ROUND ONE

1. Brazilian forward and politician Bebeto played for which northern Spanish club for four years in the 1990s?

2. What is the currency of Sweden?

3. Name the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber, and provides most the eye’s focusing power.

4. What is the scientific name for the family of birds that includes jackdaws, rooks, ravens and magpies amongst others?

5. What number appears directly opposite 1 on a standard dartboard?

6. What is the Internet country code top-level domain for Colombia?

7. In anatomy, by what name is the crown on the top of the head also known?

8. Which song on The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan features a woman’s name twice?

9. Which brand regrettably launched its hard seltzer line in the USA in early 2020 with the tagline "coming ashore soon"?

10. Who is the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs?

ROUND TWO

1. According to singer Edwin Starr, what is good for absolutely nothing?

2. The Pub Landlord comedy character is played by whom?

3. A rock group, record label or film not belonging or affiliated to a major record or film company is known by what name?

4. ‘______snipe,’ is originally Wall Street slang for ‘streetcorner broker.’

5. Which 2020 Democratic presidential candidate was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana?

6. What was Spike Lee’s film about murderer David Berkowitz?

7. Which international football team played with the letters CCCP on their shirts?

8. What was Lewis Carroll’s sequel to Alice in Wonderland?

9. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, what is the name of the Imperial troop transporter/combat vehicles that defend the ice planet Hoth?

10. French duo Air had a hit with ‘Kellie Watch ___ _____’ in 1998?

ROUND THREE

1. Ursula Andress appeared as Honey Ryder in which James Bond film?

2. After Romeo and Juliet, which character has the third most lines in the eponymous play? We never actually learn this person’s given name.

3. What 1994 Robert Altman film was shot on location during Paris Fashion Week?

4. Otto Octavius is the real name of which myopic enemy of Spider-Man?

5. Louise Fletcher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of which character, the antagonist of a character played by Jack Nicholson?

6. An 1886 book by Robert Louis Stevenson investigates the dual lives of which two title characters?

7. What does assassin Leon call his work in the movie ‘Leon’?

8. What genre of song was first published in Tommy Thumb's Song Book, published in the 1740s? Subject material includes the destruction of a major thoroughfare in the English capital, an expedited order of a very special cake, and the threat of a tragic arboreal accident?

9. The term PhD is an abbreviation of which academic title?

10. Jackie, played on TV by Edie Falco, and Betty, played on screen by Renée Zellweger, both share what job in the title of their show and movie respectively?

ROUND 4

1. How are Athos, Porthos and Aramis better known?

2. Which 1991 film stars Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze?

3. How many countries of the world begin with the letter O (in English)?

4. As of 2020, how many times have Manchester City won the premier league?

5. On a typical dart board, which number is directly to the right of the number twenty?

6. How many claws does a rabbit have on its foreleg?

7. In Greek mythology, how many Muses are there? They are the daughters of Zeus.

8. Does a vein carry blood to or from the heart?

9. How many players are typically on a volleyball team?

10. How many countries are permanent members of the UN security council? They are also the only countries with a veto.

ROUND 5

1. What denotes the letter C in the NATO alphabet?

2. What is the surname of the central family in the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances?

3. A 'black light' emits what kind of light?

4. Which Louisiana general led the Confederate troops at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 during the American Civil War?

5. Which rock group sang the 1988 number 2 hit, The Living Years?

6. What was first broadcast on August 1st 1981?

7. Which Roman emperor succeeded Julius Caesar?

8. What five letter word, beginning with G, refers to sloppy or sticky semi-fluid matter?

9. A Plantar wart is most commonly known as what?

10. Which (US) city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics?

ROUND SIX

1. Which long running BBC music show is hosted by Jools Holland?

2. Which Shakespeare comedy features the characters Benedick and Beatrice?

3. Complete the title of this Duke Ellington song: ‘East St Louis ______ ____’ 

4. What breed of dog is or was a pet kept by, amongst others, Elvis Presley, Martha Stewart, President Calvin Coolidge and Sigmund Freud?

5. What is the chemical symbol for the element copper?

6. The sitcom Frasier was itself a spin-off of which sitcom? I hope everybody knows its name.

7. Which cereal, marketed in the UK and Ireland by Nestlé, features the cereal in question falling into a bowl with blue, red, yellow and green stripes?

8. Which condiment is made mainly of mayonnaise and finely chopped capers?

9. Constantinople was the capital of which empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453?

10. Which Australian musician’s singles include Chandelier and Cheap Thrills?

ANSWERS

Round ONE

1. Derportivo La Coruna

2. Krona

3. Cornea

4. Corvids or Corvidae

5. 19

6. Co

7. The corona

8. Corrina Corrina

9. Corona

10. Karen O

Theme: Coronavirus

Round TWO

1. War

2. Al Murray

3. Indie

4. Guttersnipe

5. Pete Buttigieg

6. Summer of Sam

7. USSR

8. Through the Looking Glass

9. AT-AT

10. The stars

Theme: Oscar Wilde Quote. ‘We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.’

Round THREE

1. Dr No

2. Nurse

3. Pret a Porter

4. Dr Octopus

5. Nurse Ratched

6. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

7. Cleaner

8. Nursery Rhymes

9. Doctor of Philosopy

10. Nurse

Theme: Heroic front line workers at this time

Round FOUR

1. Three Muskateers

2. Point Break

3. One

4. Four

5. One

6. Five

7. Nine

8. To

9. Six

10. Five

Theme: Pi

ROUND FIVE

1. Charlie

2. Bucket

3. Violet

4. Beauregarde

5. Mike

6. Teavee

7. Augustus

8. Gloop

9. Veruca

10. Salt

Children in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Willie Wonka

ROUND SIX

1. Later

2. Much Ado About Nothing

3. Toodle-oo

4. Chow

5. Cu

6. Cheers

7. Cheerios

8. Tartar

9. Byzantine

10. Sia

Theme: Ways of saying goodbye.