Do Not Forget

Throughout history, man as a whole has always had the undying need to be remembered on this planet. Every civilization, from the ancient Mesopotamians to modern communities in the world today, has strived to leave their mark, and to make people remember that they lived. For many people, one of their worst fears is that future generations of human beings will have no inkling of their existence. Withal, there are still some people who believe the complete opposite. These would rather live quaint, average but fulfilling lives than be known to the world.  These lives leave many feeling accomplished, and would do the same for me, except that a life like that would leave me in anguish. One of my lifetime goals is to be remember and revered by many after my death. It may be an "impossible dream," but I want my name to forever be on the lips of the world's never ending populace.

Since the dawn of man, many men and women have longed to be weaved into the tapestry of time. Many outlets have been used to try to fulfill this objective. The prehistoric Cro-Magnons painted extraordinary images of their prey onto cave walls. Great thinkers such as Aristotle and Plato have used their immense knowledge for the betterment of mankind, and in return have been remembered throughout the ages. Architects have strived throughout the ages to create innovative, massive, memorable structures, trying to forever etch their images into the minds of the generation. Even artists, many of whom claim to just be expressing themselves, whether through stagecraft or physical works of art, try to mold and create the genre anew, thereby being known by many as a great influence to the arts. When there is no other outlet, many try to go down in infamy, being remember not for their kindness, but through their cruelty and inhumanity. After all, most people, whether for good reasons or bad, want to be remembered for years to come.

On the other hand, there are some who would rather live everyday, ordinary, hum-drum lives than be known to the world. These people want to blend into the woodwork, and let the world keep on turning without leaving a large, conspicuous mark. They would rather be remembered by their families and those who knew them as loving, caring people, or generous and kind homemakers. After all, for them, they are just one part of this massive puzzle called life, one tiny, insignificant speck of dust on a clover. Why make of fuss when in a century or two, you will already have been replaced by hundreds of other living, breathing humans, and you will just be dust in the wind? This philosophy works for many a man, and they meander through life as content as one can be. However, this is NOT the life for me.

There is no question that I do not want want to be forgotten. Like most men before me, the quest for remembrance drives many of my crucial actions. However, the more I hear of other thing people want to be remembered for, the more apparent it becomes that this quest is no more successful than Don Quixote's. Some say they want to be remembered by inventing something and having it named after them . This sounds like a phenomenal way to contribute to society and be remembered, until you have thousands of "Gedriches" in landfills across the country in a couple of decades.  I would love no more than to be remembered for my artistry and performances on stage, where I am allowed to touch and move people, and provoke stimulating thought. Stagecraft is my true love, and one day I truly hope to be remembered for my contributions to the field. However, the cynic in me says that no matter how great my influences, the art is always morphing and changing, and one day every bit of significance of mine would be lost in the works. So for the time being, I just hope that, however cliché it may be, I will be remembered as a good actor by many, but more importantly, a great man by all.

By and large, the quest of remembrance by man is just chasing windmills. No matter how full of effort our attempts are, in a single, solitary millennium, the single contributions each of us make, and who we were, will have been forgotten. Try as we might, the cynics in all of us tell us so. In the meantime we can just strive for the cliché we all know and loathe, and just try to be the best we can be. Those that try to be remembered for acts so sinister will always be the fools, for try as they might, their faces will ultimately just blend into one large mass of unloved, misguided souls. The same could be said about all futile attempts of remembrance through kindness and art, but one thing we know for fact is that in the many years to come, we choose the shade of light history shines on us. Even if we are remembered only briefly, would you rather remain in the dark, or let the world see the brilliance of you for that small allotment of time? 

Bewildered Beloveds: The Befuddled Loves of Williams Works

Whether it be sonnet or play, William Shakespeare's writing have that certain something, that je ne sais quoi. But although each is unique in its own revering way, Shakespeare still had some base to work from, including his characters. Even his tragedies and comedies have similarities, although one deals out laughter and pleasure for the story's whole, while the other deals a hand of sorrow and sadness.  This is shown in the fatal Romeo and Juliet and the jovial The Comedy of Errors, by the loving Juliet and Adriana, respectively. For instance, both have leading ladies in which their love lives are a mess, all discombobulated and awry. However, the similarities are coupled with many deviations as well, for between these two, sometimes these two ladies are as dissimilar as night and day. But although one is wise beyond her years, the other quick to make conclusions and jealous, these women both are major motivators in their respective stories.

First and foremost, they both are eminent characters. Juliet is the driving force in her show, for without her, there would be no conflict, no action, nothing to keep the reader interested. She, the title character, is pivotal to frame of the story itself, for without her, the play would simply be a document of the life of an angsty, whiny teen boy, Romeo. The same could be said for Adriana, wife of Antipholus of Ephesus. She constantly believes that he is cheating on her, always moaning about her woes to her sister, Luciana. And when the confusion between him and his long-lost-twin-brother Antipholus of Ephesus begins, this motivates her even more to entrap her husband. Through many misconstrewn actions against the wrong Antipholus, including a harsh scolding and the hiring of a sorcerer to cure his "madness", she pushes the story along until it is finally revealed that her harsh punishments have led to the revelation of the brotherhood of her husband and his twin from Syracuse. She then naturally forgives her husband and all is well. The exclusion of these two characters would be detrimental to the plays, for without either the stories would crash before they even leave the ground.

But not are they only both prominent, they are confused lovers as well. Juliet was a headstrong, grounded young woman before she met her Romeo. She was always anchored, and thinking things through. But once she was thrown into the throngs of love, the rational thinking flew out the window. She became so enthralled by her forbidden love with Romeo that, after his hasty death, she killed herself as well. For her with love, it was either all or nothing, no matter what. This fate was not deserving, because she had so much more to give, but was cut short due to the conundrum called love. Adriana, on the other hand, was never rational about her relationship with Antipholus of Ephesus. Always fearful of her husbands supposed cheating, she never allowed herself to get close to him, for fear of having her heart broken. At least, in the end, when she realized that she is loved, faithfully, by Antipholus, she tears down her wall of fear and lets her husband in, living a happy life after. However, I do not believe this fate fits her either, for her harshness towards others is too quickly erased. There should have been some repercussions for her actions.

But both, throughout the story, are conflicted with many problems of love, and do not deserve their outcomes, whether they be too tragic or too kind.

But finally, both women were very confidant and self assured. Juliet was always a self confidant girl who believed in all she did. Even when blinded by the love for her Romeo, she still thought that all of actions were justified and true, including her too soon death. The same unwavering self-faith can be applied to Adriana. The absence of proof of Antipholus' cheating did not stop her from berating the man whom she thought was the no-good, unfaithful spouse, or from hiring sorcerer Doctor Pinch to cure him from his "madness". Did she ever have a unstable doubt she was overreacting? No, right until the plays end did she believe all her actions were justified and right. Both of these women are powerful and self confidant, showing Shakespeare's support of women. For through most of his plays are women portrayed as powerful and strong.

As is evident, The characters of Juliet and Adriana are very similar. Not only are they both commanding, central women in their respective plays,and confused by love, they also have an unwavering pride and confidence in themselves and the choices they make. This can be applied to today as well as well, because in everyone their should be a strong sense of self pride. Even if you are confused, whether it be in love or other areas, you should be assured in yourself and trusting of whatever you choose. These plays were written in the 1500's, centuries before us. Yet those timeless ideals are still relevant today, showing how ahead of his time Mr. Shakespeare was. For the characters of Juliet and Adriana are as current as current can be, and shall be for years to come.