Ponderable

Shakespeare a Day 15

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Othello and Desdemona, by Alexandre-Marie Colin

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“That death’s unnatural that kills for loving.” – Othello, the Moor of Venice

Love, such a short and simple word, and so much goes into it.  Most things we do during our days on Earth we do for Love – for love of someone, of something, for love of money, for love of success, for love of the planet, of its people, for love of material things … Whether that Love is right or wrong, in our minds, we do it just for Love.  Crimes of passion are said to be committed out of Love – love that has sickened and crossed the line towards death.  Even the denial of oneself for the pleasing of the loved one, is out of love.  All is done in the name of Love.  Love is pure, a higher essence; in our humanity, or twisted humanity, we corrupt it.

Today, think of it – what do you love?  why do you love?

Shakespeare a Day 14

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The Death of Desdemona, by Eugène Ferdinand Vi...

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“Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all.” – Othello, The Moor of Venice

This line is full of emotion, vengeance and anger – both strong and powerful emotions that can take over the best of our humanity.  It only takes a moment for those emotions to undo the best in us.  As humans, we experience a ray of feelings and emotions that can shape our behavior; the real power rests in how we deal with them.

My favorite authors are the ones that can tell a good story but also let me feel the emotions through the words in the page.

Shakespeare a Day 13

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Prospero and Miranda from a painting by Willia...

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“O Wonder!  How many goodly creatures are there here!  How beauteous mankind is!  O brave new world, that has such people in’t.” – The Tempest

We are wonders of creation.  We are capable of the most sublime and beautiful art, but also of the most hideous acts of cruelty.  This is what differentiate us and set us apart from other creatures here on Earth.  Yes, we can be “goodly creatures” and “beauteous” – and it would certainly take a new world order.

Shakespeare a Day 12

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"Falstaff and Mistress Quickly from 'The ...

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“Lust is but a bloody fire, kindled with unchaste desire, fed in heart, whose flames aspire as thoughts do blow them, higher and higher.  – The Merry Wives of Windsor

Whether we are talking about love, lust, or something else, what is in our thoughts feed our hearts.  If you think it much, it is deposited in your heart and becomes part of you, of what you believe, of who you are.  It shapes you, your immediate surroundings, and eventually your reality.

Shakespeare a Day 11

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Frederick Richard Pickersgill painting of Orsi...

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“If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.” – Twelfth Night or What You Will

The affairs of the heart –  Love.  Our actions – good or bad – revolve around it.  We die for love, do good deeds for love, suffer for love, live for love, and kill in the name of love.  Whether the concept of Love we have is right or wrong, or even a sick perception of it, many times, the result is a denial of the true essence of Love (as in the case of crimes of passion).

This month we are celebrating Love.  One of my favorite definitions of Love can be found at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. 

It goes like this – Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Shakespeare a Day 10

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Puck and the Fairies (from Midsummer Night’s D...

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“Lord, what fools these mortals be.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

One just ought to look around; but as fools as we might be, we are also capable of greatness, of beauty, of art, of soulful awe, of kind deeds, of self-less sacrifices, of loving deeds, of creativity.  And that is how we cannot deny our divine traces.

Shakespeare a Day 9

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Malvolio and the Countess

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“Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.”  (Twelfth Night, or What You Will)

This one made me smile.  Although it refers to a hanging as punishment, and in the context of Shakespeare’s play, it made me think about the small issues in a marriage.  The economic meltdown in the country affected many families and brought the best and bad in us.  So, what prevents a bad marriage and promotes a good one?  A good hanging – well, let’s not get scared here, metaphorically speaking.

There are many little issues that we keep inside to ourselves and eat away our spirits, our love, our marriage.  Maybe it would be a good idea to do a symbolical hanging of all the small issues that we carry on the inside, and expose them, hang them, or hang them to dry if you must, let the sunshine lighten the load, and work them out with your love one.

Shakespeare a Day 8

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“He hath a heart as sound as a bell and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.” – Much Ado About Nothing

Love it!  Our bells ring of love, hate, joy, sadness, passion, hurt, envy, anger, awe, spirit …  What ever melody we play inside, notes play on the outside.  Might as well become instruments for good, praise, and the highest Love.  In the end, the music we send out vibrates back to us.

Shakespeare a Day 7

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Malvolio and the Countess

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“But be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.”  (Twelfth Night, or What You Will)

This one is a very popular line and we have heard it a lot.  What I like about it is that it makes greatness accessible to all.  Despite our doubts and fears, we all have greatness in us – if we could only let it thru, let it shine.  We are works of art by a Creator of all things (my personal belief) and most times, we forget about that. 

We mesmerize while observing works of art at a Museum, while reading a poem, or a brilliant piece; however, we don’t do the same when we look in a mirror.  Why is that?  It puzzles me too.  Maybe it is because in failing to recognize this greatness we protect ourselves from being afraid of it, from letting it out – from stepping up to the plate and becoming great.

Shakespeare a Day 6

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Portia

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“The quality of mercy is not strain’d, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” (The Merchant of Venice)

Mercy – The definition of mercy according to the American Heritage Dictionary

  • Compassionate treatment of an offender, enemy, etc; clemency.
  • A disposition to be kind and forgiving.
  • A fortunate occurrence.

Are we merciful with ourselves or do we beat ourselves up with self-criticism about our lives and work?  Whether we are the ones who take or give, mercy knows no difference.  However, it is up to us to look inside and understand the part that takes and the part that gives, and upon that understanding we might be able then, to be more merciful to ourselves.  It is then, that Creativity  will flow.