Comment on Rose Dayang's "The Role of the Fool in King Lear"

I think Rose has done a good job in her explanation about the role of the Fool in King Lear. She even notices when is the Fool disappears in the play and the significance of his disappearance!
I agree with Rose that the Fool plays the role of a moral instructor to Lear. Although his name is "Fool" but he is wiser than the king in the sense that he could see the "wolf in sheep clothing" while Lear is morally blinded by his own pride. The Fool warns Lear to beware of the two ungrateful daughters in a humorous way which also brings laughter to the audience. The role of the Fool also portrays clearly the theme of blindness and sight in the play.

"I stumbled when I saw."

"I stumbled when I saw."
Sound ironic?
Yes, indeed it is a very ironical phrase yet it is also a very insightful sentence in the play King Lear by William Shakespeare.
This phrase is uttered by Gloucester after his eyes were plucked out by Cornwall. Only after he has lost his eyes he realizes the tremendous mistake that he has made. Now, in his blindness he can "see" clearly how evil his illegitimate son Edmund is and has easily fooled him into believing that his loyal son Edgar is set on killing him. He has trusted blindly what he perceives as the truth without considering deeply beneath the surface.
The theme of sight and blindness can also be seen apparently through the other character, Lear. Although he is not blind, Lear fails to see the truth about his three daughters. His "disability to have insight" has led him to make terrible decision that has brought destructions to his own life.
Besides that, one main thing that I believe has hindered Lear and Gloucester to have a clear vision is their pride. Because of their pride, they never thought that they would make mistake thus they do not seek for or listen to others' advice.
"I stumbled when I saw."
This phrase should be a very good reminder for all of us. Isn't it a precise description about human life? The story of Gloucester and Lear does not simply occur on the stage for us to watch but it should be an impact for us in reality. The experience of Gloucester and Lear should be a very good lesson for us to learn. We should not perceive anything only on its face value. Instead of using our eyes to see, we should also make use of our mind, heart, knowledge and experience. Besides, we should not be overconfident on our own judgement. We should always consider other's advice to us.

Comment on Ly Wen's "Cuckoo as ungrateful children"

After reading Ly Wen's post about Cuckoo, I have a better understanding about the use of animal imagery in the play "King Lear". I never have any knowledge about birds' living and this makes me feel difficult when I encounter the bird imageries used in the play. I appreciate Ly Wen's effort in surfing on the net to find out more information about cuckoo and this should be a good example for me to put more effort on my study. After reading her post, I understand why the Fool calls Lear's daughters Goneril and Regan as "cuckoo" in I. iv. l 214-215. Goneril and Regan's ungratefulness to their father is exactly like how cuckoo dominates the nest of its foster parent and displaces the other nest mates. I found that it is very meaningful and interesting that human's behaviours can be described through animal imageries. Perhaps because human is also categorised as animals in terms of biology, human do have some similar features like other animals. I think that Shakespeare has successfully using animal imageries in his play to portray a clear picture on human behaviours.

Comment on Chelsea's "Anike-Finished!!!"

Although Dr Edwin has finished discussed the play "Anike" with us, but I don't have much impression about the play because most of the story is basically no much difference with "Antigone". I wondered how the playwright Wong Phui Nam could get the copyright of the play. Only after reading Chelsea's post I know what the differences between these two plays and how Wong Phui Nam made it in its own right. I was paying too much attention to the plot of the story until I missed some of the crucial details that made it a unique play that stands on its own right. I agree with Chelsea that reading "Anike" and "Antigone" were totally of different mood. Reading "Antigone" emerged the feeling of sorrow that we could feel the intensity of the play. Whereas reading "Anike" is more "relax". Like Chelsea, I also appreciate the creativity of Wong Phui Nam in integrating the Malay Legend of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat into the play by which he successfully portrays the play full of local feeling and colour.

Comment on Elizabeth's "PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL"

I agree with Elizabeth's statement that Creon has misused his power and authority as a ruler based on his selfish motives of pride rather than accepting the will of the gods. This reminds me of a similar character in the Holy Bible, which is the king Saul recorded in the book of Sammuel in the Old Testament. As I read his story, I found that he has the same tragic flaw that Creon has, that is pride. Because of his pride, he did not obey the command of God thus leading to his downfall. Eventually, he was forsaken by God and was killed in a battle.
This also reminds me of one verse in the New Testament written by Apostle Paul which I think is a very good advice for Saul, Creon and also for us.
"I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack." (Philippians 4:12) No matter in what status we are, we must know how to behave ourselves. Not to complaint when we are in a low position and not to be proud when we are in a high position.

Comment on Amelia's "Ovid's Metamorphoses Pymalion and George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion"

The common subject in these two versions of "Pygmalion" is love. Both protagonists in these two stories have fallen in love with their own "invention". Like what Amelia has said in her post, the only difference is that Eliza is a human being unlike a lifeless sculpture. She has her own feelings and thoughts. She has freedom in making choices for her own future. She can put on her effort in pursuing her dreams. She has the right whether to love or to be loved.
Reading Amelia's post has given me an insight about love. I belief that everyone has a dream to find out an "ideal lover" which matches them the most. Some may list down sets of criteria to find out who is the ideal lover in their life. Rich, good looking, caring, responsible, capable, honest, lovely, humorous... But the irony is that, no human being is perfect in this world. No matter how good a person is, there must be some weaknesses. There is no ideal lover in this world except you "create" one for your own because only you yourself know what suits you the most. Higgins had no interest in woman at all before he has successfully transformed a flower girl into a lady. I actually doubt with Higgins' love for Eliza. (No wonder Eliza doubts too.) He doesn't love Eliza because of who she is but because she is his ideal "invention"! In fact, the person that he loves the most is he himself. "Love" does not equal to "like". One may "like" someone because of his or her good qualities but this may not be "love". "Love" includes sacrifice. If Higgins really loves Eliza, he must be willing to change his attitude. However, Higgins not only not willing to change himself but he ought to change Eliza to suit him. I consider this is a very selfish action. Changing oneself is a kind of sacrifice. If one claims that he loves someone but is not willing to change for this person, this is not a real love!

Finally...we got the chance to watch the theater!

Finally, with a joyful spirit, we reached KLPAC! After the experience of a "tragedy" of being lost in the way to KLPAC last two weeks, yesterday Amelia, Elizabeth and I went to the theater again. This time, we have asked so many people about the direction to the place and we even "hired" a driver to accompany us to the theater. I would like to thank my friend, Patrick, who also enjoyed the drama very much, for sending us to the theater.

This is the first time for four of us to watch a drama. The moment we entered the theater, the first thing that startled me is the setting of the stage. It was almost like the Greek Theater! Although it was a small theater which can only fit around 100 audiences but it really resembles the theaters of ancient Greek. The audiences surrounded three sides of the circular playing area. When we were watching the play, I realized that this kind of stage setting is very effective in the sense that the audience can hear the actors' voice very clear as if they are talking next to you. I really can feel the emotions and the atmosphere of the play.
The drama we watched was 4.48 Psychosis. According to the studies of psychology, 4.48am is the time when most of the people having their will in the most weak condition. And, surveys also found out that many people committed suicide at 4.48am. This drama is about a woman who is struggling in depression with thoughts of confusion and insecurity. This is the last play written by a famous playwright Sarah Kane.
There were only three actors in this play and they had performed their characters very well. Their facial expression, gestures, actions, and voice projection have impressed me a lot. I even could feel the tense situation in the play when the woman was struggling and reasoning whether to kill herself. I think this was the experience of "catharsis".
The other element that impressed me was the lighting technique. They can control the light very accurately and it was the lighting that contributed a lot in creating a mysterious atmosphere of the drama.
This was really a very nice experience for me. Sure we have taken a lot of photos at the place. We even met the director of the drama, Gavin Yap, and managed to take a photo with him!
After this wonderful experience, I have a better understanding about what had been taught by Dr. Edwin concerning the theater. I think I am falling in love with drama now!

From the left: I, Amelia, Gavin Yap & Elizabeth.