LisaDee

It was interesting what Meyer did in Twilight. Bella has both parents but the mother is an absentee mother and the father is clueless. His role as guardian is used to good effect, though, as it forces Bella to become creative in her relationship with the supernatural. Without Charlie breathing down her neck or being hostile to Edward, a lot of the drama would be lost.

At the same time, Bella is a precocious 17 year old. She looks after her parents and so the roles have been somewhat reversed. She stands up to her father with no problem. I guess, in effect, that makes her an orphan figure.

Very good article!

While I am not a huge fan of anime, I can appreciate its utter beauty at times. I would really like to know why Miyazaki’s work affects me the way it does – at least two of his films. They always have an emotional heart. I think some of his concerns about the genre are valid.

Sidenote: found a typo:
“that things such as hentai or only a small of the industry.”

All of us would be Carries if our internal angst/emotional agony could be manifested.

I would suggest you try out a couple of his short stories – I think he takes more time crafting his short stories. I would recommend “The Monkey” and “1408.) I agree with you about some of his longer novels.

For all of those who jump to Richard III’s defense and claim that Shakespeare was only writing Tudor propaganda, I would direct you to the works of historian Thomas B. Costain.

The pivotal issue is whether or not Richard cold-bloodedly murdered his two young nephews to seize the throne and the answer, according to Costain’s research, is most certainly yes. When the nobles were turning against Richard’s excesses, he had only to do one thing: produce the two children from the tower to show they were still alive. This he could not do, not even to salvage much needed loyalty of the nobles, because he had had the children murdered – hence leading to the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Does this make Richard III a supervillain? No, it makes him a very typical king for that time. People who worship royalty should realize that kings were simply the biggest thugs amongst a hoard of power hungry thugs. So, yes, Richard was a conniving murderer – there really is no denying that.

You really summed up the Gaze theory well.

It is my favourite Shakespeare play – with a very close second being King Lear.

I have always been able to identify with Hamlet’s angst. I think some of the dialogue in this play is the finest every written. It’s clever and dark and beautiful and tragic. The first time I read it, I had the impression it was full of clichés until I realized that this was the first time they were ever uttered – so many sayings have been adopted into the common parlance.

I agree with JWHorton about Hamlet Sr. There is something missing that explains Hamlet’s inability to commit to his mission of revenge. And there must be a reason that Gertrude marries again so quickly. Perhaps “they Hyperion” wasn’t really all he was cracked up to be – perhaps he was a bit of a tyrant – that would certainly fill in some of the character holes in the play.

And I’ve never understood why Hamlet has to be so abusive to Ophelia, aside from his mistrust in her. I love the Ophelia in David Tennant’s version – she wasn’t just pathetic mad – she was dangerous gonna-cut-you mad.

Coraline is one of my favourites. I love Nightmare Before Christmas, but the technique of Coraline is so much more advanced!