Notes from class on February 22

We covered a lot of material in this class. Most of the discussion centered around the character of the mangus, trickster, or shamen. This is Portia in "The Merchant of Venice," Maria in "Twelfth Night," and the Duke in "Measure for Measure." This character is oftentimes creul and manipulative to the other characters in the play but this is only to alter their perception. Dr. Sexson compared it to the scene in the movie "Fight Club" where Brad Pitt takes the gas station employee out back of the gas station. He holds a gun to the man's head and asks him what his aspirations were. The man answers that he wanted to be a veterinarian but the shooling was to difficult. Brad Pitt then takes the man's wallet and says that he will be checking up on him and making sure that in a month he is on his way to becoming a veterinarian. Brad Pitt then remarks that because of this near death experience the man's breakfast the next morning will be the best he has ever tasted.
Dr. Sexson then gave a brief introduction to "As You Like It," then next play we will be reading. The title suggests tow things. The first is that the entire play is meant to entertain, it is created just as you like it with all the traditional, expected elements of a comedy. The second thing the play's title suggests is that you can read into the play whatever you desire. You can create this play as you like it. In this play Rosaline will be the magician character that we've become concerned with. I am excited to start reading this play. I've never read it before but it looks very promising.
Marilyn