I MA CLASS 31.10. 2014, ICONOGRAPHY IN THE SPANISH TRAGEDY AND OTHER TOPICS

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of I MA V O C College.

Today I am here to present few more topics from, The Spanish Tragedy  by Thomas Kyd. Here I have used the term 'present' to mean introduce or identify the topic. I would like to highlight the topics which I have not discussed so for. I do not intend to present a lecture on a topic, but on the other hand I would mention in the existence of the topic and the topics that can be explored.

In literature material objects have played important roles. In Othello, the handkerchief plays a vital role. Similarly in  The Spanish Tragedy also handkerchief has got a role to play. Though this area failed to evoke more critical response a few papers have been published on its role. Andrew Sofer in his paper titled, "Absorbing Interests: Kyd's Bloody Handkerchief as Palimpsest" focuses on the handkerchief used in The Spanish Tragedy.

In The Spanish Tragedy the handkerchief[scarf] passes from Bel- imperia to Horatio to Hieronimo. Horatio finds the bloody handkerchief of Andrea in the battlefield. Horatio ties it in his hands. The scarf was actually given by Bel-imperia to Andrea. Later the scarf is found by Hieronimo at the dead spot of Horatio and it becomes a token of revenge as observed by Andrew Sofer. It acts as in turns as a, 'failed-love charm', 'martial memento', 'a bloody revenge token' as Andrew Sofer views.

Next, I shall introduce a topic regarding the structure of the play. Kyd's use of language and the dramatic situation is well synchronized in the play. "Kyd's method of composition says, Hattaway, "is based on analogy, on the creation of figurae, and the architectonic arrangement of t these gives the play its strong rhythm"(163). Hattaway also points out the characteristics of Kyd's style such as, 'rolling rhythyms' and 'surging moments' of the speeches. Another point Hattaway presents is the device of impersonation, i.e, 'a player acting one character has to impersonate another'. "With regard to the literary dimension of the play, Kyd was bringing to a popular audiences elements of the highest and most aristocratic genres, the epic and the romance" observes Hattaway.

Important points from Michael Hattaway's The Spanish Tragedy: Architectonic Design
1. Symmetrical stylization of the verse
2. Use of archiac formulae
3. Self-dramatization
4.Tthe player remains distinct from the character he lays
5.Introduction of the narrative in to the play

Other topics that can be explored are:
1. Justice and Revenge
2. Violence and Death
3. Politics and Subversion
4. Metadramatic Readings
5. Contemporary Reception

With these ideas I shall conclude this class as well as this semester. Greetings for coming out with flying colours in future. Thank You.

Works Cited
Sofer, Andrew. The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd. Ed. Michael Neil. "Absorbing Interests: Kyd's  
    Bloody Handkerchief as Palimpsest". New York: W. W. Norton, 2014. Print
Hattaway Michael. The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd. Ed. Michael Neil. "The Spanish 
    Tragedy:Architectonic Design". New York: W. W. Norton, 2014. Print

"Dimensions" - A Chronology

"Dimensions' - A Chronology

Doree's [a sixteen year old schoolgirl] mother gets hospitalized.

Lloyd works in the hospital as an orderly.

He is one of the friends of Doree's mother.

Doree is drawn towards Lloyd.

They meet.

Doree often lies to Laurie on meeting Lloyd.

Doree's mother dies of embolism.

Doree and Lloyd live together in Sechelt Peninsula.

Doree becomes pregnant at the age of seventeen.

Doree marries Lloyd.

Doree and Lloyd move to Mildmay.

Lloyd got a job  in an ice-cream factory.

Sasha is born.

Barbara Anne is born  one and a half year  after the birth of Sasha.

Dimitri is born two years after the birth of Barbara Ann.

Dimitri is weak.

Lloyd charges Doree of not breast feeding him.

They fight regarding feeding Dimitri.

Lloyd spies Doree.

Doree is acquainted to Mrs. Maggie.

Mrs. Maggie takes Doree's children along with hers to home schooling as she has got a mini van.

Lloyd finds fault with Doree for all her actions.

Doree's buying of dented tin of spaghetti sparks a row between Lloyd and Doree.

Lloyd accuses Doree of poisoning their children.

Lloyd suspects Doree's relationship with Maggie.

Doree goes to Maggie's house.

Lloyd calls Maggie over phone.

Maggie replies she will drop Doree in the morning.

Next morning Maggie drops Doree in latter's house.

Doree enters house despite Lloyd stopping her.

Doree comes out as holding her stomach as if someone had stabbed her.

Maggie enters Lloyd's house.

Maggie finds Sasha, Barbara Ann and Dimitri dead.

Maggie rings up the police.

Lloyd is branded criminally insane.

Lloyd is confined to a facility for the mentally disturbed.

Mrs. Sands is the counsellor for Doree.

Mrs. Sands helps Doree recover from the shock.

Doree changes her name and appearance in order to conceal her identity.

Doree gets a job of a chambermaid in a motel named Blue Spruce Inn.

Doree goes to the facility thrice to meet Lloyd but she was turned down twice.

Doree conceals her meeting with Lloyd to Mrs. Sands.

Doree receives letters from Lloyd.

Doree goes to meet Lloyd on a Sunday.

On the way the bus stops.

A boy is knocked down.

Doree resuscitate the boy after his heart has stopped beating.

Doree decides no to go to London, Ontario to meet Lloyd.

Doree waits for ambulance.

The bus leaves.

Psychological Realism in "Dimensions"

Psychological Realism in Alice Munro’s “Dimensions”

"Dimensions" - Alice Munro's short story deals with triple infanticide. Father's act of killing his offspring and the mother's sense of guilt over the act form the core of the short story. Killing and getting away with it is not uncommon but the way the father takes this act is beyond comprehension. In the garb of insanity one has put his ruthlessness on the innocent lives is unpalatable. Nonetheless there is no reason a sane person can act in such a way that too on innocent lives. The argument he puts in still baffles the readers. Rescuing his children from the grip of their mother's vicious plot of killing them is the argument put forth by the father as suggested in the story for the killing of his children.

The plot of this story is pivoted around Doree, who is at the receiving end. A woman of twenty three years old, she had undergone a traumatizing experience, however subdued by the narration. The psychological scattering of her embedded thoughts makes a sense by the way of bringing an unknown boy back to life.

Lloyd, Doree's husband has committed a criminal blunder of killing his children in the absence of Doree. It was Lloyd who had chided Doree for buying a dented tin of spaghetti. He accused Doree of poisoning his children by buying the dented spaghetti. Ironically he has killed his children without any profound reason. The act of his was categorized as, 'criminally insane' and he was confined to a rehabilitation facility. This incident got wide publicity in the print media with their family photograph. Doree got counselled by Mrs. Sands and gradually recovers from the disturbance caused by the incident.

The story begins with Doree's journey towards London to meet her husband. In between the journey, the act and its aftermath and its psychological repercussions on Doree is presented in a realistic manner by the author. 

Doree is very much drawn towards her husband. She is always under the grip of her husband. Lloyd is of a dominating personality. Lloyd acts as if he is the epitome of morality. Finding fault with others and the way world works is the top concern of Lloyd. His manner suggests so. Doree is always his victim. He blames Doree for not caring his children. He always spies her. Doree is totally under the hold of Lloyd. Despite Lloyd killing their children Doree still remains under the hold of Lloyd however traumatizing her experience is.  She goes to the facility thrice to meet him but turned down twice.

The marital life of Doree and Lloyd began normally and happily. But, Lloyd could not get in to the family as a result of his hippie outlook. Doree met Lloyd first in the hospital when her mother had been admitted there for undergoing a surgery. Lloyd was an orderly in the hospital. Later they got married and started their married life at Mildmay a country in Ontario province. Lloyd’s attitude towards life has undergone a change. He started believing in marriage, constancy and no birth control. They lived in Sechelt Peninsula for sometime before getting married.  Lloyd got employment in an ice cream factory. Later Lloyd starts suspecting every act of Doree without any valid reason. Mrs. Maggie, an acquaintance of Doree helps her taking to the home schooling in her minivan. One night she was detained in Maggie’s house and Maggie informs Lloyd that she would drop Doree the next morning. On Doree’s return the killing of her kids was discovered and Lloyd did not show any feeling. Maggie informs police. Lloyd termed insane and confined to the facility.

After Lloyd’s confinement a sense of emptiness prevailed in her mind coupled with utter sense of shock caused by the incident. Mrs. Sands helps her out of the trauma. Doree has hidden her identity by changing her name as Fleur. She gets a job of a chambermaid in a motel named Blue Spruce Inn.

On the way to London she comes across an accident in which a boy is knocked down. Her bus stops. She gets down with fellow passengers. She feels the pulse in the neck of the boy who is otherwise still. Doree gives the first aid. She tries to revive him. She attempts mouth to mouth resuscitation. The boy starts breathing. The life is saved. The bus leaves. But, Doree stays with the boy for further help as the ambulance will arrive shortly.

Finally, Doree has come out of the clutches of Lloyd totally as well as of her guilt. Doree is emancipated from all the drudgeries of the past. The story ends with the emancipation of Doree from her sense of guilt.

Thus “Dimensions” skillfully explores the mind of Doree. 

Setting

Set in the province of Ontario, Canada
Sechelt Peninsula
Mildmay in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada
Kincardine
London, Southwestern part of Ontario, Canada

List of Characters

Doree

Doree is the central character in the story. She is the mother of three children. She is twenty-three years old.

Fleur

Doree takes this name after the tragedy in order to hide her identity.

Lloyd

Doree's husband. A hippie.

Sasha

Sasha is the first son of  Doree and Lloyd.

Barbara Ann 

Barbara Ann is the daughter of Doree and Lloyd born next to Sasha.

Dimitri 

Dimitri is the son of Doree and Lloyd born next to Barbara Ann.

Mrs. Sands

Mrs. Sands is the counseller for Doree. She helps her recover from the tragedy.

Mrs. Maggie

Maggie is an acquaintance of Doree who helps her in taking her children to home schooling.

Maggie's Husband

Name is not mentioned. He is referred as Maggie's husband.

Maggie's two children

They are only mentioned. Their name is not given.

Mrs. Mitchell

She is the head nurse at the hospital where Doree's mother was admitted.

Doree's mother

The name is not mentioned. She is also a hippy.

Laurie

A friend of Doree's mother.

A Boy

Name is not mentioned. Victim of an accident.

Motorist

A person comes in a motorbike and helps the victim.

Driver

The driver of the bus.

Dimensions - A Synopsis

"Dimensions" - Alice Munro's short story deals with triple infanticide. Father's act of killing his offspring and mother's sense of guilt over the act form the core of the short story. Killing and getting away with it is not uncommon but the way the father takes this act is beyond comprehension. In the garb of insanity one has put his ruthlessness on the innocent lives is unpalatable.Nonetheless there is no reason a sane person can act in such a way that too on innocent lives. The argument he puts in still baffles the readers. Rescuing his children from the grip of their mother's vicious plot of killing them is the argument put forth by the father as suggested in the story for the killing of his children.

The plot of this story is pivoted around Doree, who is at the receiving end. A woman of twenty three years old, she had undergone a traumatising experience, however subdued by the narration. The psychological scattering of her embedded thoughts makes a sense by the way of bringing an unknown boy back to life.

Lloyd, Doree's husband has committed a criminal blunder of killing his children in the absence of Doree. It was Lloyd who had chided Doree for buying a dented tin of spaghetti. He accused Doree of poisoning his children by buying the dented spaghetti. Ironically he has killed his children without any profound reason. The act of his was categorized as, 'criminally insane' and he was confined to a rehabilitation facility. This incident got wide publicity in the print media with their family photograph. Doree got counselled by Mrs. Sands and gradually recovers from the disturbance caused by the incident.

The story begins with Doree's journey towards London to meet her husband. In between the journey,  the act and its aftermath and its psychological repercussions on Doree is presented in a realistic manner by the author. 

Essay

Yes to all.

Say something on Alice Munro's short story "Dimensions".