The Power of Women

I believe that Shakespeare was correct in some ways on his views of women in power, but not 100 percent. It is true that many women, in order to gain authority and respect, must not act like so much of a woman and more like a man, as shown in the preview for The Iron Lady. Through the preview, she is shown to have become like a man, and gain respect the way that men do, through their words and actions. A man, in order to gain power and respect, must act like the tough man; yet at the same time, they must act like a proper gentleman at the same time. People respect the power that a man that acts tough presents, but they do not want it to consume him, so they must also have the politeness and delicacy that the modern day gentleman is shown to have. Women are the same way. It seems like in order for a woman to gain the same respect that a man can have, they need to act the same, thus losing their femininity in the process. I believe that in the modern world today, women should not have to act like a man in order to gain respect and authority. Many women gain a lot of respect by acting like women should, for example, Oprah Winfrey does not act like a man at all, and still has a lot of respect throughout the country. And still, Oprah acts very different than men of today: in today’s world and economy, men would not simply hand out gifts like whales and school districts. However, it took Oprah a long time to get to where she is today. If a woman is “Iron” such as the woman portrayed in the trailer, Margaret Thatcher, was, then respect can be earned a lot more quickly than acting as a woman does. I believe that in today’s world, people are becoming a lot more sensitive than they were back in Shakespeare’s time, or even forty years ago. People are now focusing on the person as a whole, and what they would bring to the position that they are attempting to earn or receive. Today, it’s a lot easier for a woman to be who she really is and still gain respect than it was back in the older times, when they had to portray the emotions and strength of a man, and thereby being somebody that they really weren’t, and in a sense, losing themselves to power.

Banquo Playlist

Well, this is the playlist I believe would be appropriate for Banquo
http://open.spotify.com/user/1219122316/playlist/0sB2PzNnaC0qbSfzFptkQJ

• Gives You Hell - All American Rejects - After Banquo dies, obviously his very ghostly presence traumatized Macbeth, thereby giving him hell

• This Means War - Nickelback - Even after death, Banquo still tries to get even with Macbeth

• Your Betrayal - Bullet For My Valentine - This song, although directed to a woman, more or less describes Banquo's predicament, when Macbeth orders him killed

• My Sacrifice - Creed - Banquo, in some sense, sacrifices himself so that his son, Fleance, might get away and continue his bloodline

• Indestructable - Disturbed - This song represents Banquo in so many ways. Even after having Banquo killed, Macbeth cannot rid himself of him. And, as the witches predicted, Banquo's bloodline shall inherit the throne

• Just To Get High - Nickelback - Although this song deals with drug abuse, it has the same sense that Banquo had for Macbeth. He was worried for Macbeth, worried that he was doing terrible deeds to inherit all of the power.
• Devour - Shinedown - The main verse in this song is "It's your final hour", which very clearly describes Banquo's situation
• World So Cold - Three Days Grace - This song describes how Banquo must have been feeling before and after death.
• The Good Life - Three Days Grace -This describes Banquo's desires, what he wishes, if not for himself, than for his descendents
• Running Out Of Days -3 Doors Down - Obviously, this song describes how Banquo must have been feeling the days before his death, the days when Macbeth became king

Brandon Stout
Blog #2

                            Power, although needed in most situations, can prove to be a terrible thing. Power can turn once true and honest men into tyrannical beasts, searching for more and more power. This is the case in both the article and Macbeth. In Macbeth, Macbeth turns from being an honorable soldier, into something of a dictator. Who would have thought that this could have happened to the noble and honorable Thane of Glamis? He ruthlessly murdered in order to achieve his ultimate goal, which was just more and more power. Although he was influenced, this does not make him, or anybody for that matter, less guilty of a murder. Being controlled by power is something that can be controlled, and therefore, they are just as guilty for committing the murder as they would have been for killing in cold blood. The Nazis in the article were the same, they wanted more and more power, and the more they got, the more people had to die. There was a quote in the article, of a Nazi trying to justify his actions “Out of respect for human life I excise an ulcerated appendix; the Jews are the ulcerated appendix in the body of Europe.” This statement merely shows what power can do to the mentality of any normal person; it can give them the illusion that they are God, that they get to decide who lives and who dies.  This creates an evil in the person, and the only way to combat that evil is to maintain your moral convictions. The person must stay true to who they really are inside, and attempt to battle the evil that power has the ability to create within them. Of course, if the person is inherently evil, then the battle is worthless. And if there are any bystanders who witness this type of evil within the people around them, they should take it upon themselves to try to help. Now, obviously this would have been difficult during the Holocaust, and it is difficult in any modern day trial as well; no one wants to argue with their friends, or anyone close to them. But, if it is possible for someone to be helped or even saved, that person must try to help. It should be in our human nature to want to save others who we know can be better than the evil that power creates, and we should attempt to save those that can be saved.