Firefly/Shakespeare by reginaroadie

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Firefly/Shakespeare

POSTED BY: REGINAROADIE
UPDATED: Saturday, December 11, 2004 07:14
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VIEWED: 3016
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Wednesday, December 8, 2004 9:51 PM

Hi.

I have an idea for a new fanfic I want to write, where it's essentially Simon and Book discussing Shakespeare and what Shakespearian characters would resemble the different crew members.

I was thinking that Mal would be the different tragic Shakespearian kings (Macbeth, Richard the 3rd, King Lear), Zoe would be Lady Mac (but without the manipulativeness and trying to get Wash to kill the captain). Wash would obviously be Yorick "a fellow of infinite jest", Kaylee would obviously be Juliet. Book is the preist from Romeo and Juliet, Simon is a mix of Romeo (in his relationship to Kaylee) and Hamlet (I imagine in his moments of desperation, he'd quote Hamlet in reflection). River is definitly Ophelia. As for Jayne, I think he's either Rosecrantz or Guildenstern. He knows the lines, but is unaware of the direction of the play. Or maybe he's the life that Macbeth describes. "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That only leaves Inara. I havn't figured out who she is, yet.

I'm sure I can make other connections, but I could use a little help. Could you guys dig back to your high school English and try to come up with some Shakespeare/Firefly character parallels?

"NO HAI ES BANDAI. THERE IS....NO.....BAND. AND YET....WE HEAR A BAND."

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Wednesday, December 8, 2004 10:55 PM

CALIGARI

I preface this in saying I'm both tired and drunk right now, but my first instinct would be to put Mal in the same position as Glouster's son in _King Lear_, a guy that's had _everything_ taken from him, to the point where he has to play a madman in order to keep his father safe. "Poor Mal's a-cold!"

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Wednesday, December 8, 2004 11:08 PM

CALIGARI

Oh, two more! Jayne as Malvolio from _Twelfth Night_ (I think that's the play), and Zoe as Hotspur from, um, one of the histories;let's not be gender-specific, yeah? And I never liked _Romeo & Juliet_, and Book would _never_ be stupid enough to give stupid mooncalf lovers blessings and then poison like the apothicary in _R&J_. Although I like the Simon/Hamlet thing....

Here's a side topic: What stage roles would you like to see the actors do? I think an Adam and Alan _Waiting for Godot_ would be hi-larious....

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Wednesday, December 8, 2004 11:59 PM

PURPLEBELLY

Elided posting which was true but not generous.
EDIT after thought: I think it's brave of a fan-community to confront the limitations of the talent possessed by the object of its affection.

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Thursday, December 9, 2004 5:48 AM

CYBERSNARK

I see River more as Lavinia, from Titus Andronicus. Beaten and maimed lmost beyond the ability to speak (River's amygdala, Lavinia's tongue and hands), but with near-supernatural Insight.

Which perhaps hints ominously at the things Simon might end up doing when/if he catches the blue hands responsible.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Thursday, December 9, 2004 8:06 AM

UNCHARTEDOUTLAW

Well, since I'm teaching Hamlet to my seniors right now, I can definitely see River as Ophelia from Act four, Scene five. She's gone mad *and* she's singing. Just makes sense.

-Taylor

The Uncharted Outlaw!
"You can get a lot further with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word."
See my Firefly Store: http://www.cafepress.com/NorCalRiviera

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Friday, December 10, 2004 1:03 PM

MONTANAGIRL

I think that there's a lot of the Benedick/Beatrice relationship from Much Ado between Mal and Inara. There's antagonistic banter on the surface, but underneath it they care for each other even if they can't admit it, even to themselves.

I was also thinking a lot about Book, because the priest analogy is too easy and doesn't sit quite right with me. He almost reminds me of Leontes in Winter's Tale. He has caused hurt to other people through his actions in the past, and now he's trying to make a sort of amends by helping others. (Of course, this analogy may not work depending on what your view of Book and his backstory is.)

I totally second the idea of Jayne as Malvolio

And FYI, Hotspur is in Henry IV part I.

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Friday, December 10, 2004 1:05 PM

MONTANAGIRL

Sorry about the out-of-control underlining! I'm new and still learning how to work the system.

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Friday, December 10, 2004 1:34 PM

ZOID

montanagirl:

Welcome to the board!

Did you know you can go back and correct your underlining mistake?

Just click on the 'Edit' link on the bottom border of your post, and it'll bring up a text box with your original text. You can then edit it for punctuation, spelling and tagging, etc.

The rest of us only appear to be perfect. Fortunately, Haken has provided us with an eraser, to reinforce this illusion. Now, if he'd only allow us to edit other people's posts, I could fix a certain redheaded -- er, brunette -- Kate's little red wagon, whenever she hijacks a thread...

Salutationally,

zoid

P.S.
Cujo? Cuuu-jooo?
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

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Friday, December 10, 2004 1:38 PM

MALICIOUS

Why on earth would you want to correct anyone else's posts?

Mal-licious

Co-Holder of the Red Bell from Hell

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Friday, December 10, 2004 1:40 PM

MONTANAGIRL

Thank you so much. I'm still getting the hang of all this. It also doesn't help that I'm trying to type with a big honkin' splint on my right hand, but that's another story.

Packer fans welcome.
All others tolerated.

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Saturday, December 11, 2004 7:03 AM

SERENITYVALLEY

I think Wash could maybe be Mercutio. Anyone use anything from A Midsummer's Night Dream? We just watched Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in English yesturday. I love that movie!

http://www.simple-assault.com/Firefly.htm

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Saturday, December 11, 2004 7:10 AM

REGINAROADIE

You know, now that you mention it, I think Jayne would be Bottom from DREAM. I mean, he's an ass already, so why not make it official. If River can transform him in a fireball slinging psycho fairy, then I'm sure he could be a perfect donkey.

And you know what, you just answered my question about Inara. She'd obviously be Titania. And maybe there's a little Puck in River as well.

"NO HAI ES BANDAI. THERE IS....NO.....BAND. AND YET....WE HEAR A BAND."

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Saturday, December 11, 2004 7:14 AM

JEWELDIGGER

I think Kaylee would be Cressida. As Pander would ask, "how go maidenheads?"

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