http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34NY9wpDPBA
^
If this video doesn't creep you out, then something may be wrong with you.
Before reading Manfred on my own, I wanted to get a feel for what it was going
to be like and watching this creepy guy recite lines was enough to make my skin
crawl. Obviously it gave me the impression that Byron is a dark, dreary, and
twisted sort of guy especially if he is having sexy time with his sister.
Reading
this play was sort of like driving past a car accident: horrible, but so hard
to look away. I was intrigued by Manfred's internal battle with himself over
the deeds that he committed and also enjoyed the romantic aspect of the spirits
that he talked with. In Act II, scene 4, Manfred is approached by the phantom
ghost of his sister/lover Astarte and he speaks to her saying, "Thou
loved’st me too much, as I loved thee: we were not made to torture thus each
other, though it were the deadliest sin to love as we have loved. Say that
thou loath’st me not” (120-124). Manfred is disappointed when his phantom
sister does not acknowledge his pleas but it is fascinating that he is both
haunted and enchanted by her.
It
reminded me A LOT of Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex in the sense that
Oedipus is at first this proud character who refuses to believe the prophecies
and oracles that reveal his crime, much like Manfred does not want to hear what
the spirits have to say, but continues to seek a different answer. Oedipus and
Manfred are also similar in the fact that they have committed incestuous crimes
and once this is accepted by them, they seek death or forgetfulness.
Just a few observations I made, let me know what you think!
-Megan Harpel
I found this video to be creepy in the best way possible, it was quite entertaining. On the matter of incestuous relationships and Manfred, there is one relationship that this reminded me of. For those Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire fans, the incestuous relationship between Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Cersei is somewhat similar. At first, Jaime is proud of his relationship with his sister and ignores the comments that are made about them. But eventually, without spoiling too much for those who have not read that far or just watch the show, Jaime recognizes his crimes for being in a relationship with his sister and soon begins to seek forgiveness and acceptance from everyone but his sister. For those who do not know what happens, you shall just have to wait and see!
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