Fair is foul, and foul is fair

ACT I

SCENE I: A desert place.

[Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.]

First Witch: When shall we three meet again

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second Witch: When the hurly-burly’s done,

When the battle’s lost and won.

Third Witch: That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch: Where the place?

Second Witch: Upon the heath.

Third Witch: There to meet with Macbeth.

First Witch: I come, Graymalkin!

Second Witch: Paddock calls.

Third Witch: Anon.

ALL: Fair is foul, and foul is fair:

Hover through the fog and filthy air.

            For me there is a great meaning of the line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. For me, the meaning goes like this: A person has an ugly side and a beautiful side.  Let us first discuss it with relation unto beauty. Fair is described as beautiful while, foul is ugly. So it becomes “Beautiful is ugly, and ugly is beautiful”, where know I can relate it to the play, specially the witches. Filipino belief says that witches are ugly, creepy and very weird persons because of their witchcrafts or magical powers. Then I can infer that witches are ugly. And as what I mentioned earlier, if the three witches are ugly and then they also have this good side.

            The three witches are honest, that is one. Even though they made Macbeth turned into his bad character, from the beginning through its end, they just said what their prophecies are and that is it. Maybe they were just spoilers on Macbeth’s life. If I would be asked, it is Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth who really made the situation worse. If Macbeth just become contented of hearing the happy news just like what Banquo did, and just let it happen, I think he could be in the better situation through the play. There would be no tragic ending and there will be no bloody revenge among the people he hurt. Generally, the witches are ugly yet had this good side. Further, I can say that nobody is perfect.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Climax

                                The play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a wonderful play of fantasy. The play is set in a Wood outside Athens and the setting itself is an important character in the comedy. The wood is home to the magical Puck and other fairies, and it is there that reality can be suspended and imagination followed. The play contains four groups of characters: Theseus of Athens and his bride Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons; the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania; two pairs of young lovers; and a company of Athenian working men headed by Nick Bottom, the weaver. The action centers on a magical spell cast by the mischievous fairy Puck and overseen by Oberon. The spell confuses the desires of the two sets of lovers and causes Titania to fall in love with Bottom, who has been turned into a monster with an ass's head. Oberon eventually releases the hapless victims from the spell, clearing up all mistakes. The play ends with a triple wedding as all three sets of lovers marry.

                                For me the climax of the play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is when Oberon orders Puck to put a love potion to the eyes of Demetrius but mistaken Lysander as Demetrius, which then gave the complication of the story. In here, Oberon orders Puck to put the love potion on the eyes of an Athenian lad unknowing that there are 2 Athenian lads in the forest, one of which is Lysander whom he puts the love potion on. When Lysander then woke up he sees Helena whom he fell in love with. Puck to correct his fault then puts the love potion on the eyes of Demetrius who also woke up seeing Helena whom he fell in love with too. Helena, unknowing of the potion, thought that the two is only putting a prank on her. Hermia, on the other hand, is angered for she thought that Helena stole his love Lysander since that now Lysander loves Helena instead of herself.

                                I consider this part as the climax of the play because this part is where the conflict took place. For me this is the very tricky part of the story and it also made the story very complicated. For me it is also the most interesting part. Big problems are indeed caused by small problems.

Forget: Is it the Best Way to Forgive?

                                Many people say, “To forgive is to forget” but is forgetting really the best way to forgive others? If I would be ask that question, honestly, I don’t think that forgetting is the best way to attain forgiveness. Maybe it could be the easiest way but for me it is not the best. Let me elaborate it with a story of mine.

                                It was not a long time when it happened. It is between me and my friend. My friend likes joking and making fun of some people’s mistakes or clumsiness. In that moment I was the center of his joke. At first I didn’t mind those teases and mocks because I knew he was just joking me out but as time pass by my patience got shorter and shorter until it was totally used up. I walked out of the place and then went to one corner easing my anger. After quite time he peeks at me if I’m all right then go back to his pranks and still gets me into those jokes. At the end of the day, I think he already realized what he did and finally felt sorry for it. Although I forgave him the next day, I still can’t forget what he did. Because at that time he really offended me and didn’t even think of my feelings if he will throws his jokes at me.

                                I know that there are really times that we cannot forget the people who did unpleasant things to us, but at the end of the day the best thing to do is to forgive. In the Bible, Luke 23:24, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” It says here that even Jesus learns to forgive. So if Jesus knows how to forgive, then why couldn’t we?

Books or Sports?

                                If you would be given a second life, which do you prefer a sporty person but not that an academically inclined, or an academically inclined student but not a sporty one? books or sports? If you would to ask me, which between those two options I would likely to prefer the second one. Yes, I would want to be an academically inclined student than a sporty one. It is not that I hate P.E. but because I think that I could have more benefit to be an academically inclined student than to be a sporty one. Although you would not be popular unlike those who are great in playing sports, you can also make other people know you in other ways like in quiz bees or competitions. In my impression on the people who are good in sports, they often get bruises, wounds, and other pains in the body which I think could be lessen if you focus yourself in academics. Another reason is I am more comfortable with books, and as they say a book is a house of gold.

                                Let us think about the consequences when you would be a sporty student but not that an academically inclined one. One thing is, sometimes you might not get focus in your studies because you would be spending more time in sports. You might not be the smartest of the class but you could be the best in P.E. Some people think you are cool and be one of the most popular students in the campus.

                                In the second option, where you would be an academically inclined student but not a sporty one, there are also consequences choosing it. Sometimes you would be the last in the line when it comes to running. During intramurals, you might be having a difficult time to choose a sport to join because among the sports listed, you know none of them. You might not be the cool classmate instead the nerd of the class. But of course there are a lot of advantages. You might be included in one of the best 1o and you will not have a hard time catching the border line of grades. You might also be one of the best during discussions.

                                But back into reality, we will not be the one to decide on which type of student are we going to be. All we just have to do is give our best shot every time and never let failure overcome us. Always believe in yourself, be responsible of what your decisions are and always have a faith in God. Always remember, working without praying is nothing and praying without working is also nothing.