Research Paper Ideas

So, for those who don't know, I have been making a list of topics that I may one day seek to research in my free time. I may not be an English major, but after working on my research paper on Candide and its comparison between Voltaire's work and that of the three operetta script writers, I LOVE it!

Um .. I seem to have misplaced my list on my computer. Gotta do some deep searching ... Here's what I remember:

Sweeney Todd: Myth and Musical
Mark of the Beast: Connection to Technology
Fairytale Adaptations: Changes through History

Now, I have added a new research idea to the list - as soon as I find that long list ... OH ... it's in my journal! Anyways .....

This evening while the rehearsals went closer to 11pm, Mike Handley (the lighting designer) was discussing the play with our ME (Master Electrician) because she doesn't know anything about this play. It was amazing the different ideas he was bringing up. This is one of his favorite Shakespearean plays because of the inspiration Shakespeare must have had to write so well as to hit the truths on mankind falling to the temptations of the devil. This play presents a "study in the nature of evil" and what path you will be taken when choosing to follow those temptations. The witches told half truths to Macbeth to get him puffed up and feeling immortal "for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" (Act 4, scene i), so no man could kill him, right? He learns at the end that "Macduff was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripp'd" (Act 5, scene viii). Macduff was born from a c-section, therefore not truly woman born. Then, Macbeth was told that "Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill / Shall come against him." (Act 4, scene i). It is impossible for woods to move. However, the opposing soldiers disguised themselves with branches, so when the army marched, it gave the appearance of the whole woods moving. Both these were examples Mike gave in this discussion. Another was that Shakespeare took out the appearance of witches in the last scene, showing how they will abandon you in the end just as Satan abandons us to fall in the end.

I have only read this play once. I never thought deeply into it, for it is another one of Shakespeare's tragedies. Now, I'd love to collect the director's note and dramaturgy done on this production of Macbeth and do my own study to see these connections. One of my favorite things to do is finding spiritual connections in places that wouldn't be obviously present. What a good example...