This is a collection of many criticisms and/or various interpretations/multimedia efforts for Hamlet. Be forewarned, it requires a subscription to access any of its data.
It's a collection of modern adaptions and/or anything Hamlet-related. It has quite an extensive library, to say the least. Plus, it's hosted by Blogger, meaning the transition should be easy for most of us.
A) For Hamlet, I know very little. I know that Mel Gibson played the titular role in the movie "Hamlet", and that at the end of the play, everyone else essentially dies. I know for a fact that Hamlet dies due to a poisoned stab wound, but other than that, I got nothing.
B) I know that Shakespeare was a poet who wrote in iambic pentameter. I know that he wrote "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "Julius Caesar", and "Romeo and Juliet". I also know that he married Anne Hathaway and had three children. But that's essentially it.
C) With students, the name Shakespeare brings back memories of a childhood event they try to forget, but can't because it's always brought up. "They remember what they want to forget, but forget what they want to remember." - Cormac McCarthy. Shakespeare is that old man who speaks in a tongue that no longer exists. He constantly reminds you of how great he is, but his work is so archaic it's hard to get behind it. You know he' a legend, but you can't understand why.
D) Perhaps usage of alternate media, and maybe even acting it out might make a big difference between rolling your eyes and actually looking forward to reading "Hamlet".
aberration - the fact or an instance or deviating or being aberrant especially from a moral standard or normal state
People wondered if Vogelsong's struggles were an aberration or a harbinger of things to come.
ad hoc - "for this", concerned with a particular end or purpose; improvised from whatever is available
The ad hoc investigation committee was committed to rooting out corruption in Wall Street.
bane - a person or thing that ruins or spoils
Bane attempted to be the bane of Gotham City.
bathos - the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated manner or style; overdone pathos
The author attempted to appeal to our emotions, but instead what we got was bathos.
cantankerous - difficult or irritating to deal with
Mr. Fredrickson became a cantankerous old man after the death of Ellie.
casuistry - a resolving of specific cases of conscience, duty, or conduct through interpretation of ethical principles or religious doctrine
A past master of casuistry, Matt would rarely provide a straight answer to our questions.
de facto - "concerning fact", in practice but not necessarily ordained by law or government
Chipotle is the de facto fast food restaurant for teenagers.
depredation - to lay waste; to engage in plunder
The Vikings were known for their acts of depredation.
empathy - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner
Empathy is one thing sorely lacking in this day and age.
harbinger - one that presages or foreshadows what is to come; one that initiates change
The arrival of Harbinger was a harbinger of the Reaper invasion.
hedonism - the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life
"YOLO" seems to be the catchphrase of hedonism.
lackluster - lacking in sheen, brilliance or vitality
The 49ers performance against the Vikings was lackluster, to say the least.
malcontent - one who bears a grudge from a sense of grievance or thwarted ambition; discontent
Terrell Owen is known for being a malcontent in the clubhouse.
mellifluous - having a smooth rich flow; filled with something that sweetens
The river was mellifluous with honey and milk.
nepotism - favoritism based on kinship
Companies known for nepotism tend not to last long.
pander - to provide gratification for others' desires
Some people complain that today's action movies pander to the lowest common denominator.
peccadillo - a slight offense
People go ballistic over a peccadillo.
piece de resistance - the chief dish of a meal; an outstanding item or event
It's pretty sad when a side dish outperforms the piece de resistance.
remand - to order back; to send back to another court or agency for further action
The Court remanded the appeal.
syndrome - a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition
Over time, some kidnapped civilians adopt Stockholm Syndrome.
"“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” - Carl Sagan
1. In the year 1984, the world is in a state of moral and physical decay. Big Brother, and more notably, The Party control all of Oceania. They have hidden cameras, microphones and telescreens to watch every citizen of every second of every day. They imprison, kill or metamorphosize anyone who apposes Big Brother. They have Thought Police at every corner, dissimulating as ordinary citizens, so as to catch anyone with "undesirable" motives or thoughts. They have corrupted little kids to be young members of the Thought Police, and to snitch on anyone who says anything against Big Brother or his ideals. The Party continually shapes, erases and reforms history to suit the current situation, as Big Brother is never wrong. The Party has succeeded at oppressing the citizens without them knowing, and has found ways to prevent any revolution from occurring. The story takes place in London, with the poor living off of less and less as the years go by. Dilapidated buildings cover all of London, threatening to break at any moment. Rations are constantly going down, with almost no one noticing. Oceania is broken into three classes: the Inner Party, the Outer Party and the Proles. Winston Smith, the main character, is a member of the Outer Party. Unlike most people, such as Syme or Parsons, Winston is not a loyal subjugate to Big Brother. He knows that Big Brother is a liar and a cheat, but has no where to vent out his feelings. However, that all changes when Winston meets the love of his life, Julia. Together, they form a bondage, with both of them opposing Big Brother, albeit for different reasons. However, their bondage goes too far when they believe that O'Brien is a member of "The Brotherhood", a political organization created so as to overthrow Big Brother. O'Brien tricks them into believing he is a member of the Brotherhood, and eventually has them imprisoned by the Thought Police for opposing Big Brother. In the Ministry of Love, he tortures both of them, physically and mentally, to the point where Julia and Winston are both willing to betray one another and acclimate themselves into The Party. They are willing to forget all form of logical thought and educate themselves on Ingsoc and "doublespeak". In an essence, they are willing to eliminate their identity as an individual so as to become part of the Party. The story ends with both of them confessing that they betrayed the other, and Winston becoming so venerated with Big Brother that "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." (pg. 245) He was no longer Winston, but a "yes man" to Big Brother. Orwell was worried that governments would take over the lives of humans, and attempt to control them. From this worry stemmed 1984, a satire and a warning of what would happen if humanity did not learn from its mistakes and attack the problem at its root while it hadn't grown to the point of no return.
2.The theme of the novel is a warning against governments and what happens when they are given too much power. That one mus limit the amount of control a government has on the average citizen if he/she wishes to retain self-autonomy. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" so to speak. And that it is through the citizens, and the citizens only, that change can be made because the aristocrats have one goal and one goal only: to stay in power as long as possible, and prevent anyone else from reaching that power. It is also a warning against the elimination of knowledge, as those that control the knowledge control the people, and against the many and dubious ways governments will try to manipulate you. It is also a demonstration of the attitudes of many people today. Much like the proles, most people believe anything the government says without even a second glance, even if it contradicts their earlier statements.
3. The tone throughout the novel is one of seriousness and generally melancholy and hopelessness. There is isn't much hope in this world, nor is there any reason to believe there will be hope in the future. The world is in disrepair and there is no one to inspire the people to rise from the ashes. "Were there always these vistas of rotting nineteenth-century houses, their sides shored up with balks of timber, their windows patched with cardboard and their roofs with corrugated iron, their crazy iron walls sagging in all directions?" (pg. 7)
"'Look at the condition you are in!' [O'Brien] said. 'Look at the filthy grime all over your body. Look at the dirt between your toes. Look at that disgusting running sore on your leg. Do you know you stink like a goat?...Look at your emaciation. Do you see? I can make my thumb and forefinger meet around your bicep. I could snap your neck like a carrot. Do you know that you have lost twenty-five kilograms since you have been in our hands? Even your hair is coming out in handfuls. Look!... Open your mouth. Nine, ten, eleven teeth left. How many had you when you came to us? And the few you have left are dropping out of your head. Look here!'...'You are rotting away,' he said; 'you are falling to pieces. What are you? A bag of filth?.. Do you see that thing facing you? That is the last man. If you are human, that is humanity..." (p.224)
"But if [slavery] did not exist, the structure of world society, and the process by which it maintains itself, would not be essentially different." (p. 155) By presenting a dystopia with no hope of a better future, Orwell is able to better establish a tone of despair and bleakness, in the hopes that through this despair we can rise from its ashes and correct ourselves so 1984 is only a measure of "what-could-be" versus "what-is".
4. Literary Elements: Verbal irony - The Ministry of Truth, The Ministry of Love, The Ministry of Plenty and The Ministry of Peace. This is an example of verbal irony in that The Ministry of Truth creates lies and propaganda, The Ministry of Love tortures and executes criminals, The Ministry of Plenty rations goods, and The Ministry of Peace is concerned with waging war with Eurasia or Eastasia. Flashback - " [Winston] never saw his mother again. After he had devoured the chocolate he felt somewhat ashamed of himself ... When he came back his mother had disappeared..." (p. 135) Symbolism - The coral paperweight symbolizes capitalism and the occasional goodness that it can produce. Not all of capitalism is bad, contrary to Big Brother, and at one point could be beautiful. Irony - "The earthly paradise had been discredited at exactly the moment when it became realizable." (pg. 168) Anaphora - "Look at the condition you are in! Look at the filthy grime all over your body. Look at the dirt between your toes..." (pg. 224) Oxymoron - "War is peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength." (pg. 7) Setting - "Were there always these vistas of rotting nineteenth-century houses, their sides shored up with balks of timber, their windows patched with cardboard and their roofs with corrugated iron, their crazy iron walls sagging in all directions?" (pg. 7) Foreshadowing - "One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized." (pg. 47) Paradox - "doublethink" the concept of both believing and disbelieving an ideology/statement at the same time. Style - Orwell is very matter-of-fact in his writing style. This prevents any fluff/filler to enter the story, and prevents any over-long metaphors or symbolism from weakening the story. He is trying to warn us of impending doom, and the best way to do it is to be as blunt as possible. Flowery language only gets you so far.
Characterization (not yet done)
2. Orwell is a consistent writer. He does not fluctuate his syntax or diction based on the situation at hand. His writing is terse and blunt, and his descriptions of his characters are terse and blunt. He is not one for flowery language, nor should one expect to find any.
3. Winston Smith is a dynamic, round character. In the beginning, he is a timid man who wants to go against Big Brother, but doesn't have the guts. By the time he meets Julia, he finally has "just like Jesus, I'm growing a pair" and secretly starts venting against Big Brother, albeit in his secret diary. He starts breaking the "tabooed actions" (in Oceania, there are no official rules, as established rules demonstrate oppression). It gets to the point where he even "joins" the Brotherhood, an organization created for the sole purpose of defiling and overthrowing Big Brother. By the end, however, his whole mentality has changed. Due to torture and brainwashing by O'Brien, Winston has convinced himself that Big Brother is good, and that O'Brien is a benevolent being. He has acclimated himself into the attitudes of the Inner Party, with a mind as distinguishable as a Prole. Winston has emotions, he has feelings. He is a real person, not some random citizen in Grand Theft Auto.
4. However, as much as Winston is a dynamic, round character, I still came off believing I had read a character than actually met one. The big key for me was that, save for a few flashbacks, almost nothing is known of Winston beforehand. I don't know his backstory, I don't know him, period. He is "The Dovakhiin": I know him while I see him, while I play him. I understand him throughout the course of the story. But I don't really know him. I don't know his backstory, I don't know what makes him tick, I don't know anything except what the story wants me to know.
obsequious- characterized by by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning.
Mr. Collins is an obsequious sycophant to Lady Catherine to the point of being a bete noire to the Bennets.
beatitude - supreme blessedness; exalted happiness
Brad was filled with beatitude after his girlfriend declared her feelings for him.
bete noire - a person or thing especially disliked or dreaded; bane
Bane was the bete noire to Gotham City.
bode - to be an omen of; portend
The political race does not bode well for Mitt Romney, especially with his "47 percent" quote.
dank - unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and often chilly
Albion was dank from all the Industries dumping their sewage into the water.
ecumenical - general; universal
It seems ecumenical that The Godfather is a classic among movies.
fervid - heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.
John Fox was fervid after the refs claimed that there were twelve men illegally lined up on the field.
fetid - having an offensive odor; stinking
My clothes were fetid after I had finished my long run.
gargantuan - gigantic; enormous; colossal
Even among Spartans, Master Chief is a gargantuan of a man.
heyday - the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, etc.
The sixties were the heyday for rock and roll.
incubus - an imaginary demon or evil spirit supposed to descend upon sleeping persons
In the Book of Mormom , Satan appeared as an incubus in "Spooky Mormon Hell Dream" to convince Price that he was wrong in abandoning Arnold.
infrastructure - the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.
In MMO's, it's very difficult to set up the online infrastructure to support thousands of players simultaneously on your servers without crashing.
inveigle - to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements
Commander Shepard is known for his ability to inveigle ladies.
kudos - honor; glory; acclaim
"Kudos to Chris Avellone for his gameplay ideas." said Josh.
lagniappe - a gratuity or tip; a small gift given with a purchase to the customer; bonus
"Thank you for the lagniappe!" said the waiter.
prolix - extended to great, tedious, or unnecessary length; long and wordy
Christopher Paoulini is known for his prolix novels.
protege - a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.
Robin is Batman's protege.
prototype - the original or model on which something is based or formed.
Alex Mercer became the prototype for what kind of power the "blacklight" virus can have on humans.
sycophant - a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.
I can never understand the sycophantic nature of some people.
tautology - needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness, as in “widow woman.”
"I am the very model of a scientist salarian
I've studied species turian, asari and batarian
I'm quite good at genetics (as a subset of biology)
because I am an expert (which I know is a tautology)" - Mordin Solus.
truckle - to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely
After being told off, Zach truckled to his officer.
"Laa shay'a waqui'n moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine." The Call to Adventure At the ripe young age of 17, Ezio Auditore da Firenze was, to put it simply, a hot-headed ladies man. A man of privilege and luxury. However, that all changed when Ezio's family was betrayed by their "friend" Uberto Alberti, a man who clandestinely worked for an organization known as "the Templars". Uberto had Ezio's father and two brothers hung for treason and conspiracy. Refusal of the Call
When told of his Assassin heritage, Ezio at first was skeptical and refused to believe it. However, as Ezio was staying in Monteriggioni, it was attacked by Templar forces, forcing him to accept that he was raised in a line of Assassins. Supernatural Aid
Ezio, given the equipment to become an ultimate assassin, and the training process to be the fittest man alive along with a supernatural ability known as "Eagle Vision" (allowing him to spot any enemy, any object, and predict all pathways an enemy would make within seconds) would define what it was to be an assassin. And that's excluding his friendship with Leonardo da Vinci, a man who would supply countless inventions to improve Ezio's arsenal (such as a hidden gun or poison darts) and Yusuf, who taught Ezio how to design and craft various bombs to work for various situations. The Crossing of the First Threshold
Ezio successfully kills his arch-rival Vieri, and assassinates Uberto Alberti, all improvised on the spot. Belly of the Whale
Ezio meets his uncle Mario in Monterigioni and, after 11 years of assassinating and liberating, becomes a member of the Assassin brotherhood, completely abandoning his old self. There, he learns that there has been a constant fight between Assassins and Templars. Assassins fight for complete freedom, while Templars fight for a world that is completely safe, which inevitably leads to control and oppressiveness. He eventually becomes leader of the Assassin's guild, and fights not just for himself, but for people as a whole, most notably in spreading Renaissance ideas and funding Cristofo Columbo's journey to "India".
The Road of Trials
Ezio soon starts uncovering the plot concerning his father's death (most notably that the leader of the Templars, Rodrigo Boriga, wanted to overthrow the Medici family, the Dodge of Venice,), and slowly but surely starts assassinating those responsible: Francesco de' Pazzi, Antonio Maffei, Stefano de Bagnone, Bernardo Baroncelli, Francesco Salviati, Jacobo de' Pazzi, Emilio Barbarigo, Carlo Grimaldi, Marco Barbarigo, Silvio Barbarigo, and Dante Moro. He has a final battle with Rodrigo Borgia, but realizing the futility of revenge, refuses to kill him. In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhoodthe city of Monteriggioni is laid seige by Cesare Borgia, who kills Mario Auditore and taunts Ezio. In retaliation, Ezio heads to Rome, where he aides Copernicus and assassinates Il Carnifice, Malfatto and Silvestro Sabbatini, Luigi Torcelli, Juan Borgia, the Baron de Valois, Micheletto Corella, Paganino, and Cesare Borgia. In Assassin's Creed: Revelations Ezio assassinates Leondros, Manuel Palaiologos, Shahkulu, and assists in the death of Ahmet. The Meeting with the Goddess
Ezio falls in love with two women, Cristina Vespucci, who is unfortunately killed, and Sofia Sartor, whom he marries and has a child with. The Ultimate Boon
Ezio is able to avenge his family's death, and rid most of Europe of Templar influence. He obtains many pieces of Eden and is able to spread his message to Desmond Miles in the hopes that Desmond can understand and make sure that his life's suffering were worth it.
"Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen; Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht. Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl, Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe; Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse. Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle. Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs; Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?" Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete." Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar, Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu." Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng."
"Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, a monster lurked; Full few too many drinks, he looking for fight. Then Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl, Asked the awful jerk to step outside. Thud! Bash!Crash! Boom! The big guy All of his bones broke, bit his nose off; Wicked Godzilla wailed on his ass. Monster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall. Beowulf in his back room phonecall be making was; Hearing sound of ruckus said "What the hell?" Grabbing shield strong and switch-blade sharp Stood forth to fight the grimlic? foe. "Me" Godzilla said, "Make the mincemeat." Hero quickly getting hold with famed half-nelson And flying him like frisbee back to forth. Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall bar, Said "No foe beaten my fearsome kung-fu." He ordered coca-cola ice cold, the real thing."
Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute, just sit down Montana
I'll tell you how I became the Chief of Cortana.
The Call to Adventure
At the ripe young age of six, Master Chief had qualities that were designated as "ideal" for a super soldier, one who would be an unstoppable killing machine. In other words, a Spartan. However, due to the often unethical treatment and harsh environments that the trainees went through (with a casualty ratio of over 50%) and in order to maintain secrecy, these kids designated as "ideal" would be stolen from their parents with a clone taking over as them and quickly dying of natural causes. Refusing the Call
As you can imagine, John did not take too kindly to being kidnapped for a Spartan project. It took many men to subdue him, with many broken hands and fingers sustained in the process. Supernatural Aid
After years of training and physical and mental enhancements, Master Petty Officer John-117 completed over two hundred missions, most notably combating an alien race known as the Covenant. However, with the Covenant slowly and surely wiping out each human colony one-by-one and then glassing them, the UNSC (United Nations Space Command) designated John-117 with an intelligent AI, one who could assist him no matter the circumstances, Cortana. He also soon adopted a new moniker: Master Chief. The Crossing of the First Threshold
Trying to escape the Covenant fleet, the ship The Pillar of Autumn and its escape pods crash land on a mysterious planet as "Halo". There Master Chief explores the planet, and discovers that it is really not a planet, but a device created by an ancient alien race known as the Forerunners to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy as a last-ditch effort to prevent another alien race known simply as "the Flood" from consuming all life in the galaxy. The Road of Trials
In Halo: Combat Evolved, the alien race known as the Flood have been released on the planet Halo. Knowing that destroying Halo is the only way of stopping them, but that detonating Halo would also wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy, Master Chief and Cortana decide to blow up The Pillar of Autumn, as the blast would destroy Halo but also prevent it from detonating completely. Along the way, they fight against continual Covenant and Flood troops before they are able to detonate The Pillar of Autumn while also escaping a safe distance from the blast radius. In Halo 2, Master Chief is assigned to help fight back against a Covenant invasion of Earth, and in the process discovers that there are actually nine "Halo" rings, and they can all be remotely activated on an ancient Forerunner structure known as "the Ark". In Halo 3, Master Chief follows a Covenant force to "the Ark", and discovers that a new Halo ring is being built to replace the one destroyed in Combat Evolved. Master Chief is able to stop the Covenant from activating the Ark completely. Instead, John-117 has the Ark detonate both itself and the new Halo ring, thereby preventing all Flood from infecting the galaxy while also saving the galaxy from certain annihilation. However, as he is trying to escape, the force of the detonation disrupts the ship from slip-space travel, meaning Master Chief is stuck with half a ship as it slowly floats towards a distant planet. The Ultimate Boon
Master Chief is able to stop the Covenant from invading Earth and is also able to stop the Flood from infecting the entire galaxy. He also prevented the entire galaxy of being wiped out by activation of the Halo rings. In his own words, he "finished the fight."
Apostate - a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.
After discovering the corruption of the Catholic Church, Will become an apostate.
Effusive - unduly demonstrative, lacking reserve; overflowing
Politicians are known for their effusive personalities.
Impasse - stalemate, standstill, standoff
The Joker and Batman were at an impasse, with neither side willing to give in to the other.
Euphoria - a state of intense happiness and confidence
Abby was euphoric when she found out she got an "A" in AP U.S. History.
Lugubrious - mournful, dismal or gloomy especially in an exaggerated way
Liara was lugubrious after learning of Shepard's death.
Bravado - a pretentious, swaggering display of courage
The knight acted like he was the king of the world, but everyone knew it was bravado.
Consensus - majority of opinion; general agreement or concord
The Geth operate as a government of consensus, only forming opinions when consensus is reached.
Dichotomy - division in two parts, kinds; division into two mutually exclusive or contradictory groups
Yin and Yang is an example of dichotomy.
Constrict - to draw or press in, cause to contract or shrink
Boa constrictors are known for their ability to suffocate their prey.
Gothic - pertaining to the Middle Ages between the 12th and 16th century
Edgar Allen Poe is known for his Gothic settings in most of his books.
Punctilio - a fine point, particular or detail of conduct, ceremony or procedure
In A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Daily Punctilio is notorious for getting its facts wrong.
Metamorphosis - a complete change of form, structure or substance
Barack Obama went through a metamorphosis changing from a man of words to a man of action.
Raconteur - a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly
Michel de Montaigne is the epitome of a raconteur.
Sine qua non - an indefensible condition, element or factor; essential
The Catalyst is sine qua non to the Crucible.
Quixotic - foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of ideals
Don Quixote is known for his quixotic personality.
Vendetta - any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention or the like
The Montagues had a vendetta against the Capulets, and vice-versa.
Non Sequitur - "it does not follow", a statement containing an illogical conclusion
Most politicians have non sequitur arguments, hoping that no one points out their illogical thought.
Mystique - an aura of mystery or mystical power surrounding a particular occupation or pursuit
There was mystique surrounding the Prothean artifact; no one knew what it would do.
Quagmire - a bog; a situation in which extrication is very difficult
There is a quagmire near the city; it is known to house balverines.
Parlous - perilous, dangerous; adv. to a large extent
It is parlous to go rock climbing without any rope or cable to hold oneself.
The Hero's Journey of Commander Shepard:
Commander Shepard was, before his call, a space marine or more notably a space captain. He was a soldier training to become the first Human Spectre.
The Call to Adventure
However, that all changed on Eden Prime. Shepard was sent by the Council to Eden Prime to extract a Prothean beacon (Protheans were sentient beings that were mysteriously wiped out 50,000 years earlier). This was also going to be a determinate on whether Shepard would be worthy as a Spectre (essentially, a peacekeeper who is above the law and answers to the Council), and the first Human Spectre at that. What Shepard found instead was a group of synthetic beings known as the Geth attacking the colony, all being controlled by a rogue Spectre named Saren Arterius. By touching the Prothean Beacon, Shepard discovers that all is not as it seems...
Supernatural Aid
Shepard attempts to convince the Council of Saren's treason, but without any hard evidence, most of them dismiss his claim. However, after finding a recording of Saren mentioning his treason, Shepard is granted Spectre status and is granted Commander of the SS Normandy and is given control of its crew members, notably Ashley Williams, Kaidan Alenko, Garrus Vakarian, Dr. Liara T'Soni, Tali'Zora nar Rayya and Urdnot Wrex in Mass Effect 1; Miranda Lawson, Jacob Taylor, Garrus Vakarian, Mordin Solus, Tali'Zorah vas Normandy, Samara, Thane Krios, Jack, Grunt, Legion, Zaeed Masoni and Kasumi Goto in Mass Effect 2; and James Vega, EDI, Ashley Williams/Kaidan Alenko, Dr. Liara T'Soni, Garrus Vakarian, Javik and Tali'Zora vas Normandy in Mass Effect 3.
The Crossing of the First Threshold
The Council assigns Shepard to various planets to look for clues as to why Saren went rogue, planets that Shepard had previously not been to before in Mass Effect 1. In Mass Effect 2, Shepard is assigned by the Illusive Man to recruit squadmates and infiltrate the Collector Base so as to find a way to stop the Reapers. In Mass Effect 3, Shepard is assigned to recruit as many war assets as possible, and to piece together the Crucible, the only weapon capable enough of stopping the Reapers. The Belly of the Whale
The Council orders Shepard to stand down and let them handle things, believing that because he's a soldier, he'll listen without question. Shepard instead willingly disobeys their commands, transforming himself from a regular soldier to a true leader.
The Road of Trials
In Mass Effect 1, Shepard travels to various planets, fighting off enemies and anything else in his way. However, on the planet Virmire, Shepard is forced to choose between saving Kaidan Alenko or Ashley Williams, as a nuke is about to detonate on the planet and he only has enough time to save one of them. He must also confront Urdnot Wrex and, depending on his choice, either kill him or force him to step down. In Mass Effect 2, Shepard must find ways to recruit his squad mates and gain their loyalty, all the while trying to find a way to successfully complete what many call a suicide mission: infiltrate and detonate the Collector Base. In Mass Effect 3, Shepard must keep finding ways to complete the Crucible, all the while trying to stop Cerberus and Kai-Leng from screwing his plans. He must also find ways of recruiting people and things deemed as "war assets" while also trying to save as many lives as possible due to the Reaper invasion. The Meeting with the Goddess
Throughout the Mass Effect series, Shepard can choose to pursue a relationship with his squad mates, notably Ashley Williams or Dr. Liara T'Soni in Mass Effect 1; Miranda Lawson, Jack, Liara or Tali'Zorah vas Normandy in Mass Effect 2; and Ashley Williams, Liara, Miranda, Jack, Tali, Steve Cortez or Kaidan Alenko in Mass Effect 3.
The Ultimate Boon
In Mass Effect 1, Shepard is able to defeat Saren and the creature controlling him, Sovereign, thus postponing the Reaper invasion by roughly two years. It is there that he discovers that, in due time, an army of synthetic beings (Reapers) will converge onto the galaxy, designed to wipe out all intelligent life. He also discovers that this is a continual cycle, operating at every 50,000 years with Sovereign, up to this point, being the scout determining when the invasion should start. In Mass Effect 2, Shepard is able to destroy the Collector Base, thus weakening the Reaper forces, and is able to postpone the Reaper invasion by another six months, attracting the ire of the oldest Reaper, Harbinger. In Mass Effect 3, Shepard is able to detonate the Crucible where he chooses one of three actions: he can control the Reapers forever, he can synthesize all synthetic and organic beings together, or he can destroy all Reapers. Shepard will die if he chooses Control or Synthesis and, depending on how prepared the galaxy was for a Reaper invasion, if he chooses Destroy. The Crossing of the Return Threshold
In Mass Effect 1, after discovering the plans of a Reaper invasion, Shepard returns from his journey, trying to convince the galaxy that there is a greater force at work here, and that a race of synthetic beings will converge on the galaxy designed to wipe out all intelligent life.
Out of all the books I have read, and believe me there are quite a few, one book I had yet to read was 1984 by George Orwell. For whatever reason, I would always be thinking about reading it, and then another book would pop-up and I would read that one instead. Who would've thought that cynical me would've taken this long to start reading the notorious 1984, a book that spawned two phrases: "Big Brother" and "Orwellian government"? It's like a self-proclaimed fantasy fanboy who has yet to read The Lord of the Rings!
