Read Online The Weight of Words (The WORDS Series) by Georgina Guthrie - Free Book Online
Authors: Georgina Guthrie
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concerned, I’m not convinced I agree. In fact, I think I disagree entirely, but you’ve given us something to think about. Perhaps we’ll have to set aside some time to discuss your opinion in a future tutorial.”
There was an edge to his tone, as if he wasn’t thrilled about being contradicted. “ In fact, I think I disagree entirely”? I briefly considered pursuing the point, but I had no desire to instigate conflict, so I nodded and kept my mouth shut. Daniel forged onward.
“This is the assignment Professor Brown mentioned on Monday,” he said, passing around a sheet outlining the term’s independent study.
I was relieved to have a moment to breathe. My heart was racing.
“As you all know, one of the aspects of this course is the independent pursuit of a topic that interests you,” Daniel explained. “I won’t be evaluating this final product, but I’d be happy to assist if I can. I thought we’d take a moment to throw out some ideas and get the wheels turning. Anyone care to share?”
Shawn spoke up, sharing his interest in the role of magic and the supernatural in Shakespeare’s work. Daniel recorded Shawn’s preliminary ideas in his notebook.
“Good. Anyone else?”
Silence ensued. He looked at me pointedly, eyebrow raised. A challenge?
Okay, Aubrey. Game on .
“I’m quite interested in exploring feminist themes,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Possibly misogyny. I imagine I would focus on Hamlet, Othello, Cymbeline, maybe Macbeth .”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes and bringing his clasped hands under his chin. As he moved, his knee grazed mine under the table—an accident, of course—but he might as well have thrust his hand between my legs, considering the effect it had on me. My face began to burn.
“Great topic,” he said. “I have some interesting books that I might be able to lend you.”
He wanted to lend me books? Vivid memories of Dream Daniel’s seductive whispers ghosted though my mind as visions of bookshelves appeared before my eyes.
“Let me ask you this,” he said, leaning forward again, twirling his pen between his fingers. “Do you think Shakespeare himself had a hatred of women?”
I paused, unprepared to take a stand one way or the other, but eager to show him I wasn’t a dimwit.
“I’m not sure. He certainly explores the motif a lot, but an interest in a subject doesn’t mean one is a proponent of that ideology. Who knows, though? Maybe he was a misogynist and he felt safe spouting his views from behind the mask of his heroes’ behavior. I suppose that’ll be something I’ll pursue in my paper.”
“I see,” he said, nodding meditatively.
I waited for him to say something else, but he merely looked at me. Was he preparing a rebuttal? Everyone else in the room seemed to be holding their breath. Julie came to the rescue, quickly breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the use of non-secular themes in Shakespeare’s plays,” she said. “I’d love to take a closer look at the conflicting Elizabethan attitudes toward religion and how they play out in his work.”
The tension eased almost immediately as everyone collectively let out a breath. I looked at her gratefully.
“Another worthwhile topic,” Daniel said with a nod, surveying the faces around the table. “Anyone else, before we move on to talk about this week’s Hamlet lectures?” he asked.
Apparently Cara felt the need to be heard, blurting out, “I totally want to look at the theme of love in Shakespeare’s plays. Like Romeo and Juliet . It’s so romantic.” She punctuated her statement with a breathy sigh.
Daniel frowned. “Well, that’s a rather…broad topic, but I’m sure with a little work we can narrow it down,” he said, seeming to choose his words carefully.
Julie couldn’t contain herself. She wrote on the corner of her page, “ Gah! Airhead!”
I smiled and wrote on my notepad, “ I know! The wheel may
There was an edge to his tone, as if he wasn’t thrilled about being contradicted. “ In fact, I think I disagree entirely”? I briefly considered pursuing the point, but I had no desire to instigate conflict, so I nodded and kept my mouth shut. Daniel forged onward.
“This is the assignment Professor Brown mentioned on Monday,” he said, passing around a sheet outlining the term’s independent study.
I was relieved to have a moment to breathe. My heart was racing.
“As you all know, one of the aspects of this course is the independent pursuit of a topic that interests you,” Daniel explained. “I won’t be evaluating this final product, but I’d be happy to assist if I can. I thought we’d take a moment to throw out some ideas and get the wheels turning. Anyone care to share?”
Shawn spoke up, sharing his interest in the role of magic and the supernatural in Shakespeare’s work. Daniel recorded Shawn’s preliminary ideas in his notebook.
“Good. Anyone else?”
Silence ensued. He looked at me pointedly, eyebrow raised. A challenge?
Okay, Aubrey. Game on .
“I’m quite interested in exploring feminist themes,” I said, meeting his eyes. “Possibly misogyny. I imagine I would focus on Hamlet, Othello, Cymbeline, maybe Macbeth .”
Daniel leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes and bringing his clasped hands under his chin. As he moved, his knee grazed mine under the table—an accident, of course—but he might as well have thrust his hand between my legs, considering the effect it had on me. My face began to burn.
“Great topic,” he said. “I have some interesting books that I might be able to lend you.”
He wanted to lend me books? Vivid memories of Dream Daniel’s seductive whispers ghosted though my mind as visions of bookshelves appeared before my eyes.
“Let me ask you this,” he said, leaning forward again, twirling his pen between his fingers. “Do you think Shakespeare himself had a hatred of women?”
I paused, unprepared to take a stand one way or the other, but eager to show him I wasn’t a dimwit.
“I’m not sure. He certainly explores the motif a lot, but an interest in a subject doesn’t mean one is a proponent of that ideology. Who knows, though? Maybe he was a misogynist and he felt safe spouting his views from behind the mask of his heroes’ behavior. I suppose that’ll be something I’ll pursue in my paper.”
“I see,” he said, nodding meditatively.
I waited for him to say something else, but he merely looked at me. Was he preparing a rebuttal? Everyone else in the room seemed to be holding their breath. Julie came to the rescue, quickly breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about the use of non-secular themes in Shakespeare’s plays,” she said. “I’d love to take a closer look at the conflicting Elizabethan attitudes toward religion and how they play out in his work.”
The tension eased almost immediately as everyone collectively let out a breath. I looked at her gratefully.
“Another worthwhile topic,” Daniel said with a nod, surveying the faces around the table. “Anyone else, before we move on to talk about this week’s Hamlet lectures?” he asked.
Apparently Cara felt the need to be heard, blurting out, “I totally want to look at the theme of love in Shakespeare’s plays. Like Romeo and Juliet . It’s so romantic.” She punctuated her statement with a breathy sigh.
Daniel frowned. “Well, that’s a rather…broad topic, but I’m sure with a little work we can narrow it down,” he said, seeming to choose his words carefully.
Julie couldn’t contain herself. She wrote on the corner of her page, “ Gah! Airhead!”
I smiled and wrote on my notepad, “ I know! The wheel may
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