fandomhigh | Modern Shakespeare, Wednesday, Periods 1 & 2

Karla's class took place in an ordinary classroom, though she'd taken a leaf from Lady Ghanima's book and had all the desks cleared out, replacing them with cushions and over-sized beanbags, as well as a few padded chairs. They were going to be watching movies this session and Karla saw no reason why everybody shouldn't be comfortable. When the class entered, they'd see her lounging across a small loveseat, waiting for them to find a spot they wanted to claim as their own.

"Ambition," she said when everyone was settled. "Pride. Love, lust, and hatred. Anger. Fear. A question of what truly is the measure of a man. A truly staggering number of puns and dick jokes. I fell in love with Shakespeare when I was a student here," in no small part due to Ender Wiggin "and it was his depiction of human nature that did it. What is the best course to take for a son who finds that his mother has married his uncle--who is also his father's murderer? How much blame can be attributed to a man who kills his king, but is urged into the deed by others? What is a suitable punishment for a man who believed lies and gossip to the point where he repudiates his bride? Or, in another play, kills her? William Shakespeare wrote a great many plays across a great many genres, but in the end, they all come back to one central theme: people's motivations. By writing about people, truly recognizable people, Shakespeare plays have survived multiple centuries--a real feat in this short-lived world--and are still popular and relevant today. Had you gone to a normal high school, you likely would have read several of his plays before graduation. In this class, we'll be watching movies."

She straightened in her seat, feet finally hitting the floor. "Not just any movies; modern retellings of his classic plays. Many old classics are filmed and then immediately shown on the Black and White Period Piece Old Lady Boring Movie Channel, or whatever it's called," Karla dismissed the question with a wave of her hand "--of interest only to people who liked the original work. But Shakespeare's plays are constantly being updated, modernized, and retold, thus reaching out to new audiences all the time. And the reason for that is because his characters and his plots work regardless of what time period they're set in. They're problems and issues that people still face today, if in slightly altered forms: fears of infidelity, questions of one's legacy, ambition and advancement, falling in love, interpersonal problems. prejudice."

No one had promised this was going to be a light and cheerful class, kids. Even if it was a summer workshop. "So, first, introductions. It's a tradition that spans back to my time here, too. I am Karla, graduate of the class of 2013, though it's been about six years in my world since I graduated, rather than three." Really, that long? Mother Night! "When I'm not teaching here, I'm the Queen of the Territory of Glacia." She also served in the First Circle of the Dark Court, but there didn't seem to be any Kaeleerans in the room this year, so she left that off. "Today, for your introductions, name and class, favorite Shakespeare play and why if you have one--no worries if you don't--and tell me what you think this Shakespeare quote means: The worst is not, So long as we can say, 'This is the worst.' Or, if you'd prefer something slightly less macabre, try God has given you one face, and you make yourself another."

And with that, she was pointing at a student. "And you are?"

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"How about we all go to the park tomorrow?" Ender asked, smiling down at Val. "I'll bet you like that."

"Park!" Val cheered, clapping.

Ender looked back up. "We're talking about it," he said. "We'll probably find a planet with good medical facilities on our next stop."

"We just made a playdate for tomorrow," Karla said, giving Val a kiss and bouncing her a little on her hip. "How positively domestic. Just look at us: two parents and nothing more."

In the eyes of their children, anyway.

"How far away from the original planet are you?" she asked. "I mean, that one clearly gave excellent result."

Look at how smart Val was! Just lookit!

"Too far," Ender said softly. "And I'd rather not loop back on myself as it is. We're still looking for someone else, after all."

Val giggled loudly, reaching up to bat at Karla's hair. Or... ooh, a shiny.

"No, no," Karla said, going to tug her necklace out from Val's curious fingers. "Not this, darling. This is my Jewel and it's very important. Not to be played with."

No babytalk or cooing here; this was an important lesson for Val to learn and so Karla was making sure to sound serious.

"You're only going to make her more interested," Ender said softly. "Val, that's what helps Karla be Karla and do all kinds of things. If you break it, it's going to hurt her."

That made Val's little hand drop, and she projected something that felt like an apology.

Karla projected back forgiveness and understanding, calling in another necklace to give to Val to play with instead. Diamonds, yes, that caught the light and sparkled, and as far as Karla was concerned, pretty but almost worthless. "Here," she said, handing it over. "You can play with this one, if you like."

Either she'd break it and Karla would have it repaired, or she wouldn't and she'd have a pretty necklace when she was older.

"I'm still trying to figure out if Kayla's fascination with my Jewel comes from how shiny it is or because she can feel the power in it. Or both, most likely."

"I'd say both," Ender agreed.

Val was trying to handle the new necklace carefully, the warning still ringing around her brain somewhere. She got it all tangled up in her fingers.

"Val has that deadly combination where she loves shiny things," he said wryly, "...and is almost never satisfied with any explanation she gets. Sure, you say it's not a good thing to touch, but why?"

"Oh, she's in the 'why' phase now, too?" Karla asked. She was young for it, but then, she was a Wiggin and a Skywalker. She'd probably come out of the womb--or whatever--with that question on her lips. "She and Kayla will be such joys tomorrow, I'm sure."

"Less in the 'why' phase, though that one's coming," Ender said, reaching out for Val, "More in the 'if you don't spell out specifically what and how the conditions of not doing something are, she's going to do it anyway'."

The corner of his mouth tugged up. "We've been playing 'you don't get more cake until the number changes' a lot."

"But cake," Karla teased. "I mean, I'm kind of on her side for that one. And that's why Cook despairs of me."

Oh Karla. There were many, many reasons your cook despaired of you. Cake was only one of them.

"If only someone had taught you to wait ten minutes before taking another piece of cake," Ender said, amused.

"Cake!" Val bellowed.

Ender sighed, lifting her high. "Not now, sweetheart."

"Then I would spend a lot of time not eating cake and being very sad about it," Karla said impishly. "At least she'll have an excellent handle on telling time?"

"That, and patience," Ender said. "I hope."

"You're her father," Karla said with a smile. "If she didn't inherit the trait from you, she'll learn it soon enough."

She had a much better chance of it than Kayla did, that was for damn sure.

Modern Shakespeare, Wednesday, Periods 1 & 2

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