In our first Drama unit, we tackled the question, "How do we respond to gender norms and stereotypes?" To explore this, we dove into the works of William Shakespeare, examining how theater can inspire social change. We focused on Macbeth, using the play as a lens to question traditional gender roles and the evolving concept of what it means to be a queen. This was the perfect foundation for the unit, letting us dig deeper into our own ideas of strength and duty. To me, a queen is someone who puts her role before herself, making difficult choices—even ones that might be considered morally complex.
While we didn’t have many field trips, we had inspiring guest speakers. Regina Taylor, known for her role as Michelle Obama's mother in The First Lady and her work in Lovecraft Country, shared her insights on how storytelling can bridge divides of race, gender, and class. She likened the influence of media to the civil rights movement, reminding us that Black music was one of the first ways Black culture entered many white households. We also met Mary Bonnet from Her Story Theater, who spoke about their work highlighting the experiences of victims of sexual assault and human trafficking, adding a powerful real-world connection to our exploration of social issues in drama.
Our Drama Project: Writing a Sonnet
For our AP (Action Project), we were tasked with writing a sonnet that offered advice to a character in Macbeth or commented on gender norms and stereotypes within the play. I chose to address Lady Macbeth, urging her to accept her own identity rather than forcing herself into a mold of masculinity. She was trying too hard to be something she wasn’t when her true strength could have come from her own unique traits.
Sonnet for Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth, thou bold and resolute,
Defies womanly duties, you dare change.
In your contempt, you became a brute,
In strength, you refused to be restrained.
Your fiery ambition knew no roles,
Itching for power and grasping it tight;
With bloody hands, thou snuffed out the lights,
And in thy actions, defied what’s deemed right.
“Screw your courage to the sticking places,”
You said to the successor of the king.
Ruining yourself, breaking thy faces,
Emotions flare, destroying all new things.
Thou saw no reason to be meek or mild,
Taking control with an iron-fist smile.
Reflection
I came into this project with some background from last year’s course, Healthy Relationships in Shakespeare, but writing the sonnet still had its challenges. It was tough keeping each line to ten syllables, but that constraint taught me a lot about precision in writing. My biggest takeaway from this unit is that no matter who you are—short or tall, Black or white—you can make a powerful impact, even through art like song, dance, and theater.
I enjoyed sharing our sonnets and seeing everyone’s unique interpretations. I hope you enjoy reading mine!
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