Measure for Measure, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Amadeus: Rape Culture and Toxic Masculinity
While we were reading through Measure for Measure, I noticed some connections between the play and Disney's 1996 film The Hunchback of Notre Dam. In Measure, Angelo is very religious and placed in a high position of power in Vienna, and he has a reputation for being morally rigid. However, Angelo becomes infatuated with Isabella, so much so that he tries to force her to have sex with him in order to save her brother. Angelo expresses his conflicting feelings in a soliloquy at the end of Act 2, Scene 2:
What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine?
The tempter or the tempted, who sins most, ha?
Not she, nor doth she tempt. But it is I
That, lying by the violet in the sun,
Do as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than a woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough,
Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary
And pitch our evils there? Oh, fie, fie, fie!
What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?
Dost though desire her foully for those things
That make her good? Oh, let her brother live:
Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that to catch a saint
With saints dost bait thy hook. Most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue. Never could the strumpet
With all her double vigor, art and nature,
Once stir my temper, but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite. Ever till now
When men were fond, I smiled and wondered how (2.2.165-189).
It's clear Angelo thinks of himself as a pious person, conflicted with the fact that he is sinning through lusting after Isabella. He compares himself to a dead, rotting corpse, obviously upset with himself. It also seems that he's not sure who to blame for his lust: himself, Isabella, or the Devil (the "cunning enemy") that tempts him with goodness. It's Isabella's virtuosity that makes him so attracted to her, and he seems to decide that's what's wrong: the Devil is tempting him with Isabella's piety, so can't help but give in. He seems to void himself of all guilt. Yikes.
Similarly, in Hunchback, Judge Claude Frollo, the Minister of Justice in Paris, becomes attracted to a Gypsy named Esmerelda. Throughout the film he is shown to persecute the Gypsies, claiming their ways will corrupt the city, yet he finds himself sexually attracted to one of them. Instead of a soliloquy, Frollo's sings a song about how it's not his fault that he's lusting after Esmerelda:
(Chorus)
Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti (I confess to God almighty)
Beatae Mariae semper Virgini (To blessed Mary ever Virgin)
Beato Michaeli archangelo (To the blessed archangel Michael)
Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis (To the holy apostles to all the saints)
(Frollo)
Beata Maria
You know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud
(Chorus)
Et tibit Pater (And to you, Father)
(Frollo)
Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
(Chorus)
Quia peccavi nimis (That I have sinned)
(Frollo)
Then tell me, Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul
(Chorus)
Cogitatione (In thought)
(Frollo)
I feel her, I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control
(Chorus)
Verbo et opere (In word and deed)
(Frollo)
Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning
Desire
Is turning me to sin
It's not my fault
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
I'm not to blame
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
It is the gypsy girl
The witch who sent this flame
(Chorus)
Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)
(Frollo)
It's not my fault
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
If in God's plan
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
He made the devil so much
Stronger than a man
(Chorus)
Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)
(Frollo)
Protect me, Maria
Don't let this siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone
Hellfire
Dark fire
Now gypsy, it's your turn
Choose me or
Your pyre
Be mine or you will burn
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
God have mercy on her
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
God have mercy on me
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
But she will be mine
Or she will burn!
(Here's a link if you want to watch the scene featuring the song: https://youtu.be/-NP-RsRGzVo)
"Hellfire" is widely known as one of the darkest and most controversial Disney villain songs, and for good reason. In it, Frollo deals with some complex and mature feelings of lust and faith. He claims that he's a "righteous man," yet he has a "burning desire" for Esmerelda. However, like Angelo, he shifts the guilt away from himself (literally saying "It's not my fault"), instead blaming the woman, God, and the Devil. Ironically, the Latin chant that alternates with Frollo's lyrics is a confession of sin, possibly implying that he knows better than to not take responsibility for his thoughts and actions. Frollo also takes his lust to the next level, stating that Esmerelda will "burn" if she doesn't give herself to him. The similarities between Angelo and Frollo are clear: neither wants to admit that their lust is their fault, yet they act on their lust in horrible ways.
What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine?
The tempter or the tempted, who sins most, ha?
Not she, nor doth she tempt. But it is I
That, lying by the violet in the sun,
Do as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than a woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough,
Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary
And pitch our evils there? Oh, fie, fie, fie!
What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?
Dost though desire her foully for those things
That make her good? Oh, let her brother live:
Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that to catch a saint
With saints dost bait thy hook. Most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue. Never could the strumpet
With all her double vigor, art and nature,
Once stir my temper, but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite. Ever till now
When men were fond, I smiled and wondered how (2.2.165-189).
It's clear Angelo thinks of himself as a pious person, conflicted with the fact that he is sinning through lusting after Isabella. He compares himself to a dead, rotting corpse, obviously upset with himself. It also seems that he's not sure who to blame for his lust: himself, Isabella, or the Devil (the "cunning enemy") that tempts him with goodness. It's Isabella's virtuosity that makes him so attracted to her, and he seems to decide that's what's wrong: the Devil is tempting him with Isabella's piety, so can't help but give in. He seems to void himself of all guilt. Yikes.
Similarly, in Hunchback, Judge Claude Frollo, the Minister of Justice in Paris, becomes attracted to a Gypsy named Esmerelda. Throughout the film he is shown to persecute the Gypsies, claiming their ways will corrupt the city, yet he finds himself sexually attracted to one of them. Instead of a soliloquy, Frollo's sings a song about how it's not his fault that he's lusting after Esmerelda:
(Chorus)
Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti (I confess to God almighty)
Beatae Mariae semper Virgini (To blessed Mary ever Virgin)
Beato Michaeli archangelo (To the blessed archangel Michael)
Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis (To the holy apostles to all the saints)
(Frollo)
Beata Maria
You know I am a righteous man
Of my virtue I am justly proud
(Chorus)
Et tibit Pater (And to you, Father)
(Frollo)
Beata Maria
You know I'm so much purer than
The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd
(Chorus)
Quia peccavi nimis (That I have sinned)
(Frollo)
Then tell me, Maria
Why I see her dancing there
Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul
(Chorus)
Cogitatione (In thought)
(Frollo)
I feel her, I see her
The sun caught in her raven hair
Is blazing in me out of all control
(Chorus)
Verbo et opere (In word and deed)
(Frollo)
Like fire
Hellfire
This fire in my skin
This burning
Desire
Is turning me to sin
It's not my fault
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
I'm not to blame
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
It is the gypsy girl
The witch who sent this flame
(Chorus)
Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)
(Frollo)
It's not my fault
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
If in God's plan
(Chorus)
Mea culpa (Through my fault)
(Frollo)
He made the devil so much
Stronger than a man
(Chorus)
Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)
(Frollo)
Protect me, Maria
Don't let this siren cast her spell
Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone
Hellfire
Dark fire
Now gypsy, it's your turn
Choose me or
Your pyre
Be mine or you will burn
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
God have mercy on her
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
God have mercy on me
(Chorus)
Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)
(Frollo)
But she will be mine
Or she will burn!
(Here's a link if you want to watch the scene featuring the song: https://youtu.be/-NP-RsRGzVo)
"Hellfire" is widely known as one of the darkest and most controversial Disney villain songs, and for good reason. In it, Frollo deals with some complex and mature feelings of lust and faith. He claims that he's a "righteous man," yet he has a "burning desire" for Esmerelda. However, like Angelo, he shifts the guilt away from himself (literally saying "It's not my fault"), instead blaming the woman, God, and the Devil. Ironically, the Latin chant that alternates with Frollo's lyrics is a confession of sin, possibly implying that he knows better than to not take responsibility for his thoughts and actions. Frollo also takes his lust to the next level, stating that Esmerelda will "burn" if she doesn't give herself to him. The similarities between Angelo and Frollo are clear: neither wants to admit that their lust is their fault, yet they act on their lust in horrible ways.
Connection time: in Disney's Hunchback, Quasimodo is voiced by Tom Hulce. Hulce was nominated for an Academy Award in 1985 for his performance as the titular character in Amadeus, the film adaptation of the play of the same name. In the Best Picture-winning film, Hulce's Mozart is shown as a genius yet struggling composer who desperately needs money. Mozart's wife, Constanze, appeals to her husband's competitor, Salieri, a devoted Christian and pious composer, who says he'll help them out if Constanze has sex with him. Sound familiar? And get this: THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE IN VIENNA. We're back to Measure for Measure! However, when Constanze comes to Salieri to comply with his demand, he refuses her. At least he didn't go through with it like Angelo? Nope, still gross.
These three characters all seem to contribute to the rape culture and toxic masculinity that we've talked about in class. There seems to be, at least in the case of Measure for Measure and The Hunchback of Notre Dam, a great deal of victim blaming, which is clearly still an issue. In fact, I found this photo on Facebook today:
I find it really interesting how the flyer featured in the photo says that rape culture "demeans everyone." It forces women to watch what they do so as to not cause any men to rape them (victim blaming), and it implies that men can't help but give in to their sexual desires like the three male characters I've mentioned. Additionally, these characters provide examples of the sexual aggression associated with toxic masculinity. These kind of thoughts and actions are inexcusable, but I can't help but fear they could be accepted by society as part of the way men are. It's not a coincidence that all three characters are villains.
Sources:
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/enfieldwomen.org.uk/photos/a.10152039139978712/10158244845783712/?type=3&theater
Forman, Milos, director. Amadeus: Directors Cut. Warner Home Video, 2002.
Trousdale, Gary and Kirk Wise, directors. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney, 1996.
These three characters all seem to contribute to the rape culture and toxic masculinity that we've talked about in class. There seems to be, at least in the case of Measure for Measure and The Hunchback of Notre Dam, a great deal of victim blaming, which is clearly still an issue. In fact, I found this photo on Facebook today:
Sources:
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/enfieldwomen.org.uk/photos/a.10152039139978712/10158244845783712/?type=3&theater
Forman, Milos, director. Amadeus: Directors Cut. Warner Home Video, 2002.
Trousdale, Gary and Kirk Wise, directors. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Disney, 1996.
Comments
Post a Comment